by Clair Mooney | 11 Mar, 2021 | CSCS, Skills
Following the introduction of T Levels and a request from the Department for Education (DfE) for employers to recognise formal work experience, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has asked CSCS to carry out a consultation exercise on how students on industry placements should be consistently recognised by card schemes carrying the CSCS logo. FIS encourage members to complete this survey which may lead to the introduction of a new easily identifiable card based on either the existing Trainee or Work Experience cards already used by a number of card schemes.
by Clair Mooney | 11 Mar, 2021 | Skills
Providing the correct levels of supervision in the Construction and Built Environment (CBE) are critical to ensure that the correct levels of Health and Safety (H&S) are maintained, projects and programmes are delivered on time, to quality and cost overruns are avoided. The Occupational Work Supervision (OWS) qualification, the first rung on the Supervisory and Management ladder, enables employees, with a background in construction and its allied trades and professions to demonstrate their initial competence in the area of supervision.
When the qualification was first introduced there was a need for the OWS employee to have a single focus on the area that they were deemed competent to supervise and a series of endorsements were introduced to demonstrate just that. In consultation with industry and current working practises this need has changed over the years, therefore OWS employees are now required, in some instances, to supervise multi trades. Due to this, the National Working Group (NWG) for OWS has been in consultation with CITB and a proposal to remove the requirement for any endorsements to be listed within the qualification is being planned. This decision means that:
- Employers are responsible for ensuring that somebody holding an OWS qualification is deemed, by the employer, to be competent to supervise the area(s) that they are asking the person to oversee.
- Employers will better be able to plan career progression for their staff.
- It will allow employers to better utilise their workforce across different areas of the business.
- Awarding Bodies will no longer be required to endorse an OWS qualification by the issuance of an endorsement or side letter to the award.
- Card schemes may no longer have a requirement to show endorsements on cards which should reduce the processes required to obtain a card.
There will be no changes to the entry requirements of the qualification, enforced by Awarding Bodies in that any candidate who registers will need to evidence some form of competence within CBE or its allied trades and professions, which can be demonstrated in several different ways.
In order to collate any further views from industry, CITB would welcome feedback by completing the ‘have your say’ form by clicking here. The comments for this will close on 31st March 2021.
When this is implemented employers will be responsible for ensuring occupational work supervisors, gangers, team leader and/or forepersons hold the required qualifications and have a verifiable background in the occupation or occupations they are supervising. Don’t get caught it’s easy to make the necessary checks on CSCS cards using GoSmart: https://www.cscs.uk.com/applying-for-cards/checkcards/
by Clair Mooney | 11 Mar, 2021 | Skills
Several industries where project-based employment is the norm have struggled more than most to comply with the 12-month minimum apprenticeships rule, but their fortunes could be about to change. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced in last week’s Budget a £7 million fund to run so-called “portable” or “flexi-job” apprenticeships in sectors such as creative and construction.
This “new approach” will involve organisations applying for money to start new agencies which employ apprentices and place them with multiple employers. It is targeted at those industries that cannot offer a long-enough placement with a single employer for apprentices to meet the government’s minimum 12-month duration requirement. In the TV and film sector, for example, most roles are freelance and usually only run for two to three months.
The flexi-job model was lauded by prime minister Boris Johnson during a speech on adult skills last year, after a meeting between ministers and his influential skills advisor Professor Alison Wolf decided the government should press ahead with its introduction. It also featured briefly in this year’s Further Education white paper.
The scheme will become the third agency-type model for apprenticeships, following Apprenticeship Training Agencies (ATAs) and Group Training Associations (GTAs), which have been established for many years but have arguably become neglected by policymakers. The Department for Education, which is responsible for the scheme, has promised a consultation on the proposals.
Levy problems ‘particularly stark’ for construction sectors supported by LOSC
Flexi-job apprenticeships are being specifically targeted at industries and sectors where work is often patchy. Workers in the finishes and interiors sector, for example, who are finishing off one high-end contract will often wait weeks before starting on the next contract.
FIS has discussed and draw attention to the problems the sector faces in labour shortages and these are “not unique, but it is particularly stark”. About 40 per cent of finishes and interior sector workers are LOSC, and it is only “if you’re lucky that your jobs will join up, whereas when you’re an apprentice, you have to have a minimum 18 month contract with one employer. So, you can’t move around.
This issue has led to reports of a serious underspend of the apprenticeship levy. With the restrictions on training during 2020 it is unlikely employers in the finishes and interiors sector have seen a return on the apprenticeship levy they have paid.
CITB runs its own Shared Apprenticeship Scheme which has supported 300 apprentices so far. CITB have stated to their credit, the government has recognised the problem and is acting to help the construction industry utilise apprenticeships more easily.
The Skills for Jobs white paper, published in January 2021, acknowledged that creative and construction face “barriers in making full use of apprenticeships,” due to their “varied and flexible employment patterns”.
It added that “sectoral apprenticeship agencies may offer one solution, giving constant employment to an individual during the life of their apprenticeship which allows them to move between work placements and continue their training”.
by Clair Mooney | 9 Mar, 2021 | Insurance, Main News Feed
Tax expert Paul Mason from Markel talked through the changes, how to ensure your business is compliant and vitally how you should be communicating with any contractors working through your business, whether they be trade based labour only subcontractors, surveyors, engineers or IT contractors.
The off-payroll working rules (IR35) apply to any worker/contractor that contracts through their own limited (personal services) company. The rules are designed to ensure that workers, who HMRC assert should be classed an employee, pay broadly the same tax and National Insurance contributions as employees.
From 6 April 2021, responsibility to identify the status of the worker and ensure tax is paid is shifting to the company engaging the contractor. This applies to medium or large-sized private businesses, essentially all companies who meet two of the following three criteria:
• turnover is greater than £10.2m a year;
• balance sheet assets are greater than £5.1m
• have more than 50 employees
by Clair Mooney | 9 Mar, 2021 | Main News Feed
To mark Women in Construction Week and International Women’s Day 2021, FIS has launched a new Fairness, Inclusivity and Respect (FIR) Toolkit – to support members in their focus on fairness, inclusivity and respect in their workforce.
The FIS FIR Toolkit draws together a wide variety of tools and training available from across the construction sector making it easier for members to encourage equality, diversity and inclusion in their workforce. It identifies where legal responsibilities lie, but also helps to highlight and support companies in managing the pre-qualification process and ensuring that FIR processes can be core to their business.
Commenting on the launch of the toolkit, FIS CEO Iain McIlwee said: “The Toolkit is part of a renewed effort within FIS to support individual businesses, to highlight and celebrate diversity within the workforce and to ensure that the FIS network works for all individuals. It also guarantees that through better support and communication, we strive to ensure that the FIS community is open and supportive of all. The focus mirrors FIS core communication and recruitment campaign: ‘It’s about you’ using the strapline, ‘It’s about us’.”
FIS President and Operations Director at Tapper Interiors, Helen Tapper stated: “In my 37 years in the industry I have at times felt like a woman in a man’s world – that is no longer acceptable. Things have improved over the years, but we cannot kid ourselves that we are anywhere near where we need to be – old habits die hard and hold us back. With immigration policies likely to lead to short term labour issues, it has never been more important to renew our efforts – we are missing out on huge swathes of potential.”
“As FIS President, I committed to ensuring that we stepped up efforts in this area – we had the Women in Fit-out initiative, but we need to do more to encourage businesses to be better and help people looking for careers recognise that they have a home and opportunity in our sector regardless of gender, race, sexuality or belief. Central to the ‘It’s about us’ focus is this new toolkit which signposts tools and celebrates diversity within the FIS community. I know in our community there are positive role models and great stories that will inspire others, but we need to do more to tell them. Therefore I am reaching out to people in our community, particularly those in the early stages of their career who sometimes feel on the edge or in the minority to tell their story, to help us understand their struggles and to learn how we can better support them and use their stories to inspire others. Women in Construction Week is the ideal time to launch this work and draw on the theme of International Women’s day that we “Choose to Challenge” and start to encourage new habits.”
To access click FIS Inclusivity Toolkit – FIS (thefis.org)
by Clair Mooney | 9 Mar, 2021 | Main News Feed
The Construction Leadership Council is calling on businesses from across the industry to play their part in securing net zero carbon construction 2050. In this year of the UK hosting COP 26, it is imperative that the construction sector steps up to the challenge and supports the Race to Zero.
Today the CLC announces CO2nstruct Zero, a cross-industry change programme to drive carbon out of all parts of the construction sector, from manufacturing and design to construction and operation of assets.
It is intended to promote the high-level priorities that the industry must work on to reduce carbon, thereby playing our part in achieving the UK Government’s objective of net zero for the whole economy by 2050.
CO2nstruct Zero builds upon the way that the industry united last year as a single force to tackle Covid-19, ensuring a consistent approach is taken by the whole sector while avoiding duplication of work.
CO2nstruct Zero’s priorities are:
Transport
➢ Accelerating the shift of the construction workforce to zero emission vehicles and onsite plant
➢ Maximising use of Modern Methods of Construction and improved onsite logistics, reducing waste and transport to sites
➢ Championing developments and infrastructure investments that both enable connectivity with low carbon modes of transport and design to incorporate readiness for zero emission vehicles
Buildings
➢ Work with Government to deliver retrofitting to improve energy efficiency of the existing housing stock
➢ Scale up industry capability to deliver low carbon heat solutions in buildings, supporting heat pump deployment, trials of hydrogen heating systems and heat networks
➢ Enhancing the energy performance of new and existing buildings through higher operational energy efficiency standards and better building energy performance monitoring
Construction Activity
➢ Implementing carbon measurement, to support our construction projects in making quantifiable decisions to remove carbon
➢ Become world leaders in designing out carbon, developing the capability of our designers and construction professionals to develop designs in line with circular economy – reducing embedded and operational carbon, shifting commercial models to incentivise and reward measurable carbon reductions.
➢ Support development of innovative low carbon materials (prioritising concrete and steel), as well as advancing low carbon solutions for manufacturing production processes and distribution
The CLC is now inviting companies and organisations from across the industry to link up with CO2nstruct Zero, getting involved with its delivery. The CO2nstruct Zero is not to develop new solutions or new pathways – there are many groups in the industry well placed to do this, but we believe that the CLC does have a critical role to play in bringing people together to consolidate collective actions and plans for the sector.
An action plan is being prepared, aligned to the 9 priorities, co-ordinating the extensive and exciting work already happening right across the industry, including within the CLC through the Green Construction Board and the Infrastructure Client Group, to develop the solutions, guiding companies on the actions and role that they can play. Organisations can volunteer to help with the development of the action plan by bringing their initiatives to join up, while individual businesses are encouraged to become Business Champions sharing their approach to delivering on the 9 priorities and contributing to the Race for Zero.
The action plan will also consider changing skills needs and how these can be addressed to provide a workforce that can achieve net zero.
Construction Leadership Council chair Andy Mitchell CBE said: “There is no bigger challenge that our industry faces than the need to decarbonise. We need to pull the whole industry together, letting everyone know what they can do to reduce carbon, while unlocking strategic changes that will set the sector on a new course towards net zero”.
Construction Minister Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “The UK was the first major economy to set our commitment to eliminate our country’s contribution to climate change into law. But we can only do that by working with industry to make practical changes to secure a better low-carbon future.
“I am delighted that, through CO2nstruct Zero, the construction sector is showing the unity and leadership to make this happen and ensure we build back greener.”
The Construction Leadership Council will be identifying measurable targets to show how the industry is making progress towards Net Zero. CO2nstruct Zero will act as the focal point of engagement for the industry with Government in preparation for November’s COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow.
by Clair Mooney | 8 Mar, 2021 | Membership, Skills
FIS has recently appointed Catherine Bullough to project manage the BuildBack and Kickstart Programmes. Catherine has over 17 years’ experience of working with the construction industry, having previously worked with CITB in both an operational and strategic capacity. Catherine was the Partnerships Manager with the Industry Relations Team, working with construction employers and stakeholders to ensure that the construction industry had the supply of skills that it needed across the South and South West of England
Originally hailing from “the Lang Toun” of Kirkcaldy, Fife, and gaining a mining technology qualification, Catherine headed south to study at Manchester Poly originally embarking upon a career with the Police and Trading Standards before moving into the field of learning and development.
Catherine will be working as part of the Skills & Training team at FIS; with a keen focus upon helping the sector recruit and retain new talent; enabling on-site solutions to help finishes and interior employers recruit and train; creating new opportunities through extended partnership working and identifying funding opportunities to support the sector.
Catherine is an APM qualified Project Manager and remains a keen Raith Rovers supporter!
Skills and Training Lead George Swann said; “We welcome Catherine and value the wealth of knowledge and experience she brings to the FIS team. In the short time Catherine has been here she has played a leading role in the implementation of the FIS KickStart programme and we should be seeing individuals placed with employers in the next few weeks. Catherine is preparing for the first cohort of FIS BuildBack candidates and we look forward to reporting success in placing these candidates with employers”.
by Clair Mooney | 5 Mar, 2021 | Skills
Monday saw the opening of the consultation into CITB Levy proposals, in which they’re suggesting a return to pre-Covid rates in the way they raise the Levy for the next three years. CITB is asking for feedback on its plans to help get construction back on its feet and play a leading role in the country’s economic recovery.
Following their decision to apply a 50% Levy rate for this year, CITB is now proposing returning to 2019 levels from 2022. CITB will support smaller employers even further this year by increasing the threshold, making an extra 5,000 exempt from paying the Levy. Employers in scope to CITB are eligible for grant even if they do not pay the Levy. You can get full details on the CITB proposals by clicking here.
CITB Levy registered employers can take part in the consultation, which runs until Sunday 11 April, by clicking here. You can also register for one of their virtual events explaining the CITB proposals here. Consensus will take place from Monday 14 June to Sunday 15 August, with more information available here.
by Clair Mooney | 4 Mar, 2021 | Drylining, Main News Feed
Steve Halcrow of Chelwick Ltd used his vast experience of inspecting drylining installations to highlight the 5 most common problems he encounters on site. He looked at what may have caused them and vitally, what can be done to avoid them in the future.
A member of the FIS and dedicated to quality in the sector, Steve spoke on the FIS PPP (Product, Process People) Quality Management Framework and tools to support a get it right first time approach to drylining installation.
Steve has developed a range of new E-learning courses to support development of competence through the supply chain. This training is now on offer to FIS members for £55 (standard rate £95 per candidate) and full details are available at https://www.stepsdigital.co.uk
by Clair Mooney | 4 Mar, 2021 | Skills
The Budget and Skills
Cash incentives for employers to hire new apprentices doubled
Apprenticeship financial incentives were first introduced by Sunak in August 2020 and currently offer firms £2,000 to take on apprentices aged 16 to 24, while those that employ new apprentices aged 25 and over are paid £1,500.
The chancellor said in the Budget on Wednesday that the bonuses, set to end on 31 March 2021 will be extended for a further six months to September. And any employers who hire a new apprentice between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2021 will receive £3,000 per new hire, regardless of the apprentice’s age. This is on top of the £1,000 payment already provided for new apprentices aged 16 to 18 and those under 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan, meaning that some employers could receive £4,000 in total.
FIS is aware the take-up of this incentive payment has been minimal to date. Approximately 15,000 employers have applied across all industries, and we know apprentice numbers are down around 30% on previous years. With training for the Interior Systems Installer apprenticeship now being offered by 11 registered Apprenticeship Training Providers and a further five organisations awaiting approval, provision is steadily increasing. This apprenticeship has options for Dry Lining and Ceiling and Partitions. If you are considering taking on an apprentice take a look at the FIS Apprentice – Guidance for Employers.
There is other financial support available for employers who employ apprentices and according to employers who do, the positive benefits outweigh the negatives. Have a listen to the FIS webinar on Building an Apprentice Workforce to hear what employer using different approaches think.
FIS will be happy to answer questions and/or provide further information, advice and guidance, give us a call on 0121 707 0077 or email info@thefis.org.
£126m for traineeships
Sunak said the government will provide an additional £126 million in England for “high quality” work placements and training for 16 to 24-year-olds in the 2021 and 2022 academic year. This is hoped to attract a further 40,000 traineeship starts next year. Employers who provide trainees with work experience will continue to be funded at a rate of £1,000 per trainee. Employers can have up to 10 Traineeship placements at a time. It builds on the £111 million the chancellor set aside in 2020 and 2021 to triple the number of traineeships.
‘Portable’ apprenticeships set to be launched
The government will introduce a £7 million fund from July 2021 to “help employers in England set up and expand portable apprenticeships”. The budget document says this will enable people who need to work across multiple projects with different employers, such as in the TV and film industries, to “benefit from the high quality long-term training that an apprenticeship provides”. The program will also suit occupations in construction.
Employers will be “invited to bring forward proposals here, and in particular the Creative Industries Council will be asked to do so in recognition of the potential benefits of this new approach for the creative sector”. The Treasury called this scheme “flexi-job” apprenticeships. The first of these are expected to start in January 2022.
‘Help to Grow’ scheme for Small and Medium Enterprises to upskill
The budget document says the government will offer a new UK-wide management programme to upskill 30,000 small and medium-sized enterprises over three years. It states: “Developed in partnership with industry, the programme will combine a national curriculum delivered through business schools with practical case studies and mentoring from experienced business professionals. “Over 12 weeks, and 90 per cent subsidised by government, this programme will equip SMEs with the tools to grow their businesses and thrive.” The budget’s costing document shows the government has set aside £60 million for this scheme in 2021 and 2022 and then £75 million for 2022 and 2023. It is unclear at this stage what government department will be responsible for this scheme.
by Clair Mooney | 4 Mar, 2021 | Membership
FIS is a key strategic partner for this brand new event taking place at the Business Design Centre in London on 4 & 5 November and its members can benefit from a 10% discount off the cost of exhibiting.
Bringing together the UK’s commercial interiors community to discuss the latest trends in workspace after the recent disruption, Workspace Show will feature around 80 exhibitors showcasing their furniture, lighting, surfaces, storage, tech and supplies, and will be attended by over 3,000 workspace professionals from the A&D community as well as facilities managers, specifiers and procurement from corporates.
The event also features a conference with industry leaders from Perkins & Will, Gensler, tp bennett, MF Interiors, BDG, BBC, Arup among others presenting their thought leadership on the future of workspace.
FIS is to offer its members a 10% discount to exhibit at the event (please email sales@workspaceshow.co.uk quoting FIS-WS), or you can register your interest to attend the event here.
by Clair Mooney | 3 Mar, 2021 | CSCS, Skills
CSCS has announced that Associate and Chartered members of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) can use their memberships to apply for CSCS cards.
A CSCS card provides proof that individuals working on construction sites have the appropriate training and qualifications for the job they do on site. In most cases applicants are required to achieve a recognised construction related qualification (usually an NVQ or SVQ) as well as pass the Construction Industry Training Board’s health, safety and environment test within the last two years
CSCS also offer cards for members of certain recognised Professional Bodies. In such instances, applicants for CSCS cards can use their Professional Body membership to prove their competence, rather than the achievement of a vocational qualification or other equivalents.
CSCS has worked closely with the RICS to carry out a detailed mapping exercise of their membership criteria. As a result, the following CSCS cards can now be offered to those at the following level of RICS membership:
| Membership level |
CSCS card available |
| Student
Student members registered onto an Apprenticeship |
Trainee card
Apprentice card |
| Associate (qualified through the recognised Level 3 Apprenticeship)
Associate (qualified through the recognised Level 6 Apprenticeship) |
Advanced Craft Gold card
PQP card |
| Associate (all others) |
PQP card |
| Chartered |
PQP card |
Alan O’Neile, Head of Communications at CSCS said: “This is another great example of the industry working together to improve standards and safety on UK construction sites. The RICS have been maintaining professional standards in chartered surveying for over 150 years and it is their commitment to continual professional development that really ties in with the objectives of the PQP card.” The PQP card is valid for five years and all applicants must pass the CITB Managers and Professionals Health, Safety and Environment Test.
When applying for this card, Associate RICS members will need to provide a letter from the RICS confirming how they gained their membership to ensure that they are applying for the correct card.
Student and Chartered RICS members must provide proof of their current RICS membership.
by Clair Mooney | 1 Mar, 2021 | Membership
FIS Technical Director Joe Cilia will deliver a seminar as part of UK Construction Week on 9 March to discuss Compliance and Comptetency.
Specifiers who choose to use companies that are ‘Code Compliant’ can be assured that the claims made about a product are clear, accurate, up-to-date, accessible and unambiguous, and that where manufacturers work to the recommendations in the recent report ‘Raising the Bar’ have something to measure the competency of everyone in the supply chain in setting the specification and importantly addressing the risk point in procurement when products can get substituted in isolation of the system or where they interface with other elements.
The seminar will take place on 9 March at midday. To register visit https://www.ukconstructionweek.com/net-zero-housebuilding-registartion-9-march
by Clair Mooney | 25 Feb, 2021 | Skills
From April 2021, any adult aged 24 and over who wants to achieve their first full level 3 qualification, which is equivalent to a technical certificate or diploma, will be able to access almost 400 fully funded courses. The qualification list will be updated each month. Awarding Organisations will work with the DfE and industry to ensure further courses are added to this list where there is demand and they meet DfE requirements. The list of 400 qualifications currently include the following Level 3 outcomes applicable to the finishes and interiors sector:
- Site Carpentry
- Bench Joinery
- Decorative Finishes – Painting and Decorating
- Kitchen Installation Skills
- Ceiling Fixing
- Plastering
- Wall and Floor Tiling
- Installing Construction Anchors and Site Testing
- Occupational Work Supervision
- Leadership and Management
If you would like a qualification added to this list please contact FIS either by emailing info@thefis.org or call 0121 707 0077. For the full list please see the List of qualifications included in the National Skills Fund – level 3 Adult offer
by Clair Mooney | 22 Feb, 2021 | Skills
On 1 April 2021 CITB will be increasing the price of the Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test products by £1. This price increase was delayed by a year due to COVID-19. It will ensure that CITB can continue to invest in the test, so that it remains up to date against the expanding H&S requirements of construction and that delivery is accessible and trustworthy.
The new prices will be £22.00 for the test, the CITB HS&E revision test app will be £6.99 and mobile testing will cost £31.00. You can book a test here, and if you would like more information regarding this price change, please contact the CITB HS&E testing service team at hsetestdev@citb.co.uk
by Clair Mooney | 22 Feb, 2021 | Skills
A proposed offer to industry stating what priorities CITB has identified in order to train and qualify the construction industry and how CITB levy will be collected for the next three years, 2022 to 2025, will be distributed in April 2021.
This is not a vote to retain or close CITB, that decision is a lot more complicated and involves the Minister of State and Parliament. To ensure members of the Finishes and Interiors Sector get a say in how much Levy CITB can collect from the construction industry you must ensure:
- You complete your CITB Levy return on time.
- You ensure you state you are a member of the Finishes and Interiors Sector at section 1a of the return. Levy_Return_Guidance_Notes
Further guidance will be available from 1 March 2021 when the CITB proposed offer (the priorities for construction and levy collection) will be distributed via multiple means eg online, websites and news media. CITB will confirm to FIS the number of Levy paying employers and the value of their CITB Levy contribution. The final amount of levy to be collected will be confirmed in CITB’s final offer in June 2021, once the proposed plans are approved.
In order to provide information so that members can make an informed decision The Finishes and Interiors Sector will produce a position statement in June 2021. We will also be dealing directly with our Levy paying employer members and will have already been in regular contact with their Levy contact. When issuing the survey, we will send this directly to our Levy contacts and the CEO, as we will expect the CEO to be responding to the question on behalf of the company. We do however expect the Levy contact to ensure the CEO has all the relevant information to allow them and their Board to decide on how the organisation should respond to the question.
Although it is yet to be confirmed the Finishes and Interiors Sector will distribute the CITB consensus survey when it is available. Your responses will be presented to the FIS Board in early September 2021. The final response must be sent to CITB before the end of September 2021. The Consensus Survey window will close on Sunday 15 August 2021.
The two measures used to demonstrate consensus has been achieved using reasonable steps to consult will be:
- More than 50% of levy payers.
PLUS
- More than 50% of levy payable by employers that support the proposals (the value of what is to be collected)
Data from the 2017 Levy Consensus Results for Build UK:
|
Trade Associations |
Levy Payable |
| FINAL TRADE ASSOCIATION TOTAL |
26 |
£25,513,143 |
| Yes |
21 |
91% |
£20,911,130 |
98.21% |
| No |
2 |
9% |
£381,218 |
1.79% |
| Abstains |
2 |
N/A |
£4,075,216 |
N/A |
| No Response |
1 |
N/A |
£145,580 |
N/A |
Please remember to ensure you have an opportunity to vote:
- You complete your CITB Levy return on time.
- You ensure you state you are a member of the Finishes and Interiors Sector at section 1a of the return.
by Clair Mooney | 22 Feb, 2021 | CSCS, Main News Feed
Update 22.1.2021
HS&E Tests
There have been updates to the provision of HS&E Testing across all three nations. Testing remains in place in England and has resumed again in Wales, but in Scotland, updated government guidance has meant Pearson VUE have ceased delivery of testing. Ensure you check CITB’s Urgent Messages page for the latest information before trying to book. Or check the Pearson- VUE web site and look at country-specific testing information https://home.pearsonvue.com/coronavirus-update
Pearson Vue have are regularly updating their Country-specific testing information with details of what is happening in each country. The latest information includes this statement: You must bring and wear your own face mask while at a Pearson VUE-owned test centre and throughout your exam. Any surgical or cloth face mask, including a homemade face mask, is acceptable as long as your nose and mouth are fully covered. Face masks with exhalation valves and face shields are not acceptable. Candidates without a face mask will be denied testing services. Pearson Vue are unable to provide face masks to candidates.
Candidates are encouraged to check your test confirmation email or letter for details of safety measures at the Test Centre including the requirement to wear face coverings, or for any changes to your scheduled appointment. Limited capacity may cause delays in booking a test.
Visit CITB’s urgent messages page for further information on test centre availability across the whole of the UK. CITB are working alongside their partners to increase the testing capacity, so please continue to visit the CITB website to check for availability and to book your test.
COVID – 19 Position CSCS
A key requirement for all applications (new or renewal) is proof that the applicant has passed the relevant CITB Health, safety and environment (HS&E) test within the last 2 years. Based on COVID-19 issues CSCS is requesting employers and those responsible for site access and card checking procedures to use their discretion towards workers whose cards have expired since mid-March onward and who can provide evidence that they have been unable to sit their test or undertake the required training as a result of the closure of Test and Training centres. This is at the employer’s discretion until the situation has stabilised.
What steps are CSCS taking?
CSCS recognise that construction workers may face delays in obtaining a card while test centres cannot run at full capacity or are required to close. Therefore, they are asking the industry to continue to support the following temporary measures:
- Employers and those responsible for site access and card checking procedures to use their discretion towards workers whose cards have expired since March onward. But a worker must always hold the correct card for the job they do on site.
- CSCS has extended the grace period for card renewals from 6 months after the card expires to 12 months. This means that the card can be renewed, once the CITB HS&E test has been passed, up to one year from the card’s expiry date. This will assist those applicants struggling to find availability to sit the test and renew their card.
CSCS will continue to monitor the situation and where necessary introduce further proactive measures to limit the impact on CSCS applicants and the wider industry. You can visit www.cscs.uk.com/covid19 for the latest updates from CSCS.
What to do if your card has been expired for more than a year
If your CSCS card was issued via Industry Accreditation you will be required to appeal for late renewal, the appeals process can be found at
www.cscs.uk.com/appeals. If you achieved your CSCS card by achieving the NVQ or SVQ you can submit a new application and provide a copy of your NVQ or SVQ along with confirmation of passing the CITB Health, safety and environment test within the last 2 years.
“Lite Health and Safety Test”
Where it is not currently possible for individuals to renew their CSCS Cards or take the H&S Test. CITB has initiated a ‘lite’ Health and Safety test as a temporary measure, so employers can assess the health and safety knowledge of individuals.
Note this is an interim and only to be used where testing capacity is limited. It is designed to help employers run their own in-house interim testing to give a level of local assurance that an employee is safe to work on their site. Permission to allow the employee on site is at the discretion of the employer. Suggested test delivery guidelines are available to download here.
This product is free to download from the following sources:
CITB: LITE Operatives and Specialist HS&E TEST only
CITB: LITE Managers and Professionals HS&E TEST only
Further Information
CSCS for information on card registrations and renewals and more detail on the H&S Test click here.
The easiest way to apply for a CSCS card is online: https://www.cscs.uk.com/applying-for-cards/ or download the App MyCSCS (in Android or iOs)
More information is available online from CITB on CSCS Tests is available here.
Important test delivery information pertaining to COVID-19 (coronavirus) (note the section for various parts of the UK, construction is deemed as essential, so testing should carry on, but check the status for your local test centre to ensure there are no local issues).
Further information from CSCS is shown here.
To visit the FIS COVID-19 Hub Click here
by Clair Mooney | 22 Feb, 2021 | Market data
The Q4 Construction Trade Survey signals a continued, but tentative, recovery for the construction industry following the disruptions to activity from Covid-19 between March and May. SME building contractors and chartered surveyors recorded an increase in workloads during Q4, whilst product manufacturers on both the heavy side and the light side reported quarterly increases in sales.
FIS members can download the report here. More data from the CPA is available within our Membership Hub.
by Clair Mooney | 16 Feb, 2021 | Main News Feed
The rules for using the UKCA and the UKNI images have added additional instructions regarding the height of the markings. This now state under “Rules for using the UKCA image” and “Rules for using the UKNI image”:
- “the UKCA marking is at least 5mm in height for the whole logo, not individual letters – unless a different minimum dimension is specified in the relevant legislation.”
- “the UKNI marking is at least 5mm in height for the whole logo, not individual letters – unless a different minimum dimension is specified in the relevant legislation.”
Previously this only stated “the UKCA (or the UKNI) marking is at least 5mm in height – unless a different minimum dimension is specified in the relevant legislation.
Please click here to view the updated government guidance for using the UKCA marking and here for using the UKNI marking.
by Clair Mooney | 11 Feb, 2021 | Membership
RThe #StopReverseVAT campaign is off to a great start reaching more than 1.2 million social media users in its first week.
Whilst the Treasury’s position is still to introduce Reverse VAT on 1 March, the campaign is gathering pace and traction with an Early Day Motion being tabled by Kirsten Oswald MP calling for the Government to reconsider the implementation of Reverse VAT. Early Day Motions are a great way of drawing attention to subjects and increasing support for this motion is an excellent way of raising the profile of Reverse VAT within parliament. Kirsten has also contacted Build UK offering her support for the campaign.
Build UK has issued a press release in response to the Chancellor’s Plan for Jobs and Andy Steele, Vice Chairman of Build UK, spoke directly to the Construction Minister, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, urging her to raise the issue of Reverse VAT with her colleagues in the Treasury and make sure that they fully understand its impact on the industry and the supply chain.
Keep up the pressure
With the amount of interest already being shown, we want to keep up the pressure on the Government to withdraw the Reverse VAT legislation. You can really help by:
- Writing to your Member of Parliament:
- highlighting the damaging impact Reverse VAT will have on your business, sector and the construction industry
- including the Reverse VAT Factsheet
- asking them to support Early Day Motion (EDM) 1466
- Sharing more postcards using your Trade Association branding to show the range of sectors supporting the campaign
- Liking, retweeting and commenting on social media postings that have used #StopReverseVAT
- Include @HMTreasury @Jesse_Norman @RishiSunak @Annietrev #PlanforJobs in your postings on social media.
Read more on how the campaign to stop Reverse VAT is gaining momentum.
