Face-to-face training has resumed at all CITB National Construction Colleges (NCC) across England and Scotland. The wellbeing of delegates and teaching staff continues to be of upmost importance and CITB state they have been diligent in following all government guidelines. They are continually monitoring government advice, especially in respect of regional variations, to ensure the colleges meet the standards required to keep you and colleagues safe while training.

To meet the rising demand for remote learning, the NCC have also increased the range of courses now available through remote training, including Health and Safety Awareness, SSSTS Refresher, Temporary Works, SEATS and CDM Regs. Courses can be found here and you can book by calling: 0344 994 4433.

This call for evidence seeks insights on the UK’s approach to the recognition of professional qualifications and the regulation of professions.  The Department for Business Energy and Industry Strategy (BEIS) want to hear from the broad range of individuals, businesses and organisations that interact with all aspects of regulated professions.  They would like to hear from you in particular if you are:

• a student studying for a professional qualification at a university, in further education or on an apprenticeship
• someone who uses the services of regulated professionals
• a UK or international regulated professional
• a business which employs regulated professionals
• an education provider who supports individuals in acquiring qualifications needed to enter regulated professions
• an individual with a particular interest

The Government has opened a Call for Evidence to gather insights into how professional qualifications are recognised and professions are regulated.  They would like to hear your views and experiences on employing regulated professionals and using services provided by these professionals.  To respond, please complete the online questionnaire or submit your response to professional-regulation-evidence@beis.gov.uk by Friday 23 October 2020.

Following the CITB announcement in June of the delay in Levy payments from May 2020 until September 2020, they proposed a reduction on the 2021 and 2022 Levy rate, providing an overall saving of 25% across two years to help businesses with cash flow.

CITB has also extended the period over which regular payments can be made, offering the ability to pay instalments over a full 12 months.  Direct debit instalments are usually collected in the 10 months between May and February but will now be collected over a full 12 months, starting in September 2020 and completing in August 2021.

For employers with existing CITB direct debits, these will automatically switch to the new instalment plan.  For others wanting to benefit from the extended period of interest-free direct debits, you will need to complete and return the direct debit mandate that will accompany the 2019 Levy Assessment Notice no later than Friday 18 September 2020.  The first direct debit instalment is due by 28 September 2020.

More information can be found here.  If you have an estimated Levy payment or need guidance on what to do, please click here.

Want to be part of the Green Homes Grant scheme? Want to maximise on government funding? Millions of pounds of government cash will be made available through the Green Homes Grant for homeowners this month to help customers across the UK improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Get TrustMark accredited today so you are ready to hit the ground running and receive the orders as they start coming in. Find out more and sign up here

The Plan for Jobs has introduced new support for FIS members to take on 16-24 for initial six months from the Government’s new Kick-start scheme.  The Kickstart scheme is for employers to create new jobs for those aged 16-24, claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.  There is no cap on the number of places per employer.  Companies who take part in the scheme will have to prove that the jobs they are making available to applicants are new, are not replacing any already existing jobs and are ‘above and beyond any jobs they were expecting to create’.  Employers will be required to provide training and support for the kick starter to find a permanent job, in early August the Chancellor said ‘If employers meet the conditions, government will pay young people’s wages for six months, plus an amount to cover overheads.’

Funding will be available for each six month job placement and will cover 100% of the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week and employers will be able to top this wage up.  It is likely employers will be required to register through Job Centre plus.  Official policy and guidance has not yet to been published, so please check with FIS if you are offered anything to do with Kickstart.  FIS will publish details when they become available.

Our Skills and Training Lead, George Swann gives advice on how to choose a good, and swerve a potentially poor training provider

Like it or loath it, people need training and there are a lot of training providers willing to take your money, some top quality and some not so good.  In every case training for work is a requirement of UK law, as a general duty of employers the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states:

“the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of employees”

As with all products and services it’s well worth shopping around and checking what you’re actually going to get for your money.  Always negotiate with training providers to get the best possible service, quality and price.

As an example, we recently received an offer that initially looked great and ideal for our staff, offering a bursary for early sign up.  But, on investigation the training equated to 40 hours of online tuition at £25 per hour per attendee, the attendee was required to identify a work based mentor and complete four hours of self-assessment exercises, as part of the 40, then two multi-choice answer tests online.  The outcome was an attendance certificate with no link to anything formally registered.  Get 40 students signed up for that per month and it’s a nice little earner with minimal overheads.

When you’re looking for training provision consider asking the following questions:

1. Is this training linked to a formal outcome, a qualification on the Ofqual and/or QIW and/or the SQA register, if it’s stated it is, check it out its always worth requesting the reference:

Ofqual: Ofqual Formal Qualification Register

Wales: Qualifications in Wales

Scotland SQA: Scottish Qualification Authority Register

2. Is there any funding available to support this training?
3. Does this training require a renewal, if so, what is the criteria?
4. Is there any follow up support?
5. When will we receive the certificate(s)?
6. Is there an appeals procedure, if so, what are the details?

FIS has a network of Approved Training Providers who have signed the FIS Code of Conduct and are subjected to an audit to ensure the service provided matches FIS members expectations.  If you feel unsure FIS will be happy to help by providing information, advice and guidance please call 0121 707 0077 or email info@thefis.org

Offering a trainee 2-6 weeks work placement may help bring new talent into our sector and give you first pick.

Your business will benefit from government funding while making use of potential talent currently studying a construction traineeship.  Employers can offer a trainee work experience in their business as part of a construction traineeship.  Employers who make new work placement opportunities available may also receive an incentive payment of £1000 per learner.  The employer commitment is a minimum of 70 hours of work experience, but no more than 240 hours for benefit claimants over the duration of the traineeship (maximum of one year) and as agreed with the traineeship provider.  For full details please read guidance on traineeship information for employers.

1. Contact the National Apprenticeship Service to register your interest in traineeships. It is the same employer enquiry form as above for apprenticeships.
2. Partner with a training organisation to design a traineeship to meet your organisation’s needs. The training organisation will advertise the work experience placement for you.
3. Agree with the trainee and the training organisation exactly what you and they expect from the work placement. Register as an employer to track your vacancies on the apprenticeship vacancy system and view applications.

After the work placement ends the employer should offer the trainee an interview for an apprenticeship place.  If the trainee is successful, the employer will then be eligible for further funding.

In a bid to curb the nearly seven million workdays lost annually in the UK due to musculoskeletal disorders and to reduce the health risks to construction workers from lifting, moving and handling large amounts of plasterboard, the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has published a Best Practice Guide, Recommendations for the Safe Ingress of Plasterboard.

The guide was produced by members of the Plasterboard Material Handling Group, which comprises representation from key suppliers, specialist and main contractors in the finishes and interiors sector and the Home Builders Federation (HBF), and is chaired by FIS Technical Director Joe Cilia. Created on behalf of the Health in Construction Leadership Group (HCLG), the Best Practice Guide looks at ways to improve safety when planning for the delivery and movement of plasterboard at each stage and how risks can be reduced.

Commenting on the launch of the guide, FIS chief executive Iain McIlwee said: “Musculosketal disorders (MSDs) cost construction employers £646 million a year and is one of the most common causes of sickness absence and productivity loss at work. The FIS Best Practice Guide, Recommendations for the Safe Ingress of Plasterboard provides clear recommendations on ways to reduce the risk of injury and improve productivity and working conditions on site.”

The aim of the guide is to improve health and safety when plasterboard is delivered, moved and stored. It covers material-handling arising from the journey that plasterboard takes when delivered to sites that include homes, commercial, high-rise multi-occupancy, new builds and refurbishments. The guide is broken down into stages from planning to engagement with manufacturers and distributors, delivery and offloading, storage, vertical and horizontal movement, storage of off-cuts and finally the removal and egress of waste.

“Training, planning and good working practices will ensure that people can work in the industry until they wish to leave it with good health and not have to leave the industry because of debilitating musculoskeletal problems,” added Professor Anthony Woolf of the Bone and Joint Research Group at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, who provided expert advice to the group.

Ian Strudley, who is Chair of the HCLG MSD Task Group and Occupational Health and Hygiene Specialist at Balfour Beatty, said: “This comprehensive guide to the movement and handling of plasterboard will help consolidate the effort to achieve further improvements in musculoskeletal health, and therein achieve additional risk reduction and greater productivity.”

A spokesperson for the HSE said: “Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are one of the most common work-related ill health conditions. Reducing the incidence and impact of these on workers’ health is a strategic priority for HSE. Poor materials handling commonly results in MSDs as well as more acute injuries. The construction sector has one of the highest rates of MSDs, and they are amongst the most common cause of sickness absence.

HSE acknowledges the launch of the HCLG’s report and guidance on reducing MSD during the delivery and movement of Plasterboard, and supports the collaborative work of the industry in reducing the incidence of MSDs.”

The HCLG comprises of contractors, clients, professional bodies, trade associations and trade unions. It is supported by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive).

FIS represents suppliers and contractors in the finishes and interiors sector. Its contractor members workmanship is vetted when they join and then every three years and they agree to carry out work in accordance with the FIS best practice guides.  All members abide by a code of conduct. A searchable list of members can be found here:

To download the FIS Best Practice Guide, Recommendations for the Safe Ingress of Plasterboard click here.

To assist in the design, specification and installation of building services penetrations to ensure fire compartmentation is maintained, five leading not-for-profit organisations have launched a Best Practice Design and Installation Guide, Firestopping of Service Penetrations. 

The aim of the guide is to encourage all stakeholders in construction to consider firestopping design earlier in the process in order to avoid problems at a later stage in construction. It is not an installation manual but guidance to a good practice approach. The guide is broken down to provide information on actions that should be carried out during each of the stages one to seven as defined in the RIBA Plan of Work.

With a foreword by Dame Judith Hackitt, who was the Chair of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, the Best Practice Guide will enable a project team to meet its obligations to deliver a safe and secure project in terms of penetration seals. The guide was produced collaboratively by the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA), Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) and the Gypsum Products Development Association (GPDA) to address service penetrations in buildings and ensure the spread of fire due to inappropriate or poorly installed service penetrations can be eliminated.

Commenting on the launch of the guide Dame Judith Hackitt said: “This document is the result of a collaboration between a number of relevant trade bodies and organisations representing the wider construction and fire safety industries, and it is an example of the collaborative working and acceptance of professional responsibility throughout the supply chain that must become a feature of the industry’s culture from now on.”

Commenting on the launch of the guide, Nick Mead, Mei Systems And Assurance Lead – Meica Systems, Laing O’Rourke Europe said: “Service penetrations in fire-separating elements are in part a minor element of a compartment wall or floor, yet in truth they are one of the most important elements when it comes to ensuring the performance of any compartment wall or floor is maintained.”

The guide was produced with the support of stakeholders across the industry including manufacturers, designers, contractors and specialist fire companies and in particular Rockwool, FSi Ltd, and Warringtonfire.

The Best Practice Design and Installation Guide, Firestopping of Service Penetrations is available to download here.

On 8 September FIS will be launching its latest Best Practice Guide – Recommendations for the Safe Ingress of Plasterboard

As part of the launch, we are hosting a live webinar on 8 September. This is fully booked but if you are interested in listening to the webinar, you can register to receive a recording of the session here.

This guide looks at ways to improve safety when planning for the delivery and movement of plasterboard and how the risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD’s) can be reduced.

The aim of the guide is to improve health and safety when plasterboard is delivered, moved and stored. It covers material-handling arising from the journey that plasterboard takes when delivered to sites that include homes, commercial, high-rise multi-occupancy, new builds and refurbishments.

The guide is broken down into stages from planning to engagement with manufacturers and distributors, delivery and offloading, storage, vertical and horizontal movement, storage of off-cuts and finally the removal and egress of waste.

Iain McIlwee, FIS Chief Executive said: “MSDs cost construction employers £646 millon a year and are one of the most common causes of sickness absence and productivity loss at work. The FIS Best Practice Guide, Recommendations for the Safe Ingress of Plasterboard provides clear recommendations on ways to reduce the risk of injury and improve productivity and working conditions on site.”

Tuesday 8 September
Time: 12:00 – 13:00

LIVE SESSION NOW FULLY BOOKED
register to receive a recording direct to your inbox!

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

Calling all apprentices, employers, and individuals who champion apprenticeships… the National Apprenticeship Awards 2020 are now open for entries!

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

 

 

CITB is looking to offer remote learning as a permanent delivery format. To ensure that what they offer really meets industry needs CITB would like to collect information on the following areas:

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.