With additional incentive funding of up to £3,000 now available, taking on an apprentice is a more attractive step for many.  Payments are available for employers that take on an apprentice between 1 August 2020 and 31 January 2021 – funding is in addition to the CITB grants available to support a business taking on an apprentice and existing support for training.

From 1 September 2020, employers can apply for these incentive payments for hiring a new apprentice.

Funding payments will be made in three steps:

Step 1:  Hire a new apprentice(s) between 1 August 2020 and 31 January 2021 (extention confirmed as 31 March 2021) . FIS can help you with recruitment and selection.  Alternatively Recruit an apprentice is the official government service for posting and managing apprenticeship vacancies and traineeship opportunities in England.

Step 2:  Apply for the payment after you add the new apprentice(s) to your apprenticeship service account. If you do not already have an National Apprenticeship Services account, please read the guidance and register via guidance to manage apprenticeship funds.  FIS strongly encourage all employer members to open an account.

Step 3:  You will be eligible for two equal instalments after your apprentice completes 90 and 365 days of their apprenticeship.

Employers can spend the funding payment on anything to support the organisation’s costs, from facilities and travel to uniforms and salaries.  This is in addition to the £1,000 payment already available to help employers meet the needs of some groups of apprentices in the workplace.

To register your interest go to apprenticeship.service.gov.uk/ and complete an employer enquiry form.  Alternatively, you can call the National Apprenticeship Service on 08000 150 600.

Further Guidance on apply for these incentives if you are based in England is available here,

If you are not based in England and are interested in taking on an apprentice, further information on how to access incentives is available via the links below:

Scotland | Northern Ireland | Wales

Remember, if you are in scope to CITB grants of up to £11,000 may also be available for employers who employ apprentices.

Employer Incentive Payments 2020
FIS employer members are encouraged to apply for funding from source, any third parties offering funding will no doubt mean you receive less than you are actually eligible for.  If you need any information, advice or guidance on training, qualifications, apprentices, work placements or eligibility for funding (including CITB grant payments, Local Enterprise Partnership funds and employer allowances via the Department of Work and Pensions) in the first instance please contact FIS via info@thefis.org or 0121  707 0077

Back for their 17th year, the National Apprenticeship Awards are a fantastic opportunity to showcase the apprentices, employers and champions who have gone above and beyond, in spite of the challenges faced during this pandemic.

Entries to the awards are open until 25 September 2020 and this year’s winners will be recognised via virtual ceremonies. It is free to enter the awards, and all entries must be made through www.appawards.co.uk

There are nine categories to recognise exceptional employers, apprentices and apprenticeship champions:

Employer of the Year categories
• SME Employer of the Year (for organisations with 1 to 249 employees)
• Large Employer of the Year (for organisations with 250 to 4,999 employees)
• Macro Employer of the Year (for organisations with 5,000+ employees)
• Recruitment Excellence (the winner is selected from Employer of the Year award entries, and will be awarded to an organisation that has recruited a diverse and high quality apprenticeship workforce).

Apprentice of the Year and Apprenticeship Champion categories
• Intermediate Apprentice of the Year (level 2)
• Advanced Apprentice of the Year (level 3)
• Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year (level 4 or higher)
• Rising Star of the Year* (nominated by their employer, this award recognises apprentices that have made impressive progress in their career to date, and have the potential to go even further)
• Apprenticeship Champion of the Year (recognises individuals who go ‘above and beyond’ to champion apprenticeships. The nomination is made by a colleague or contact who recognises an individual’s ‘champion’ credentials).
* The Rising Star category will not include a public vote this year due to the condensed format of the awards

There are two webinars to explain the awards process in more detail, including hints and tips on completing your application. These can be accessed here:
• Employer and Rising Star webinar
• Apprentice and Apprenticeship Champion webinar

Regional Ceremonies will take place online between 2 and 6 November, with the national ceremony taking place online on Wednesday 25 November.

To find out more about the National Apprenticeship Awards 2020 please visit: appawards.co.uk

1. Which employers are requesting and/or would be interested in remote learning continuing to be on offer from CITB?
2. What employers reflect are the benefits and/or advantages of remote learning continuing? (i.e. easier for the workforce to undertake, reduces costs, travel, overnight stays etc.)
3. Which training courses would employers like to remain as part of the remote learning offer from CITB?

Responses can be sent directly to Julia Stevens Julia.stevens@citb.co.uk. The closing date is Tuesday 8 September. Please indicate your membership of FIS on your response.

Today NBS, the leading specification platform for the construction industry, has announced a partnership with trade association Finishes & Interiors Sector (FIS) to drive up standards and compliance through information sharing and best practice amongst construction professionals.

Fit-out is an essential aspect of the construction process, impacting the way a building looks and how it performs. NBS and FIS’s strategic partnership will ensure industry-wide compliance and best practice are pooled, and shared with specifiers, to drive further innovation in the sector.

In line with evolving design standards, this collaboration is part of a mutual commitment to improving the accuracy and quality of specifications, helping to support architects, designers and specifiers’ interpretation of information, and their ability to make informed choices.

For a specifier, interior fit-outs can be complex since there is so much to consider. The partnership seeks to overcome this challenge and provide specifiers with access to latest guidance documentation, informing best practice and validated by industry standards. High quality content and multiple content sets, linking to official design and specification standards are available to download here.

Together, NBS and FIS seek to drive efficiencies, value and better design through specification content and improve the competencies of all that use an NBS Specification, reducing misunderstandings. Utilising NBS Source and NBS Chorus to deliver the most comprehensive, consistent and up-to-date catalogue of building product information and specifications.

Iain McIlwee, CEO at FIS says, “This partnership strengthens our relationship with NBS, taking it to the next level. It draws on the expertise of both organisations to deliver a more consistent and targeted approach in understanding and supporting specifiers’ needs for bold design, better risk management, and compliance.

“Too often detailed design happens long after the building process has started and practical problems undermine intent. Simultaneously, information is not always presented in a way that enables specifiers to make informed choices and compare products and solutions”.

Richard Waterhouse, CSO, NBS, adds, “We are at the epicentre of an evolving construction product landscape, from procedure to policy and with high demand for improved collaboration. With the emphasis of the Golden Thread of Information on the entire design process, manufacturers are being compelled to create a unified and consistent approach to product information, placing accountability at the forefront of decision-making. Specifiers, for their part, are also expected to streamline processes and record details to ensure a safe environment.”

He adds, “Our partnership will enable us to work closely with the FIS and its members to deliver the best quality guidance and consistent standard of information on a single platform that is quickly understood”.

Commenting on the partnership, Sascia Elliott, Head of Partnerships, NBS, says, “Providing high quality information efficiently and accurately, in a cohesive way, promotes best practice and ensures industry structures align. This digital approach to help professionals do their jobs accurately is crucial to promote best practice within the wider construction industry.”

Raw monthly data underlines growth trend with value of £6.3 billion.

Whilst overall construction output fell by a record 35.0% in Q2, the bulk of that decline occurred in April with data for both May and June showing record output growth. Whilst the normal focus for construction output would be on the more stable quarterly figures, the unusual situation in 2020 means that changes to monthly output data are now in sharper focus. The latest data release from ONS shows that overall construction output increased by 23.5% in June and follows the previous record of 7.6% increase in May. However, despite the strong growth over the last two months construction output in June 2020 is 24.8% below that of February 2020, immediately priorto Covid-19 lockdown. Data for June shows 22.5% increase for new work compared to May whilst RMI output increased by 26.0%. New housing was particularly positive with 39.0% increase for the public sector whilst private sector housing output increased by 42.3%.

The private commercial sector registered a 25.5% increase on the previous month whilst infrastructure new work was more subdued with 6.7% increase.

The UK construction sector in August 2020 is firmly on the path to recovery with output for May and June showing some bounce back. In addition, contract awards data for June and July is extremely positive indicating that the 51.1% slump in new orders in Q2 might be allayed to some extent in Q3. In addition, the Business Impact of Coronavirus Survey undertaken by ONS indicates that the construction sector had 75.5% of staff working at their normal place of work or working remotely between the 15 and 28 June 2020.

FIS members can access the full report here.

The Grenfell Inquiry this week saw more employees from Rydon on the dock.  If you don’t already subscribe I thoroughly recommend that you follow the podcasts on BBC Sounds as they come out (weekly).  This week we heard from David Hughes (Site Manager), Stephen Blake (Refurbishment Director), Gary Martin (Site Manager) and Daniel Osgood (Site Manager).

The testimonies all make for uncomfortable listening and highlight real gaps in the construction process.  In giving evidence Mr Osgood was asked whether he believed that his job was to ensure that work being completed by subcontractors was “compliant” – he replied he “didn’t have the training to do so”.  He went on to say that he believed that “anything going on any building is fireproof” and that “all insulation was fireproof as a standard”.

The Project Manager, Gary Martin also got a grilling about foam.  He was questioned around the foam selected to seal the windows – he had “assumed” that the insulation was fire resistant.   Sadly it seems this assumption was incorrect and that it was wholly inappropriate waterproof seal was used to plug the gap left by the smaller windows – the product didn’t even claim fire resistance.  This selection of seals and use of foams remains a real challenge throughout construction – the days of going at a gap with a heart full of hope and a can of “fireproof foam” are surely behind us.

Mr Osgood’s misconception is multi-tiered, but at its core is a concept that I have been raising in talks for the past 5 years.  If I google fireproof foam, I get a myriad of results and claims, but the fact is that there is no such thing – a product can be tested for resistance to fire, but no foam is fire proof!  Even when a foam is tested to be fire resistant, very close attention should be paid to the scope of use.  How often have you removed a ceiling tile to find a large gap oozing orange foam (looking something like an explosion in crunchie factory!) – if you interrogate the test evidence of the foam it is likely that it has only been tested in gaps approximately 10-30mm wide.

SoundProof is another inaccurate claim, products should refer to the levels of sound absorption to reduce reverberation in a space and the sound insulation between spaces which is measured using  airborne or impact sound reduction laboratory tests.  Sound proofing is often used in claims where hard, dense and imperforate products are used for sound insulation, either airbourne or impact. Products used to improve the quality of sound in a space are absorbent and although they can contribute to reducing sound transmission they have different properties and are generally soft.

We are working with the Construction Products Association, as part of the Grenfell Response, to look at Marketing Integrity.  An underlying principle is that performance claims should reflect the test that was carried out, i.e Sound Insulation, Sound Absorption, Fire Resistance or Reaction to Fire.

We must always remember that performance tests are very specific and not interchangeable, for example a product test evidence for reaction to fire can not be used to demonstrate compliance where fire resistance for compartmentation between dwellings is required.

The Inquiry this week is a timely reminder that the ultimate performance of an installed construction product is reliant on a number of things.

• Its intended purpose and appropriate selection and specification
• Test evidence and/or third-party certification for the product for its use
• The installation being done fully in accordance with instructions

and that any interface should be with materials that are equal to or greater than the performance of the products themselves.  

Under scrutiny also, particularly in the evidence given by Stephen Blake, was the level of value engineering and impact cost led procurement had on the Grenfell project.  Rydon’s bid (£9.2m) was some £700,000 lower than the nearest rival and a staggering £2.1 m less than the original choice contractor.   It was within this process that Rydon and façade specialist Harley proposed aluminium composite material (ACM) in either riveted-on or cassette form as a cheaper alternatives to the zinc cladding that was originally specified for the tower (in which Rydon managed to extract greater savings than had been passed on to the client, seemingly to offset in part an error in their bid of £212k).

This substitution and the process was the subject of Mr Hughes cross examining.  Mr Hughes admitted that he had approved the decision to switch to the ACM cladding system used, but despite a clause in Rydon’s contract with the Council that said: “The contractor shall not make any substitution for any materials, goods or workmanship… without the prior consent… in writing of the employer.” he did not directly consult building control, the client or the architect about the swap.

The Grenfell Inquiry Hearings will resume in September. 

Details of the FIS PPP (Product Process People) Quality Framework are available here

Article by Joe Cilia, Technical Director, Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS)

joecilia@thefis.org

The UK Government is legally bound to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050, which means we will need to change how we build.  It includes the retrofit of energy efficiency methods to existing buildings.  But how can you and your business benefit?

Government is working with construction organisations to understand what skills the construction industry needs to access the new markets involved and will publish recommendations later in the year.  This is a key opportunity to influence and help shape the support employers need. Please complete the CITB online survey which should take 10 minutes and closes on Wedsesday 5 August 2020.  

This has been brought the attention of FIS by British Gypsum.  The key area of focus for the finishes and interior sector is internal insulation.

An inclusive, net zero carbon economy remains at heart of the strategy

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

• Giving an independent, specialist body the remit to provide strategic, long-term infrastructure advice to Scottish Government
• Enshrining the Place Principle and implementing a one public sector approach to planning and developing sustainable places
• Establishing a Construction Accord to strengthen the future relationship between the public sector and the construction industry

An independent, specialist body to provide strategic long-term infrastructure advice is considered pivotal to effectively delivering Scotland’s inclusive, net-zero carbon economy, according to a final report by the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland (ICS) presented to Scottish Government.

Enshrining the Place Principle and implementing a one public sector approach to planning and developing sustainable places are also key recommendations in the report.

The establishment of a Construction Accord to strengthen the future relationship between the public sector and the construction industry, is another vital recommendation in the Commission’s report.

Published today, the ICS’s report, ‘Delivery Findings – A blueprint for Scotland’ builds on the ICS’s initial ‘Key Findings’ report published in January 2020 and follows a further period of extensive stakeholder engagement, both pre and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its focus remains the delivery of an inclusive, net-zero carbon economy, the importance of which has only been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To achieve this, the ICS recommends that by early 2021 an independent specialist body be given the responsibility by Scottish Government to help prioritise the infrastructure needed to enable an inclusive, net-zero carbon economy and to develop a 30-year infrastructure strategy that is reinforced by a long-term needs assessment.

The independent organisation would sit outside the political decision-making system to enable it to operate in an arms-length and transparent way – one that builds confidence across the public and private sectors as well as society and the general public. This would allow the body to challenge Government while also undertaking tactical public engagement to inform the long-term strategy.

Among other ICS’ recommendations is that Scottish Government should enshrine the use by all stakeholders of the Place Principle which has already been proven to be an effective model when designing places within planning practice. This would support the creation of sustainable places and help enable a “one public sector approach” to infrastructure which is central to achieving the Commission’s vision for a net zero carbon and inclusive growth economy.

The ICS also recognises the importance of a thriving construction sector being vital for the successful delivery of Scotland’s long-term infrastructure requirements. While work is already underway to drive positive outcomes to increase productivity, raise capability and improve the reputation of the construction sector, the ICS notes that in light of the impact the covid pandemic has had across the economy, there is a window of opportunity for both the public and construction sectors to strengthen their future working relationship and practice.

As part of this, the ICS recommends that by early 2021, Scottish Government and the Construction Scotland Leadership Group should create a Construction Accord. This would underline the vision and set a commitment to improve conditions that support a high performing construction sector. It would include measures to improve the capacity, capability and diversity of the workforce at all levels with a heavy focus on skills development, training requirements and career prospects for those working in the sector.

Ian Russell, chair of the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland, said: “Infrastructure has a vital role to play in the delivery of an inclusive, net zero carbon economy and COVID-19 has amplified the need for urgent action and change for economic, social and natural infrastructure.

“The Commission is recommending that an independent, specialist body be given responsibility for providing Government with strategic, long-term infrastructure advice and enshrining the place principle within planning practice. Collaboration between the public sector and the construction industry is crucial and therefore establishing a construction accord between the public sector and the construction industry is another vital recommendation in the Commission’s report.”

Other recommendations in the report include harnessing a heightened focus on digital technology. Recognising the critical and increasing importance of high-quality data to infrastructure assets of all types, the ICS advises that a digital data co-ordination, standards and facilitation role is established by the end of 2021 to support the efficient and innovative development and use of data for the infrastructure sector.

Cabinet Secretary for infrastructure, Michael Matheson, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented global crisis which has fundamentally changed every aspect of our lives. Infrastructure will play a critical role in the years ahead as we plan our strategic economic recovery from the pandemic.

“I am grateful to the Infrastructure Commission for their hard work – no doubt made more challenging in recent months – to produce this comprehensive second report on the delivery of infrastructure. We shall now take time to consider its findings very carefully.

“The Commission’s Phase 1 report has already helped to shape our next 5 year Infrastructure Investment Plan, details of which I look forward to announcing in September. This Plan will incorporate a response to the Commission’s Phase 1 findings.”

The ICS, which was established in early 2019 to develop Scotland’s infrastructure strategy for the next 30 years, recognised net zero carbon and an inclusive growth economy as two overarching policies that were priorities on both a national and global scale. As such, these priorities were placed at the heart of its work and mark a sharp shift from the broad aim of overall policy convention to maximise GDP over the last 50 years.

The Commission was asked to provide advice to ministers on the possible creation of a Scottish National Infrastructure Company. After careful consideration, the Commission has concluded from its work that none of the outcomes of its recommendations would be enhanced by creation of a Scottish National Infrastructure Company.

On concluding its work, which is believed to be the first of its kind for Scotland, Chair of the Commission, Ian Russell, stated: “We are clear that the implementation of all of the recommendations made in our Phase 1 and Phase 2 reports – some of which we acknowledge will necessitate a fundamentally different way of prioritising, planning and delivering infrastructure investment – will make a significant contribution to the successful creation of an inclusive net zero carbon economy.

“The recommendations from the Commission’s work over the past 18 months are designed to galvanise and accelerate action by all involved with infrastructure in Scotland.”

The Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC) Working Rule Agreement, its pay and conditions, would normally have been reviewed at the end of June 2020.  In April 2020, all parties to the Agreement agreed to postpone the start of any review discussions, given the Covid-19 emergency and the unprecedented effects this was having on employers, operatives, the industry and across the UK.

Whilst work on many construction sites is restarting, the overall impact on the construction industry remains variable in different parts of the country.  As a result, the member trade associations of the CIJC representing employees covered by the CIJC have decided, this week,  to extend the postponement of pay negotiations until September, when a further assessment will be undertaken. This decision has not been supported by the trade unions and we await their formal response.

Parties to the CIJC Working Rule Agreement remain in regular contact to monitor progress as the industry moves forwards from the emergency to better understand any ongoing impact on employers, operatives and the industry.  In the meantime, all rates and allowances as detailed in the CIJC Agreement dated 1 August 2018 will continue to apply.

Visit our Employment Hub for more information

HBF Wales, in conjunction with the Welsh Government has launched a house building Site Safety Charter to help construction sites reopen in line with latest health and safety guidance.

House builders are gradually returning to work after a three month layoff as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

The document demonstrates a commitment from housebuilders and the wider industry to safe working whilst Covid-19 remains prevalent as well as government support for the resumption of house building and sales activity. Stimulating house building activity can play a major part in supporting an economic recovery – as well as ensuring the supply of desperately needed new homes is maintained.

The intention is that house builders will display the Charter on their sites, reinforcing their commitment to safe working and helping reduce concerns that their workforce, neighbours and customers may have at the current time.

The charter aligns with the Welsh Government’s Coronavirus Regulations and Moving home during the coronavirus pandemic Guidance and the Workplace guidance for employers and employees: COVID19 and has been developed in agreement with  CHC Community Housing Cymru and FMB Cymru  Federation of Master Builders Cymru.

Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation, said:

“Over recent weeks house builders have commenced a gradual return to work, in a structured way that ensures the safety of its workforce and the general public.

“The industry sustains thousands of people in numerous roles and associated sectors, boosting local economies across Wales. A resumption of work will play a major part in helping the economy recover as well as delivering the homes the country needs.

“It should also provide the supply chain with the confidence it needs to accelerate its own restart. The Charter is the public facing evidence which supports the very detailed protocols individual builders now have in place to ensure safe working on sites.”

Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James said:

“The need for a secure, safe and affordable home has never been more apparent than during the coronavirus pandemic.

“The contribution of the construction industry to creating more of these homes and the economy has also been highlighted during the crisis. This is why restarting work on building these homes in a safe and controlled manner is vital. This safe working charter will help the construction industry and the social landlords that contract them to do just that.

Aaron Hill, Head of Policy and External Affairs at Community Housing Cymru said:

“The coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the importance of good quality, affordable homes, and the need for investment in housing to play a key part in the economic recovery in Wales and beyond.

Housing associations have worked tirelessly to maintain a safe working environment throughout this period, and we are pleased to be supporting this charter which will protect the wellbeing of all those who are required to be on construction sites. This charter will play a key part in ensuring sites can operate safely as we work together to deliver the homes Wales needs.”

Ifan Glyn, Director of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Cymru said:

“Getting back to building new homes to ensure that we meet housing demand is of course of great importance, but what is more important still is that we do so without jeopardising the sacrifices made to contain the virus during the lockdown period. We, the Federation of Master Builders Cymru, believe that following the commitments set out in this charter will ensure that house builders are able to get back to work safely. We are therefore very happy to endorse this Charter.”

Guidance has been updated to confirm that from 13 July 2020 providers can welcome back 19 plus apprentices into educational settings, that the flexibility to suspend level 2 functional skills for level 2 apprentices has been extended, and to provide more information on support for redundant apprentices.

This is a difficult time for apprentices, employers and providers of apprenticeship training, assessment and external assurance.  The government is committed to supporting apprentices, and employers continue to build the skills capabilities the country needs now and in the future.  There are four English Apprenticeships currently available to the Finishes and Interiors Sector:

• Interior Systems installer – Dryliner
• Interior Systems installer – Ceiling and Partitions Installer
• Plasterer – Solid
• Plasterer – Fibrous

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) is responding by taking steps to ensure that, wherever possible, apprentices can continue and complete their apprenticeship, despite any break they need to take as a result of COVID-19, and to support providers during this challenging time.

The document sets out guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers and assessment organisations in response to the impact of COVID-19.  It outlines the changes that the ESFA is making to the apprenticeship programme during the COVID-19 outbreak.

With the introduction of urgent government measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and a rapidly developing situation, these guidelines reflect arrangements applied at the current time.  This guidance will be kept under active review and updated regularly with further developments.

The support ESFA are providing includes:

• supporting employers, providers and apprentices to work together to mutually agree where and how training takes place. This includes in the workplace or assessment centre where a provider is able to do so safely and where that workplace or centre meets new ‘coronavirus secure’ guidelines on ensuring the workplace is safe.  It also includes training taking place in educational settings in line with the new guidance on wider opening from 15 June 2020, guidance for further education providers, and guidance on what FE colleges and providers will need to do from the start of the 2020 autumn term.
• confirming flexibilities to allow furloughed apprentices to continue their training and to take their end-point assessment, and to allow existing furloughed employees to start a new apprenticeship, as long as it does not provide services to or generate revenue for their employer.
• encouraging training providers to deliver training to apprentices remotely, and via e-learning, as far as is practicable.
• allowing the modification of end-point assessment arrangements, including remote assessments wherever practicable and possible, this is in order to support employers, providers and end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) to maintain progress and achievement for apprentices.
• clarifying that apprentices ready for assessment, but who cannot be assessed due to COVID-19 issues, can have their end-point assessment rescheduled.
• apprentices whose gateway is delayed can have an extension to the assessment time frame.
• enabling employers and training providers to report and initiate a break in learning, where the interruption to learning due to COVID-19 is greater than 4 weeks.
• confirming that, where apprentices are made redundant, it is UK Governments ambition to find them alternative employment and continue their apprenticeship as quickly as possible and within 12 weeks. If you are making apprentices redundant please contact FIS.
• confirming that where apprentices are made redundant and are ready to go through gateway, that providers and EPAOs are able to make the necessary assessment arrangements to support these apprentices.
• confirming that ESFA are extending the transition period onto the apprenticeship service. Funds available for new starts on non-levy procured contracts can now be used until 31 March 2021.  All starts will be through the apprenticeship service from 1 April 2021.

UK Government are keeping the developing situation, and guidance, under review and will continue updating this guidance as new information is available and/or the situation evolves.

ESFA information should be read alongside the government’s COVID-19 guidance and support for businesses, in particular the salary support for furloughed employees, which also applies to apprentices.

ESFA have also broken down some of this guidance into articles for employers, training providers and EPAOs, as well as articles for apprentices.  These can be found on the ESFA Apprenticeship Service Help page.

Further information is available from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education

Provisions IFATE on the delivery of assessment.

HMRC has published revised guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for both employers and employees which clarifies the position about the ability to claim the scheme’s grants for wage costs during notice periods.

The wording added to the employer’s guidance states:

“You can continue to claim for a furloughed employee who is serving a statutory notice period, however grants cannot be used to substitute redundancy payments. HMRC will continue to monitor businesses after the scheme has closed.”

After studying the guidance, FIS Associate Member Citation, highlighted two important points:

• Firstly, the revision deals with notice periods generally and therefore this will apply in any case where notice is being served – not just redundancy.
• Secondly, the guidance remains unclear on the position where employers are contractually required to give longer notice periods than the statutory minimum (1 week if employed between 1 month and 2 years and after that, 1 week for each full year worked up to a maximum of 12 weeks). Our advice would be that if you want to claim for notice periods beyond the statutory minimum, you should contact HMRC to confirm that this is acceptable.

FIS has created a COVID-19 Employment Toolkit to support companies in managing their workforce.

If you have to make redundancies, Jobcentre Plus can give you and your employees support and advice through its Rapid Response Service.  Support could include:

• helping people facing redundancy to write CVs and find jobs
• providing general information about benefits
• helping people to find the right training and learn new skills
• helping with costs like travel to work expenses

Jobcentre Plus may also provide on-site support for large scale redundancies.

The Rapid Response Service provides local support and helps workers and employers by giving those facing redundancy access to the services of Jobcentre Plus and its partners before they lose their jobs. The support available through the Rapid Response Service is not just about Jobcentre Plus services – where appropriate other partners, such as the LSC, the devolved administrations, Local Authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships will be involved to provide a package of support to those affected.

As the name suggests, early intervention is a priority objective, helping some workers into decent new jobs before they have lost their current ones. Through the RRS, Jobcentre Plus and its partners offer workers faced with redundancy a range of options to help them find alternative work. The service can be an important resource for union representatives in this situation.

There are two ways to access support;

Employer Help Website: To find out more about the help available visit the Employer Help site here

Employees via Jobhelp: Encourage staff to visit the Jobcentre Plus job help website. This provides a wide range of jobsearch help and advice, including information about working in critical sectors and the latest vacancies. It also includes information about benefit advice and how to claim, and redundancy support that Jobcentre Plus and partners can offer to employees facing redundancy or have been made redundant. Visit Job help here

Employees can also use the Jobcentre Plus ‘Find a job’ which is a free service (available  24 hours a day, 7 days a week). You can access the Jobcentre Find a Job website here.

In Scotland, redundancy support is provided through the Scottish Government’s Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) initiative. The PACE Redundancy Helpline 0800 917 8000 is operated by Skills Development Scotland or help is available at here.

In Wales, the service is delivered by the React Employers

Support and a specialist helpline is also available via the FIS Employment and Workforce Management Toolkit