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North West Regional Contractors Forum – Building Regs, Training and Clean Air

North West Regional Contractors Forum – Building Regs, Training and Clean Air

by | 24 Jan, 2020 | Main News Feed

The FIS North West Regional Contractors Forum took place in Central Manchester on the 22nd January 2020. Our group was hosted by Transport for Greater Manchester and we were treated to presentations by Wayne Timperley, Head of Building Control for Greater Manchester and Megan Black, Head of Freight and Logistics at TfGM and Project Sponsor for the Clean Air Plan. Copies of their presentations and supporting materials are available below.

We also covered the new Interior Systems Apprenticeship Standard and regional training funds that support this, assessment and our ongoing competence work. Details of additional support for NVQ Assessment in the Region are available here.

A specialist support package for apprenticeships has been introduced in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. 186 small businesses have received grants of £3,000 to help create new apprenticeship opportunities.

If you are concerned or have a strong view on the Clean Air Plan, which will likely start to impact on commercial vehicles from 2021:

Wayne Timperley, FIS CPD event 22Jan2020
GM CAP Proposals Jan 2020
GM_Clean_Air_Plan_Overview_Dec_2019_FINAL

Some feedback from attendees on the day:

“It was good to meet up and I hope there will be more events like this.”
“I found the event worthwhile, very informative and has definitely got the cogs turning.”
“Great meeting”

FIS is in sound shape, making a difference and continuing to grow

by | 21 Nov, 2019 | Main News Feed

The FIS AGM was held on the 19th November 2019 at St Georges Park, Staffordshire (read the minutes here)

In the Outgoing President’s address, Andrew Smith of OWA highlighted that the FIS was in sound financial shape with a little over £25,000 surplus generated in the year 2018.

In his speech Andrew remarked on the continued growth of the FIS, both in terms of membership and influence, particularly highlighting the FIS Product Process People approach to Quality and the FIS Competency SAKE Framework that are both being used to support the development of practical tools for members and starting to influence the wider market. He also used the new FIS Acoustic Verification Scheme as an example of how FIS works through the members to raise standards in the marketplace and actively help members to win work. He concluded by noting that healthy competition for Board places underpinned the growing levels of engagement that FIS was enjoying.

At the AGM, FIS Richard Grimes Grimes Finishings, was elected as a new contractor representative and both Jim Nania of Stortford Interiors and Philip Brown of Meronden were elected to return to the board for another two years. Lydia Sharples, Nevill Long and Stuart Roberts, CCF were also elected as new representatives for the supplier members.

Helen Tapper, Tapper Interiors was confirmed as incoming President at the event and in her opening speech set out the stall for her two year term. Helen intends to focus on continuing to grow the FIS whilst intensifying the fight for SME contractors and striving for greater inclusivity in our workforce. Helen also used the opportunity to announce the new FIS digital presence in the form of a new core FIS website and interiors platform linked to a new partnership with Barbour ABI and relaunch the revamped Fit out Futures Project, which has been extended now to June 2021.

At the meeting, Richard Jones of Paramount Interiors was confirmed as Vice President.