by Nicky Smith | Feb 17, 2017 | Main News Feed
Today is the final chance to provide your company’s training needs, enabling the FIS skills team to evidence a bid for £3.2 million of training funding.
We have a shortened version of the Training Needs Analysis to aid members in returning by the end of today – Friday 17 February: https://www.thefis.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/TNA-v2.pdf
Please return all completed forms to Penny Yeulet: pennyyeulet@thefis.org
Your evidence is crucial in helping the team collate the bid, thus giving members opportunity to provide their workforce with the required skills in 2017.
If you need assistance, or would like to give your figures over the telephone, please contact Penny who will put you in touch with one of the skills team.
by Nicky Smith | Feb 15, 2017 | Main News Feed
From 31 March 2017, the CRO card issued by Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) will cease. All CRO cards issued after October 2015 will expire on 30 September 2017 whereas cards issued before October 2015 will remain valid until their expiry date.
According to the CSCS website the withdrawal of the Construction Related Occupation card will affect over 230,000 CRO card holders, however there are solutions for the following scenarios:
– If you already have an approved qualification you will be eligible to apply for a skilled worker card without having to complete any further qualifications.
– There are over 70 occupations that are better represented by one of CSCS’s Partner Card Schemes. If your occupation is listed on this form you need to contact the appropriate scheme to discuss the application requirements.
– A number of CRO occupations are classified as labouring and should be moved to the green Labourer Card. If you are a CRO cardholder working in a labouring occupation, you must complete an approved qualification and apply for the green Labourer Card.
– There are over 60 occupations classed as non-construction related and will be removed from the scheme. If you fall within one of these occupations it will be the responsibility of site managers to induct you as a non-construction related worker and escort you where appropriate in order to carry out work safely on site.
In order to comply with the Construction Leadership Council’s requirement, further investigation and collaboration will continue in the following two areas:
– There are a number of CRO occupations with existing qualifications that do not meet the nationally recognised standards for those skilled occupations. Industry is working together to bring these qualifications up to the agreed nationally recognised standards.
– Industry has identified 25 CRO occupations that require further investigation before making a decision. If your occupation is one of these, CSCS are asking for individuals or sector representatives involved in these occupations to get in touch with the CSCS team.
To find out more, visit the CSCS website.
by Nicky Smith | Feb 9, 2017 | Main News Feed
FIS Skills has announced that on Monday 13 February, phase two of CourseSight will go live, enabling every part of the construction sector to benefit from its functionality. The phase two version also includes electronic VQ grant fund claims for CITB-registered employers – meaning no extra paperwork as CourseSight will manage the full submission.
FIS CourseSight is the marketplace for training courses and learning opportunities in construction. Designed specifically for training providers to publish and promote training courses and for companies and individuals to book and manage courses, CourseSight handles every aspect of searching and booking for training. Even better, information from CourseSight gets passed automatically to SkillSight so that newly achieved qualifications can be surfaced on individuals’ CSCS cards.
The system contains a number of powerful and unique features making it also the first choice for trade associations and industry bodies in construction, providing a wealth of industry and sector-specific metrics and analysis.
CourseSight welcome enquiries from construction lead bodies, trade associations, training providers and major contractors, so contact them to find out more: info@coursesight.co.uk
by Nicky Smith | Feb 9, 2017 | Main News Feed
£3 million of CITB Training and Skills funding available for SMEs with less than 100 employees! With up to £10,000 available per company, are you getting your share?
Is your business development stifled due to a lack of skills? Are you putting off those important business training programmes due to cost? If the answer is yes then get your share of a £3m CITB funding pot aimed at supporting SME investment in business and skills training.
Last year construction SMEs with less than 50 employees benefited through funding of up to £5,000 per company through CITB’s Skills and Training Fund. The funding route has recently expanded to include CITB registered SMEs with less than 100 employees and increasing the funding up to £10,000 to those employing less than 100, £7,500 for those employing less than 75, and £5000 for those with less than 50 employees.
You can apply for funding to support a wide range of training which may help you win business and keep business. So whether it’s training on a new software accounting systems, marketing skills, social media training, or the general development of your management and workforce skills make sure you maximise on the funding available to you.
The window for bid applications opened on 7 February 2017 and will stay open until 20 November 2017. Scoring will be carried out on a regular basis and bids assessed throughout the year.
We appreciate time is the greatest commodity for many small businesses so where you may not have the time, or in-house skills, to develop a bid we can signpost you to a national network of business support consultants who can help. Call Paul Curry at FIS Skills on 07760 662 270 for more information.
This is an excellent opportunity to access funding to support your business development and improve your employees’ skills. Don’t miss out, call us today!
by Nicky Smith | Feb 8, 2017 | Main News Feed
On Tuesday 7 February 2017, FIS held the President’s Lunch at Plaisterers’ Hall in London. Over 300 members and guests attended the lunch where the winners of the President’s Awards were announced, along with the plastering categories of the Contractors Awards. Comedian John Moloney provided the entertainment and compered the Awards.
Representatives from the BounceBack charity were in attendance to collect £2,726 raised in the prize draw. The first prize, sponsored by Metsec, was a Fortnum and Mason hamper. Second prize was an Amazon Kindle, sponsored by CCF. The third prize was a BB-8 Droid, jointly sponsored by Vela Training and approved training provider NowGetQualified. See all the photos on our Facebook page and read the day’s social media posts on Storify.
The President’s Award winners were as follows:
Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by CCF) – Jack Syddall, Drywall and Plasterer Apprentice, Horbury Building Systems Ltd
Outstanding Employee – Simon Cammidge, Sheet Metal Production Manager, aask Us Ltd
Future Leader – Harry Cottam, Project Supervisor, TCS Screeding Ltd
Lifetime Achievement Award – Gordon Brown (retired), previously of Ornate Interiors Ltd
The plastering categories of the Contractors Awards were also awarded as follows:
Internal Plastering
Silver winner – David Fisher & Sons for Botanic Cottage in Edinburgh
Gold winner – Taylor Hart for Project Fitzroy in Northampton
External Plastering
Silver winner – Cadons Ltd for Waitrose in Truro
Gold winner – G Cook & Sons Ltd for a private residence in Oxfordshire
Fibrous and GRG
Silver winner – Fine Art Mouldings for Nazrin Shah at Worcester College
Gold Award – Locker and Riley for the Lanesborough Hotel in London
Heritage
Silver Award – George Jackson Ltd for Manor House, Newbury
Gold Award – David Fisher & Sons for New Town Townhouse in Edinburgh
From all the team here at FIS, we would like to say congratulations to all winners, and we will be open for entries to the 2018 President’s Awards in September.
by Nicky Smith | Feb 8, 2017 | Main News Feed
The Joint Taxation Committee has confirmed that digital reporting of tax will be implemented in 2018. Last week, on 31 January, HMRC announced that most businesses, self-employed people and landlords will start to keep track of their tax affairs digitally and update HMRC quarterly from 2018. The HMRC’s plans to build a more accessible and transparent system will make the annual return a thing of the past. JTC will keep us informed of developments during 2017 in preparation for the switchover.
JTC is taking part in confidential discussions with HMRC and the Treasury about possible anti-avoidance legislation. The committee urgently need to speak to anyone who believes that a company has been using ‘off the books’ gangmasters who pay cash and whose labour bears no PAYE or CIS. Please contact FIS with any information which will be treated in the strictest confidence.
by Nicky Smith | Feb 2, 2017 | Main News Feed
A summary of the data revealed that the construction sector lost momentum in January. Other key findings were: Weakest activity growth since the recovery began in September 2016; Job creation hits eight-month peak; Strongest input cost inflation since August 2008.
by Nicky Smith | Feb 2, 2017 | Main News Feed
Build UK and CECA will be carrying out an audit of industry skills cards across construction sites on Wednesday 8 February 2017.
The requirement for all skills cards to carry the CSCS logo and be ‘smart’ was set by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC). This will provide consistency and recognise the training and qualifications that individuals hold whilst working on construction sites.
The SmartCard Audit will promote the value of the smart technology and highlight any expired and fraudulent cards.
by Nicky Smith | Feb 1, 2017 | Main News Feed
From April 2017, large businesses and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) will have to publish details twice-yearly on the average time taken to pay supplier invoices.
As part of business enterprise and corporate governance, government has set out measures to increase transparency of payment practices to support small firms. This will highlight bad practice and lead to improved standards.
Government has published guidance on how to comply with the duty to report, aiding large businesses to prepare for the new reporting requirements. In addition, the appointment of a Small Business Commissioner will support small businesses in resolving payment disputes.
Further details on the late payment policy have been released in a government response to a consultation on the Duty to Report on Payment Practices and Performance here.
by Nicky Smith | Jan 16, 2017 | Main News Feed
The CITB board has approved plans to cut the levy it charges qualifying construction firms by almost a third. This would see the current charge of 0.5 per cent drop to 0.35 per cent from 2018.
Between August and September this year, the CITB will be required to receive consensus from the sector as to whether it should continue to collect levy from construction firms, as part of the process for the CITB in seeking a Levy Order from the government.
A decision is expected in February 2018.
by Nicky Smith | Jan 13, 2017 | Main News Feed
FIS will be hosting a 45-minute presentation on Sustainable Design, Health and Wellbeing in Higher Education to architects and designers on the main stage at Surface Design Show on 8 February 2017 at 2.15pm.
The panel will include Andrew Parkin, Acoustics Partner at Cundall; Elina Grigoriou, Grigoriou Design and Chair of RICS SKA Rating; and Evan Landy, EHS (Environment) Officer from University College London.
Find out more about Surface Design Show via the link opposite. We look forward to seeing our members there.
by Nicky Smith | Jan 6, 2017 | Main News Feed
January’s edition of the Joint Taxation Committee’s Newsline provides information on: Travel expenses; Fuel rates for company cars; Welsh landfill tax; Scottish tax rates and a summary of the Employer Bulletin.
The Newsline is available to read here.
by Nicky Smith | Jan 6, 2017 | Main News Feed
We are sad to advise that Peter Fleerackers passed away on 21 December 2016. Peter was well known to many in the sector and particularly with regard to suspended ceilings having been involved in their installation from the late 1960s for over thirty-five years. Later in life, Peter was owner and Managing Director of Sabre Ceilings Ltd in Perivale, Middlesex and for many years a very active member of the Suspended Ceiling Association (SCA) later becoming the Suspended Ceiling and Interiors Association (SCIA) which became the Association of Interior Specialists (AIS) now the FIS. During the 1990s Peter was an independent advisor on suspended ceilings for the AIS’s advisory service and also an expert witness on the installation of suspended ceilings for Arbitrator, Adjudicator, Mediator and Barrister, Tony Bingham.
Peter’s funeral will be held at 12.30pm on Friday 13 January at Peterborough Crematorium, Mowbray Road, PE6 7JE with food and drinks afterward at The Fitzwilliam Arms, Stamford Road, Marholm, Peterborough, PE6 7HX. All are welcome to attend.
by Nicky Smith | Jan 5, 2017 | Main News Feed
Now that Article 50 has been triggered, the UK will begin negotiations to exit the European Union. FIS intends to represent its membership by providing the government with accurate data, backing-up an argument for construction to be considered in the Brexit talks. In order to do this, we have produced a short survey based on staff and operatives.
The workforce survey can be accessed here.
We urge as many companies as possible to take part; the more data we collect, the more informed we will be to accurately and actively lobby the politicians responsible for getting us the best deal for construction.
There are just seven questions to complete, all answers will be treated in the strictest confidence.
by Nicky Smith | Jan 4, 2017 | Main News Feed
A summary of the data revealed that new order growth hit an 11-month high in December. Other key findings were a robust and accelerated upturn in new work; construction output increased at the fastest pace since March; input cost inflation was at the highest level since April 2011.
by Nicky Smith | Dec 19, 2016 | Main News Feed
The CIOB report highlights the critical role that construction plays in reversing the declining levels of economic and social mobility in the UK. It contains a specially commissioned survey of 1,094 working adults.
Results show that construction ranks near the top for social and economic mobility, maintaining a third of all employment in this occupation group.
Follow the link to the CIOB website to download the report.
by Nicky Smith | Dec 19, 2016 | Main News Feed
The Each Home Counts review was launched in 2015 to consider issues relating to consumer advice, protection, standards and enforcement in relation to home energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in the UK.
On Friday 16 December, the Each Home Counts report was published by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and it sets out the recommendations from the review chaired by Peter Bonfield.
The Construction Products Association (CPA) led one of the key workstreams (for the insulation sector) to develop findings and consensus, and identify the subject areas for detailed consideration. The review makes a number of key recommendations. In the next stage, industry will develop detailed plans to implement the vision set out in the report.
by Nicky Smith | Dec 19, 2016 | Main News Feed
Further to our news item ‘Fit-out firms on alert for £900m opportunities’ on 17 October, we now urge member companies to register on the eSourcing portal. Companies seeking access to online PQQ documentation should email Lesley Bond at the Cabinet Office government procurement unit by 9 January 2017: lesley.bond1@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
The email should contain:
(a) the contract reference — Govt Hubs Fit-Out Framework
(b) a contact email address
(c) a contact name
(d) the company name and contact telephone number
The Government Hubs office closure and relocation plan is expected to generate up to £1bn of fit-out work over the next seven years. The major works programme will offer opportunities on a mix of small to large, and simple to complex fit-out projects across the country for a select list of preferred contractors.
by Nicky Smith | Dec 19, 2016 | Main News Feed
A networking event is being held on 2 February 2017 which will provide attendees with good practice examples on meeting the health and wellbeing needs of the workforce by:
– promoting the positive impact that a health and wellbeing culture can have on society
– identifying ways to manage employees with long-term health conditions
– highlighting areas where age can make employees vulnerable to certain safety hazards
– discussing why life-changing health events, rehabilitation and return to work are becoming increasingly important in the management of health and wellbeing
The event is aimed at all employers, managers, safety and risk professionals and employees who are looking to promote a positive health and wellbeing culture in their organisation and manage the challenges of not only the ageing workforce, but also the health of all employees whatever their age.
Bookings must be made by Thursday 26 January. The event will be held at Holborn Bars, 138–142 Holborn, London, EC1N 2NQ and will run from 8.00am to 4.30pm. To view the programme and booking details, download the form on our Health, Safety and Welfare Forum here.
Exhibitor opportunities are also available. If you’re interested in promoting your organisation, or showcasing a new product or service, email Louise Griffin, Events Assistant Coordinator, at louise.griffin@iosh.co.uk or call 0116 257 3207.
by Nicky Smith | Dec 15, 2016 | Main News Feed
The Forum has been updated with the latest news article and dates of forthcoming meetings. According to Construction Manager, published on behalf of the Chartered Institute of Building, almost half of all small refurbishment projects failed HSE safety inspections. Notes published ahead of the HSE board meeting last week revealed that inspectors visited a total of 1,840 sites and inspected 2,235 contractors in June/July and October/November of this year. Out of these, 49% of sites fell below safety standards. Inspectors issued 741 enforcement notices and 1,059 notices of contravention. Read the full story via the link on the Forum page here.
Page 8 of 13« First«...678910...>Last
