The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has introduced a new Remediation Improvement Plan aimed at speeding up the processing of Gateway Two applications for remediation projects.

The regulator has also set a target to clear the majority of outstanding remediation applications submitted in 2024 by 30 April 2026, as part of wider efforts to accelerate progress on higher-risk residential building remediation.

Key Measures in the Improvement Plan

The plan introduces several operational changes designed to improve efficiency and reduce application processing times.

Key measures include:

• Creation of a Remediation Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)

A dedicated cohort will be established to manage remediation applications, similar to the existing Innovation Unit used for new-build Gateway Two submissions. The MDT will include account managers to streamline communication with applicants.

• Increased regulatory capacity

The BSR has launched a recruitment drive to increase the number of Regulatory Leads, helping to reduce individual caseloads and accelerate application reviews.

• ‘Approval with Requirements’ approach

Where applications demonstrate substantive compliance with Building Regulations, the regulator may issue conditional approval while allowing certain additional information to be provided later.

• New guidance for remediation applications

Specific guidance is being published to clarify requirements for remediation Gateway Two submissions. Build UK guidance sets out the information that must be included when applying for works to existing Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs).

Latest Data on Remediation Progress

Alongside the improvement plan, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has released updated data on remediation progress for residential buildings 11 metres and above in England.

As of January 2026:

• Remediation work has been completed on 36% of the 4,191 buildings identified
• Work is currently underway on a further 16%
• For buildings 18 metres and over, remediation has been completed on 46% of the 2,355 buildings identified

The new plan is intended to increase the pace of approvals and help accelerate the delivery of remediation works across the sector.

FIS will continue to monitor developments and provide updates for members as further guidance and regulatory changes emerge.

CITB has announced updated arrangements for how in-scope employers will be able to access funding for training from 1 April 2026, with the level of support available depending on the size of the organisation.

The update follows CITB’s recent decision to pause new training bookings through Employer Networks for courses taking place before 1 April, after confirming that the current year’s budget has been fully committed due to high demand.

Employer Networks funding from April

From the start of the 2026/27 financial year, micro to medium-sized employers will continue to be able to access training through Employer Networks, although funding will now be capped depending on business size.

Training will be available through 50% match funding, or via a fixed contribution for health and safety courses, with the following caps applying:

• Micro employers: up to £1,500
• Small employers: up to £2,000
• Medium employers: up to £4,500

New funding route for large employers

Under the revised approach, large employers will no longer access training funding through Employer Networks.

Instead, CITB is introducing a new Large Employer Fund, which will provide £18,000 per year for eligible businesses to spend on in-scope training.

Funding will be paid against an approved training plan or on receipt of evidence that training has taken place.

Other funding routes remain available

CITB has confirmed that all employers, regardless of size, will still be able to access support through a range of existing funding schemes, including:

• Apprenticeship grants
• Travel to Train support
• Qualification grants
• Short course grants for certain specialist courses
• The Industry Impact Fund

FIS response

FIS has raised concerns with CITB regarding the level of the funding caps, particularly where the caps are linked to employee numbers despite higher levy contributions associated with CIS workers.

These concerns will be discussed further with CITB at upcoming meetings, and FIS will continue to represent member feedback as the new arrangements are implemented.

Further updates will be shared with members as discussions progress.

FIS Training Provider member DMR Training & Consultancy has announced that funding is currently available for a range of construction NVQs, subject to eligibility criteria being met.

The funding supports individuals working across the finishes and interiors sector, helping operatives and supervisors gain recognised qualifications that demonstrate competence and support career progression.

Opportunities are currently available for candidates working in Greater Manchester and Greater London, covering a range of Level 2 and Level 3 trade and supervisory qualifications.

This is a valuable opportunity for employers and individuals looking to formalise skills, improve competency and access funded training support.

Funded NVQs – Greater Manchester

Level 2 Trade NVQs

• NVQ Certificate in Fitted Interiors (Construction)
• NVQ Certificate in Interior Systems (Construction) – Dry Lining Boarder
• NVQ Certificate in Interior Systems (Construction) – Dry Lining Finishing
• NVQ Certificate in Interior Systems (Construction) – Operable Partition Systems
• NVQ Certificate in Interior Systems (Construction) – Ceiling Fixing
• NVQ Diploma in Associated Industrial Services Occupations – Passive Fire Protection
• NVQ Diploma in Wood Occupations (Construction) – Site Carpentry
• NVQ Diploma in Plastering

Level 3 Trade NVQs

• NVQ Diploma in Wood Occupations (Construction) – Site Carpentry
• NVQ Diploma in Occupational Work Supervision (Construction)
• NVQ Diploma in Trowel Occupations (Construction)
• NVQ Diploma in Interior Systems (Construction) – Complex Suspended Ceiling Systems
• NVQ Diploma in Interior Systems (Construction) – Stretched Ceiling Fixing
• NVQ Diploma in Plastering (Construction) – Fibrous
• NVQ Diploma in Plastering (Construction) – Solid

Funded NVQs – Greater London

Level 3 Trade NVQs

• NVQ Diploma in Occupational Work Supervision (Construction)

Find Out More

Funding is subject to eligibility criteria, and places may be limited.

For more information or to discuss suitability, please contact Sarah at DMR Training & Consultancy:

01942 673047

sarah@dmrltd.co.uk

BSI have just published PAS 2000:2026 – Construction products – Bringing safe products to market – Code of practice.  PAS 2000 is free to download as it was sponsored by OPSS to align with expected changes to construction product reform. 

PAS 2000:2026 | 28 Feb 2026 | BSI Knowledge

FIS was part of the drafting panel for this standard, and member feedback to the construction product reform Green Paper consultation last year was useful in helping to draft some of the proportionate measures outlined in the standard.

The PAS is intended to provide recommendations and guidance to manufacturers of any construction product placed on the UK market about measures they can adopt to demonstrate that their construction products are safe and fulfil their responsibilities as a manufacturer. It sets out what the manufacturer could reasonably be expected to do to assess the safety of their construction product for its intended use before it is placed on the market. It is applicable to all construction products and not only those covered by EU harmonised or UK designated standards. 

The PAS covers risk assessment of the proposed construction product prior to it being placed on the market, including assessment processes, factory production control, provision of construction product information and the collection and use of market feedback, including safety critical incident reporting and investigation.

Compliance with this standard is voluntary, but suppliers will need to consider the possibility of PAS 2000 being used in specification documents.

This week FIS hosted Interiors Insight: LIVE at the Workspace Design Show in London, two days of packed sessions, lively debate and forward-thinking discussion focused firmly on the future of the finishes and interiors sector.

With standing-room-only audiences across multiple sessions, the event demonstrated both the appetite and urgency for deeper conversations around sustainability, circularity, risk, data and design. What made the programme particularly powerful was not just the calibre of speakers, but the active engagement from the audience, challenging assumptions, sharing experiences and contributing to an open, solutions-focused dialogue.

Most importantly, it was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the work FIS is leading in the sustainability space and to take those conversations beyond our immediate membership to new and influential audiences.

Day One: From Strategy to Specification

The first day opened with a strong message: sustainability is no longer a bolt-on. It is central to competitive advantage.

Making Sustainability Your Superpower

The discussion set the tone for the event, exploring how a values-led approach can embed sustainability into every stage of fit-out. The panel tackled commercial realities head-on, demonstrating how aligning sustainability with business drivers creates opportunity rather than constraint.

The clear takeaway? Sustainability done well strengthens brand, resilience and performance.

Opening the Door to a Circular Future

Sometimes circularity begins with something familiar.

This session used doors as a lens to explore how better design and early decision-making can unlock reuse and reduce waste. The conversation challenged conventional specification approaches and highlighted how lifecycle thinking must begin at concept stage, not at strip-out.

Pods – Furniture or Construction?

 One of the most animated debates of the day examined a growing grey area in modern workplaces: pods.

As their use increases, so too do questions around classification, compliance, fire performance and interaction with active protection systems. The session reinforced the importance of early technical scrutiny and clear responsibility. Not everything that looks simple is low risk.

Measuring the Impact of Fit-Out

If you can’t measure it, you can’t reduce it.

This session moved the conversation from ambition to evidence, examining embodied carbon hotspots and how better data is reshaping design and procurement decisions. The message was clear: data is no longer a reporting exercise, it is a design tool.

Putting Reuse First

Is reuse too complicated? Too expensive? Too time consuming?

This energising discussion dismantled common myths, sharing practical examples of how reuse is moving from aspiration to implementation. When embedded early and supported by process, reuse becomes a commercial and strategic advantage, not a compromise.

Day Two: Turning Insight into Implementation

Day two shifted focus toward scaling solutions and connecting sustainability with innovation, wellbeing and technology.

Taking the Plunge – Lessons from FIS Project Reuse

FIS Project Reuse is not theory, it is live research.

This session shared early learning from the project, highlighting the importance of coordination, stakeholder engagement and standardised processes to make urban mining viable at scale. Reuse works, but consistency and collaboration are critical.

Nature x Design

Workplace design is evolving beyond aesthetics.

Exploring biophilic principles, the panel demonstrated how nature-inspired environments enhance cognitive performance, wellbeing and productivity. Better spaces do more than look good, they help people think, focus and perform better.

Tech That Transforms

Digital tools are no longer optional.

This session examined how technology is improving collaboration, reducing waste and unlocking measurable sustainability gains. Better data leads to better decisions, and better project outcomes.

Navigating the Future: The Triple Bottom Line

The closing session brought structure to the sustainability conversation.

Using Ska Rating principles and the triple bottom line framework, the discussion emphasised the need to balance environmental, social and commercial value. Sustainable interiors require evidence, governance and a shared direction, not just good intentions.

A Sector Ready to Lead

Across both days, one theme was consistent: the finishes and interiors sector is not standing still.

From carbon measurement and circularity to compliance, wellbeing and digital innovation, the conversations were honest, technically robust and grounded in real project experience. The engagement from the audience reinforced the appetite for practical solutions and shared learning.

Interiors Insight: LIVE demonstrated the important role we all play in convening the sector, raising standards and driving sustainable transformation.

The discussions don’t stop here.

We look forward to continuing the conversation, and turning insight into action.

FIS is proud to be supporting Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2026, taking place from 02–06 March, a national celebration recognising the value apprenticeships bring to individuals, businesses, and the wider economy.

Apprenticeships continue to play a critical role across the finishes and interiors sector, helping to develop specialist skills, build workforce resilience, and create meaningful career pathways. They remain one of the most effective ways for employers to nurture talent while ensuring the long-term sustainability of our industry.

Scottish Apprenticeship Week provides an opportunity to showcase the real-world impact apprenticeships are having within our sector, highlighting both employer investment and individual achievement.

Share Your Story

As part of this year’s campaign, FIS is inviting members to help celebrate apprenticeships in action.

We would welcome contributions from members who:

• Currently employ an apprentice, or

• Have employees who have recently completed their apprenticeship

Members can get involved by collaborating with FIS through one of the following:

Case Study
A short written case study (maximum 500 words) featuring your apprentice or recently qualified employee, sharing their experience, development, and career journey.

Video Contribution
A brief video clip of your apprentice or employee discussing their apprenticeship experience and the impact it has had on their role, skills, and progression.

These stories help demonstrate the tangible benefits of apprenticeships, not only for learners but also for employers and the wider finishes and interiors community.

Why Participate?

By sharing your experience, you will help:

• Promote careers in finishes and interiors

• Inspire future apprentices

• Highlight the positive impact of employer investment in skills

• Strengthen industry understanding of apprenticeship pathways

Most importantly, you will be contributing to a collective industry narrative that showcases the professionalism, opportunity, and progression available within our sector.

FIS looks forward to celebrating the achievements of apprentices and employers throughout the week.

The Skills Centre have started to run 4-week Dry Lining courses at Build East, commencing Monday 2nd March.

The programme is designed to provide participants with practical, hands-on training and develop the essential skills required to give them a grounding and start them on the path to becoming a dryliner or alternative trade in the interior fit-out sector.

How you can get involved

We need employers to support an interview and placement programme for these candidates (you will be fully supported throughout in structuring this).

We’re looking for employers who can offer:

• Interviews
• Two‑week work trials
• Job opportunities

In return you will have access to potential recruits, keen to start their career in the sector and with some basic training before they hit the wider market.  Supporting this programme will also help contribute to requirements you have may have to support local employment and social value procurement requirements.

When

Ideal dates for interviews would be during the weeks commencing 16th or 23rd March, although we can work with The Skills Centre to accommodate alternative dates that are more convenient.

 This initiative provides a unique chance for employers to engage directly with emerging talent, support skills development in the sector, connect with the next generation of skilled drylining professionals, and identify candidates ready to join their workforce.

Where

Build East Skills Centre, Bassett Lane, Stratford, London, E9 5EN

Why

If not you, who.  We need to build the workforce our sector needs — together.

Please do get involved and come down and see what we are doing, learn more about the process and hopefully meet your next generation workers.  We hope to be rolling similar out across the UK.  We can also talk to you about funding available to support you in taking the individuals on to achieve a level 2 trade qualification.

FIS is highlighting an important regulatory development that may affect parts of the finishes and interiors supply chain.

Information provided via the Construction Products Association (CPA) confirms that from 6 August 2026, new restrictions on formaldehyde emissions will come into force across the European Union.

What is changing?

The updated EU Annex XVII amendment introduces tighter limits on formaldehyde emissions from products used within indoor environments.

Under the new rules:

• Furniture and wood-based articles must meet a limit of 0.062 mg/m³ (0.05 ppm)
• All other articles, including non-wood-based building materials, must meet a limit of 0.08 mg/m³

These measures are intended to reduce risks to human health associated with formaldehyde exposure in indoor air and vehicle interiors.

Does this apply in the UK?

Whilst the UK is not directly bound by this EU regulation:

• Northern Ireland will follow the EU requirements
• Manufacturers supplying both UK and EU markets may need to comply
• Specifiers and contractors may see changes in product declarations, testing data, or documentation

As such, the implications may extend beyond EU-only projects.

Exclusions

The restriction does not apply to:

• Products intended exclusively for outdoor use
• Articles installed outside the building shell and vapour barrier, where emissions do not impact indoor air quality

Why this matters for FIS members

For manufacturers, distributors, and contractors, this change may influence:

• Product compliance and certification
• Specification decisions
• Supply chain documentation
• Cross-border trade considerations

Early awareness will help businesses avoid disruption as implementation approaches.

FIS encourages members to review this update, particularly those involved in product specification, procurement, or manufacture of interior systems and components.

The FIS Sustainability Leadership Group met at the offices of Canary Wharf Group this week. This group was established to help reduce the impact of the sector and members on their own net zero journey.

The meeting opened with a keynote from Canary Wharf Group’s, a real message of hope that their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) was having real world impact with large sustainability projects, such as the Eden Dock project, which led to the best leasing year in over a decade. A critical success factor identified was involves working with the team on project delivery, making decisions early and filtering information down to projects effectively.

FIS Sustainability Champion, Flavie Lowres, then shared data from the live project collecting carbon data related to the Cat A to Cat B transition. This project was originally proposed by Workplace Futures Group who began collecting the data internally and suggested a wider collaborative effort would be more beneficial and support earlier conclusions. At the outset standard definitions of Cat A and Cat B were agreed. FIS collects project data, aggregating and anonymising the results to help identify overall impact, carbon hotspots and starting to highlight opportunities to improve the process.  Initial data was shared, it was recognised that there is still a huge spread in the data and more projects were needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.

 The next discussion focussed on the need for a more efficient and consistent process for gathering manufacturers data. This agenda item put forward by Overbury and Canary Wharf have been working on a standardised format that could be used to support consistency of data collection across the sector. This would be particularly useful on projects seeking to get BREEAM, LEAD or SkaRating. The approach is akin to the Product Data Template approach embedded in BIM and would support standardised information exchange and help manufacturers to assemble information like EPDs and Life Cycle Assessments in a more accessible way.  A summary and sample will be circulated to the wider group for comment to see if FIS should support the next phase of this work.

Hattie Emerson updated the group on FIS Project Re-use, a research project that is using a storage facility in Kent to facilitate the re-use of ceiling tiles and luminaires. Hattie presented our first completed case study of products re-used through the project. An interesting early observation is the number of stakeholders who need to be involved in the process across both projects in order to support re-use. A video on this case study is being finalised and this is being presented in the Interiors Insight Workshops at the Workspace Design Show on the 26th February.

Ecophon then provided an update on the Saint Gobain approach to circularity and described their takeback scheme and how this could support re-warranting product for future use.  A discussion around the need for standards, similar to those that support re-use of steel, resulted recognising the challenge of meeting regulatory standards if information is patchy. This is something FIS is following up through our various product working groups.  

 Following a short update on the Plasterboard Sustainability Partnership, a group that is currently being revitalised to look at better monitoring and reduction of plasterboard waste, there was an open discussion on the opportunities and challenges of re-using doors followed. Whilst it was recognised legacy issues will make the reuse of doors difficult, the potential to rethink the approach to specifying and installing doors would open huge opportunity.  It is an interesting area to explore the subject of re-use as it brings in all factors into play, particularly the modularity of the product and the chain of custody and information management around certification, installation and inspection of doors. Again there is a workshop on this subject at the Interiors Insight Workshops at the Workspace Design Show on the 25th February.

Flavie also updated the group on the FIS Pre-cycle Agreement that had been successfully piloted. The aim is to ensure that reality and practicality of takeback schemes is independently reviewed and that the particulars should be agreed at the prior to installation so an end of service life plan can be successfully created. This does not create a legally binding contract, but a structured discussion between the supplier and the customer that will ensure that waste is minimised and costs recognised. 

Komfort provided some key finding from work they have been doing on recycling glass and the Supply Chain Sustainability School gave an update on assessment tools and carbon calculators available freely to FIS members through the school that we have helped to shape and can help provide aggregated impact assessment and benchmarking in the sector.

We then went to the pub and talked about sustainability a bit more!

The construction industry is evolving fast and the demand for skilled apprentices has never been higher. That’s where STEM Ambassadors make a real difference.

By sharing real-world experiences, running engaging workshops, and offering honest mentorship, STEM Ambassadors bring construction careers to life. Through hands-on demonstrations, virtual site tours, and personal career stories, they give young people a clear, motivating insight into the industry, helping apprentices build confidence, develop practical skills, and find their place in construction.

STEM Ambassadors also shine a spotlight on the innovation and inclusivity shaping modern construction. Working closely with schools, colleges, and industry partners, they help create clear pathways into apprenticeships, bridging the gap between education and employment.

The result? A skilled, diverse, and future-ready construction workforce, built for what’s next.

The UK Government has published a new working paper on the reform of non-compete clauses in employment contracts and is seeking views from employers, workers and industry stakeholders ahead of potential legislative change.

FIS is encouraging members across the finishes and interiors sector to engage with this consultation to ensure that the practical realities faced by specialist contractors and their workforce are properly represented, including those operating across Scotland and the wider UK.

What are non-compete clauses?

Non-compete clauses are contractual terms that restrict an individual’s ability to work for, or establish, a competing business after leaving an employer. While such clauses are only enforceable if deemed “reasonable” by a court, there are currently few constraints on their inclusion in employment contracts, regardless of enforceability.

Research by the London School of Economics suggests that around 26% of workers are subject to non-compete clauses, raising questions about labour mobility, skills development and business growth.

What changes are being considered?

As part of its wider growth agenda, the Government is seeking views on several possible policy options, including:

• Introducing statutory limits on the length of non-compete clauses
• Banning non-compete clauses in employment contracts altogether
• Banning non-compete clauses below a certain salary threshold
• A combined approach, banning clauses below a salary threshold while limiting their duration above it

The Government is particularly interested in understanding how reform could support innovation, competition and workforce flexibility, while balancing legitimate business interests such as protecting confidential information and client relationships.

Why this matters for FIS members

For employers in the finishes and interiors sector, non-compete clauses can affect:

• Recruitment and retention in a highly mobile, skills-short market
• Investment in training and upskilling
• Fair competition and the movement of specialist expertise
• Business confidence when senior or technically skilled staff move on

FIS believes it is essential that any reform reflects the realities of SME-dominated supply chains, where skills, trust and continuity are critical to delivering safe, compliant and high-quality work.

How to respond

Members can respond to the working paper either:

• Online, via the Government consultation portal
• Or by email to: noncompeteclauses@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Deadline for responses: 18 February 2026

Further information

The full working paper and consultation questions are available here:

Working paper on options for reform of non-compete clauses in employment contracts – GOV.UK

FIS will continue to monitor this policy development and feed sector views into Government where appropriate. Members with specific concerns or examples they wish to share are encouraged to contact the FIS team.

FIS has submitted a response to the government’s consultation on the rise in NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) among young people. Drawing on sector evidence, FIS highlighted structural barriers limiting youth participation, including the decline in entry-level apprenticeships, limited capacity among SMEs, weak links between schools and industry, and young people’s lack of work experience. Data from gov.uk show that apprenticeship starts for under-19s in key trades have fallen sharply since 2017, while SMEs face challenges in taking on apprentices due to volatile workloads, low returns, and administrative burdens.

FIS’s response calls for a rebalancing of the skills system towards Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships, stronger SME support, and employer-led training frameworks that align education with real job roles. It also stresses the need for robust careers advice, a review of the proportionality of on-site supervision for under-18s in line with health and safety regulations and the additional cost burden for employers (e.g. in escorting young people to the toilet), and ongoing research into how supply chain practices affect skills development, productivity, and workforce wellbeing.

FIS concludes that these reforms are essential to expand opportunities, reduce NEET levels, address young people’s lack of experience, and tackle long-term skills shortages in the construction sector.

FIS continues to work closely with the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) through a reciprocal agreement aimed at strengthening safety standards across the finishes and interiors sector. As part of this collaboration, both organisations are monitoring key risk areas and sharing guidance to support safer working practices.

One ongoing concern is the risk of crushing and entrapment incidents associated with Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs). These risks are particularly prevalent when using scissor lifts and 3A-type machines, where operators may be working in close proximity to overhead structures or within restricted work envelopes.

Secondary guarding technology has emerged as a potential control measure to help reduce these risks. However, while recognising the possible safety benefits of these systems, IPAF has confirmed that it is not currently advocating the mandatory adoption of specific secondary guarding devices.

This position reflects the fact that an international draft ISO standard is still in development. IPAF advises that contractors should await the outcome of this process before implementing blanket requirements, ensuring that any future adoption is aligned with globally recognised best practice.

In the meantime, FIS encourages members to continue focusing on robust risk assessment, appropriate equipment selection, and operator training when planning work at height involving MEWPs.

Through our partnership with IPAF, FIS will continue to keep members informed as further guidance and standards emerge, helping businesses make informed decisions that prioritise both compliance and workforce safety.

Members with questions relating to MEWP safety or working at height can contact the FIS technical team for further support.

Significant legislative changes are on the horizon for employers, following the Employment Rights Bill receiving Royal Assent on 18 December 2025. Now enacted as the Employment Rights Act, the legislation introduces wide-ranging reforms that will reshape employment practices over the next two years.

Alongside this, the Government has confirmed new measures to strengthen HMRC’s powers to tackle fraud within the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), signalling increased scrutiny across the construction supply chain.

Preparing for the Employment Rights Act

The reforms broadly focus on three key areas:

• New rights and protections for workers
• Fair pay, terms, and working conditions
• Enforcement and trade union legislation

Some changes have already taken effect, particularly those aimed at modernising trade union laws, including provisions affecting strike action.

Further updates are scheduled in phases:

From April 2026

• Introduction of ‘day one’ rights to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), paternity leave, and unpaid parental leave
• Removal of the Lower Earnings Limit for SSP, expanding eligibility

From January 2027

• Reduction of the qualifying period for unfair dismissal from two years to six months

These developments will require employers to review internal policies, employment contracts, and management processes to ensure compliance.

FIS partner Citation has updated its guidance to help employers understand the practical implications of the Act and identify the steps needed to prepare.

Tackling Fraud in the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)

The Government has also announced tougher measures to combat tax fraud within the CIS framework.

From 6 April 2026, businesses that knew, or should reasonably have known, that payments were linked to fraudulent tax evasion risk:

• Immediate loss of Gross Payment Status
• Financial penalties of up to 30% of the lost tax

For businesses operating within the finishes and interiors sector, this reinforces the importance of robust financial controls, due diligence across the supply chain, and clear governance over payment practices.

What This Means for FIS Members

Together, these changes highlight a continued shift toward stronger regulatory oversight in employment and financial compliance. Early preparation will be essential to minimise disruption and protect business operations.

FIS encourages members to:

• Review employment policies and procedures
• Strengthen payroll and CIS compliance processes
• Seek professional advice where necessary
• Stay informed as further guidance emerges

We will continue to monitor developments and provide updates to support members in navigating these changes.

As part of our ongoing partnership with The Skills Centre, FIS is pleased to highlight a new opportunity for eligible members and their employees to access fully funded Level 3 NVQs, supporting progression to Gold Card status and strengthening supervisory and technical capability across the sector.

Qualifications Available (Fully Funded)

Eligible learners can access FREE Level 3 NVQs in the following areas:

• Occupational Work Supervision
• Construction Contracting
• Operations in:
  • Buying
  • Design Coordination
  • Estimating
  • Planning
  • Site Technical Support
  • Surveying

These qualifications are designed to support career progression into supervisory, management and technical roles, helping businesses build competence, capability and resilience within their teams.

Who Is Eligible?

Funding is available to individuals who meet the following criteria:

• Aged 19+
• UK resident with the right to live and work in the UK
• Residency requirements:
• Minimum 3 years in the UK/EEA
• Or 1 year remaining on valid residency documentation
• In employment
• Not in full-time education or enrolled on another funded programme
• No prior Level 3 qualification
• Aged 24+ earning below the National Living Wage

(Those aged 19–23 are exempt from this earnings requirement)

Eligibility rules apply by region, including non-devolved regions, Birmingham and London.

Why This Matters for FIS Members

This funding provides a valuable opportunity for employers in the finishes and interiors sector to:

• Upskill supervisors and technical staff at no cost
• Support progression to Gold Card status
• Strengthen competence and compliance under evolving regulatory expectations
• Retain talent through structured career development

Click the link to explore this opportunity and consider how funded qualifications can support workforce development and long-term business resilience.

Registration has opened for the SkillBuild 2026 Regional Qualifiers, giving learners across construction the opportunity to showcase their skills and compete at a national level. Entries are open now and will close on 20 February 2026.

SkillBuild is the UK’s largest multi-trade skills competition and plays a vital role in promoting skills excellence, raising standards, and inspiring the next generation of construction professionals. The regional qualifiers are the first step on the journey to the SkillBuild National Final, providing competitors with valuable experience in a live competition environment.

What’s New for 2026

For the first time, regional competition drawings will be published in advance on Go Construct, allowing competitors to practise and prepare ahead of their qualifier. This change is designed to improve accessibility, support better preparation, and help competitors perform at their best on the day.

How to Get Involved

All competition information, eligibility criteria and required documentation are available via Go Construct:

FIS encourages members, training providers and employers to support SkillBuild by promoting the competition to learners and apprentices. Taking part not only builds confidence and technical capability but also highlights the quality and professionalism within the finishes and interiors sector.

Supporting initiatives like SkillBuild is an important part of strengthening the skills pipeline and celebrating the talent that will shape the future of our industry.