by Oscar Venus | 9 Apr, 2021 | Skills
Build UK, supported by CITB, joined forces with STEM Ambassadors last year to showcase careers in construction and help to attract talent. Build UK are delighted to see the commitment to recruit 7,000 Construction STEM Ambassadors included in the CLC’s Industry Skills Plan, and they encourage all Build UK members to sign up and volunteer their time and experience to inspire young people to join the industry. FIS are members of Build UK.
The CLC skills plan emphasises collaboration between industry and Government and prioritises action in four areas:
- Careers ‐ creating an industry that is attractive and inclusive, whilst supporting direct employment
- Standards and Qualifications ‐ modernising qualifications to boost transferrable skills and embed digital technologies
- Training, Education and Development ‐ developing high‐quality routes into the industry and strengthening links between further and higher education and employers
- Culture and Working Environment ‐ retaining talent in the industry through upskilling and improved career development.
Skills and Training Lead, George Swann says “Construction Stem Ambassadors are a great way of promoting the careers on offer in the finishes and interiors sector. These individuals often provide the first introduction to the construction industry for young people who are considering their future career.”
by Oscar Venus | 9 Apr, 2021 | Skills
This Summer 2021 Qualification Explainer Tool (ofqual.gov.uk) shows what’s happening with vocational, technical, and other general qualifications this year. Ofqual have identified it is not viable for some exams and assessments to take place this year due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ofqual has been working with awarding organisations to ensure that as many learners as possible are able to receive a result this summer and progress with their plans to continue their education, go into the workplace, or further their career.
The explainer tool shows how qualifications will be assessed and awarded in the period up to 31 August 2021. It covers qualifications regulated by Ofqual, Qualifications Wales and CCEA Regulation (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively). The information about how each qualification will be assessed and awarded, included in this ‘qualification explainer tool’, has been provided by awarding organisations. If you believe the information to be incorrect, please contact the relevant awarding organisation.
In addition to the information provided in this explainer tool, further details about the approaches awarding organisations are taking to the assessment and awarding of qualifications in 2021 can be found on their websites. If you are a learner outside England, Northern Ireland or Wales, you will need to check with your awarding organisation, or your college, training provider or school about the approach being taken for your qualification. More information is provided in the questions and answers.
by Oscar Venus | 9 Apr, 2021 | Skills
On 1 April nearly 400 Level 3 qualifications became free to access for over-24s without A-levels, an advanced technical diploma or equivalent. This is part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, and includes qualifications in construction trades like Occupational Work Supervision, Site Carpenter, painting and decorating and several others.
You can find out more about free courses here.
by Oscar Venus | 9 Apr, 2021 | Skills
This is another reminder to you that CITB’s consultation on the Levy Proposals 2022-25 closes on Sunday 11 April. CITB registered employers can have their say on the way they raise the Construction Industry Levy for the next three years, and give feedback on their plans for supporting construction recovery here.
FIS Skills and Training Lead, George Swann says “this is an opportunity to influence what is to come and you know what they say about not voting…if you didn’t vote you cannot complain. Let’s all vote so we all have grounds to complain”.
by Oscar Venus | 9 Apr, 2021 | Labour, Skills
In March FIS ran a snap survey to look at workforce trends in the wake of the new points based immigration system. The survey reports that 38% of companies are currently experiencing a labour shortage, with over 60% of contractors predicting shortages as work picks up over the summer. This number increases significantly when we look at the larger companies (those with greater than £5million turnover), here 59% are already experiencing shortages and 74% are predicting worse to come. Dryliners head the list of concerns followed by ceiling fixers, partitions installers, plasterers and carpenters and joiners.
The report shows that the UK finishes an interiors sector remains heavily reliant on EU workers with around half of all companies relying on EU workers for more than 20% of their workforce and 17% of firms reporting that EU workers account for more than 60% of their workforce.
The report also gives insight into employment and use of gangs and agencies in the sector. Across all contractors, 44% of the workforce is employed, 42% work as labour only sub contractors with gangs providing 11% of the contingent workforce and agency workers making up the final 3%. Again this shifts as we look to the larger (>£5m turnover) sector with employment accounting for 26% of the workforce, labour only sub-contractors 39%, gangs 30% and agency workers providing the final 5%.
Commenting on the numbers FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee stated:
“These numbers are cause for concern and we will keep our focus on supporting the rapid scale up in training infrastructure that is required to meet this seismic shift in the way we are going to need to recruit and manage our workforce going forward. We will also continue the dialogue with the Home Office to try and get some common sense applied to the process to ensure we can evolve effectively to the new world order dealing with real world problems rather than political concerns and waiting to see what the official data will tell us when the facts are staring us in the face.”
Read the full FIS Statement on Skills Shortages here
by Oscar Venus | 8 Apr, 2021 | Main News Feed
Following the news that two more construction directors have been disqualified for forming an illegal cartel, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued an open reminder to the construction sector about its guidance on competition law and the significant risks of non‐compliance.
The case involved FP McCann Ltd, along with 2 other suppliers of pre-cast concrete drainage products – Stanton Bonna Concrete Ltd and CPM Group Ltd. This brings the total number of disqualified directors to 25 and follows rapidly from the announcement of three Directors being disqualified for links to a cartel in the rolled lead sector and similar issues identified in 2019 in the Fit-out sector.
The FIS Business/Taxation Toolkit includes additional advice and support for members on managing competition law requirements.
by Oscar Venus | 8 Apr, 2021 | Market data
The latest information from Builders’ Conference shows that both the number and value of contracts have increased month‐on‐month since the start of this year. One year on from the start of the coronavirus pandemic, there were 621 contracts worth a total of £9.2 billion awarded in March. It is the fourth month in a row where the value has exceeded the monthly average of £6.0 billion in the year prior to coronavirus between April 2019 and March 2020. 42% of all the contracts awarded by value were housing (£3.9 billion), with road projects making up 13% (£1.2 billion) and entertainment and leisure projects 6% (£751 million).
The number of tender opportunities increased compared to the previous month but remains 25% below the monthly average pre‐coronavirus.
by Oscar Venus | 8 Apr, 2021 | Main News Feed, Market data
The latest CLC People Survey is now live! Build UK is responsible for collating the results and we would be extremely grateful if all members could find 10 minutes to complete the online survey to help us measure the impact of coronavirus on the construction workforce one year on.
The deadline for responses is Friday 16 April and the results will help us to prioritise support for the sector.
by Oscar Venus | 8 Apr, 2021 | Insurance, Main News Feed
Since the Grenfell Tower fire, companies in the construction industry have found it increasingly difficult to secure appropriate and affordable Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance. A recent CLC survey found that average premium rates were nearly four times higher at last renewal compared to the year before, and almost a third of companies were unable to buy the cover they want or need. Over 60% of companies had some form of restriction on their cover relating to cladding or fire safety, with the result that a third were prevented from undertaking remediation work on unsafe cladding.
To help the industry, Build UK has published a guide to PI insurance which provides an overview of what it is, why it is needed, and how it can be obtained in the current market.
FIS is reviewing options and has established a working group to look at provision in the Finishes and Interiors Sector, if you want to find out more about this work, please email iainmcilwee@thefis.org of call Iain on 07792 959 481.
by Oscar Venus | 8 Apr, 2021 | Main News Feed
The Prime Minister confirmed earlier this week that further coronavirus restrictions will be lifted as planned from next Monday 12 April, after the data confirmed that the Government’s ‘four tests’ had been met. He also confirmed that regular testing will be an essential part of ‘reclaiming a more normal way of life’ and everyone in England will be encouraged to take a free COVID‐19 test twice a week from this Friday (9 April) as part of a nationwide testing programme which includes:
- A home ordering service, allowing people to order lateral flow tests online to be delivered to their home
- Workplace testing programmes, either on‐site or at home
- Community testing, offered by all local authorities
- A new ‘pharmacy collect’ service from participating local pharmacies.
Individuals taking lateral flow tests at home will have to register their results online and must self‐isolate if positive and get a PCR test to confirm the result.
Any members interested in offering workplace testing must register by Monday 12 April, and Build UK has produced a guide on how to set up and run a workplace test site.
by Oscar Venus | 18 Jan, 2021 | Skills
The Department for Education has launched ‘An Hour to Skill’ campaign which aims to encourage employers and the nation to set aside just one hour a week for online learning by taking a free course from The Skills Toolkit.
Although this is primarily focused on encouraging people to develop for their next step in career progression, employers may wish to take advantage by using these free courses to train existing employees. Statistics show 94% of employees stay at a company longer if there is investment in their individual career development. At the time of writing there are nearly 90 courses available.
These high-quality, online courses aim to enhance individuals’ job prospects, giving them easy access to skills that could unlock job opportunities in a competitive market, or help them get ahead in their current role. The Skills Toolkit features more than 70 courses designed by some of the nation’s leading businesses and educational institutions including Amazon Web Services, Cisco, FutureLearn, Lloyds Bank, LinkedIn Learning, Microsoft, The Open University and many more.
Learn about:
- practical maths
- computer essentials
- personal growth and wellbeing
- professional development
- business and finance
- digital design and marketing
- computer science and coding
The courses form part of the government’s Plan for Jobs, which aims to help boost the UK economy as it recovers from the impact of COVID-19.
FIS has created a dedicated resource to help companies within our sector source training. As well as our active network of Approved Training Providers, through the FIS you can access a range of Continual Professional Development (CPD) and eTraining to support development of people and demonstration of competence.
Visit The Skills Toolkit here
by Oscar Venus | 25 Sep, 2020 | Main News Feed
The results of the first industry‐wide People Survey, carried out by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) in June and reported in Retaining Talent in Construction, helped to secure funding for the Construction Talent Retention Scheme. To understand the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the construction workforce, the CLC has launched a second People Survey. Another great response from all sectors of the industry will help to prioritise the support required by construction employers between now and the end of the year.
Please complete the online survey which should take no longer than 10 minutes by Friday 2 October. The information provided will be confidential with no company details required.
by Oscar Venus | 14 Sep, 2020 | Main News Feed
Guidance for employers and third-party healthcare providers on the regulations and legal obligations of running testing programmes.
Details
Some employers and third-party healthcare providers may want to introduce their own internal testing programmes outside of the NHS Test and Trace service. This guidance will help them ensure that their testing programmes are as reliable and effective as possible. It covers:
- legislation, regulations and best practice
- virus and antibody testing
- how to interpret test results
- next steps after a positive or negative test
Important: The NHS Test and Trace service is for those who display symptoms of COVID-19 or who have been advised to take a test by a medical practitioner or public service. Employer and third-party healthcare providers wishing to provide a test to staff must not advise individuals without symptoms to get a test from the limited supply offered by the NHS Test and Trace service, but may offer alternative private provision, in accordance with this guidance.
by Oscar Venus | 13 Aug, 2020 | Main News Feed
This policy note reiterates Scottish Government policy on the inclusion of subcontractors in a Project Bank Account (PBA); and reinforces it in practice through a notice to subcontractors.
Project Bank Accounts: availability and accessibility to subcontractors – CPN 7/2020
Purpose
1. This Construction Policy Note reiterates Scottish Government policy on the inclusion of subcontractors in a Project Bank Account (PBA); and reinforces it in practice through a notice to subcontractors.
Key message
2. Information must be available to and accessible by subcontractors to enable them to join a PBA.
Timing and coverage
3. This CPN applies with immediate effect and covers all current and future contracts containing PBA provisions.
Target audience
4. This note is intended for all relevant staff:
- in public bodies to which PBA policy applies (section 1 and 7-11)
- in all other bodies that can award public contracts to which a PBA could be applied
- in other organisations providing procurement routes for the construction of public buildings and infrastructure
Introduction
5. PBAs assure two things for subcontractors working on Scottish construction projects delivering built assets to the public sector:
- prompt payment
- protection of payment from the effects of main contractor insolvency
6. The former is good for businesses and their employees. The additional assurance PBAs give on the latter also make them good for the economy and society. It follows therefore that where a PBA is implemented it must be available to and accessible by subcontractors.
Guidance
7. Commissioning bodies can both facilitate and expedite subcontractors’ requests to join the PBA by ensuing that the main contractor receives and conveys a note of the information and associated guidance set out herewith at annex A. This annex shall henceforth be incorporated as appendix I – 1 of Scottish Government’s PBA guidance document.
Dissemination
8. Please bring this CPN to the attention of all those staff involved in the procurement of relevant construction projects.
by Oscar Venus | 12 Aug, 2020 | Main News Feed
Government brings in law to ensure furloughed employees receive statutory redundancy pay based on their normal wages, rather than a reduced furlough rate.
- New law will ensure that furloughed employees receive statutory redundancy pay based on their normal wages, rather than a reduced furlough rate
- changes will mean those furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme are not short-changed if they are made redundant
- the changes will also apply to statutory notice pay and other entitlements, providing some reassurance during this difficult time
Furloughed employees who are then made redundant will receive redundancy pay based on their normal wage, under new laws being brought in today (Thursday 30 July).
Throughout the pandemic, the government has urged businesses to do right by their employees and pay those being made redundant based on their normal wage, rather than their furlough pay, which is often less.
The majority of businesses have done so, however, there are a minority who have not.
Today the government will bring in legislation to protect workers and ensure all furloughed employees who are being made redundant receive their full entitlement.
Employees with more than 2 years’ continuous service who are made redundant are usually entitled to a statutory redundancy payment that is based on length of service, age and pay, up to a statutory maximum.
This legislation, which will come into force from tomorrow (Friday 31 July), will ensure that employees who are furloughed receive statutory redundancy pay based on their normal wages, rather than a reduced furlough rate.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma said:
The government is doing everything it can to protect people’s incomes through our Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which is now supporting over 9 million jobs across the UK.
We urge employers to do everything they can to avoid making redundancies, but where this is unavoidable it is important that employees receive the payments they are rightly entitled to.
New laws coming into force today will ensure furloughed workers are not short-changed if they are ever made redundant – providing some reassurance for workers and their families during this challenging time.
These changes will also apply to Statutory Notice Pay, which is where employees must be given a notice period before their employment ends, varying from at least one week’s notice up to 12 weeks’ notice, depending on how long they have worked for their employer. During this notice period, employees must be paid.
This legislation will also ensure that notice pay is based on normal wages rather than their wages under the CJRS.
Other changes coming into force will ensure basic awards for unfair dismissal cases are based on full pay rather than wages under the CJRS.
In March, the government established an unprecedented package of support for companies of all sizes across sectors, to protect businesses, jobs and incomes during the pandemic.
Through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, more than one million loans have been approved.
We have also introduced a new Job Retention Bonus to encourage firms to keep on furloughed workers, with a one-off payment of £1,000 being provided to UK employers for every furloughed employee who remains continuously employed through to the end of January 2021.
Notes to editors
- an employee will be entitled to statutory redundancy pay if they have been working for their employer for 2 years or more
- the new legislation will ensure that pay received in relation to statutory redundancy pay is calculated based on an employee’s normal pay, rather than furlough pay (potentially 80% of their normal wage)
- calculating statutory redundancy pay for employees relies on inputting average weekly pay, alongside other factors such as length of continuous service and the employee’s age. Average weekly pay is usually worked out by adding the pay received over the 12 weeks up to when the employer notifies the employee they are being made redundant, and dividing by 12 to get the average. This legislation ensures that employers must treat any weeks an employer spent on furlough over the 12-week reference period as if they were working, and on full (100%) pay
- this legislation does not impact any enhanced redundancy pay that may be stipulated in the terms and conditions of an employee’s individual employment contract, but applies to basic statutory redundancy pay entitlements
- the legislation also covers other employment rights that rely on average weekly pay, including notice pay, unfair dismissal, and short-time working
by Oscar Venus | 8 Jul, 2020 | Main News Feed
The Government has moved to secure vital talent needed to build the UK’s recovery from Covid-19, protecting employment for thousands of people working in the construction sector.
- Construction Talent Retention Scheme will keep skills in the sector, matching displaced workers with employers seeking new staff
- Scheme is based on proven model to safeguard talent in the aerospace and automotive sectors
- Supported by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) and all leading sector trade bodies
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, today (8 July) announced the launch of the Construction Talent Retention Scheme, a partnership between the Government and industry to secure essential talent in the UK construction sector.
The Construction Talent Retention Scheme, to formally launch later this month, will be an online portal that supports redeployment of staff at risk of redundancy across the sector, while also enabling temporary employee loans between businesses. The Scheme give displaced workers from other sectors a route to find new employment in construction.
Construction Leadership Council (CLC) co-chair Andy Mitchell added: “This is a great example of what we can achieve when we work collaboratively with Government and we look forward to continuing in this spirit when the proposals and recommendations of our broader Roadmap to Recovery are published. In the meantime we will work with our members and industry stakeholders to encourage the scheme’s use and success.”
Association for Consultancy & Engineering (ACE) chief executive Hannah Vickers said: “This is a proven solution with a strong track-record in other sectors, cross-industry support and pledges from our leading employers. It is vital we keep the skills in our sector to avoid a talent drain and is the only way we will be able to ramp-up activity to lead the recovery of the wider economy and deliver growth through new buildings and infrastructure.”
Group chief executive of Mace, and skills workstream lead at the Construction Leadership Council, Mark Reynolds, said: “The CLC’s Construction Talent Retention Scheme will offer a critical lifeline for the construction industry, it will help the industry retain and share our exceptional talent needed to deliver vital infrastructure and support the country’s recovery plan. The scheme is a great example of Government and industry collaboration during these challenging times for the construction sector. We are delighted to support the initiative as a real solution to protecting employment for thousands in our industry, continuing to build a better future.”
The not-for-profit programme now has funding secured until the end of the financial year, providing a free online platform for any organisation looking to hire, while ensuring that candidates’ skills and experience are given a prominent platform within the industry.
Businesses can register their interest in the scheme at: www.trs-system.co.uk/construction
Finishes and Interiors Sector CEO, Iain McIlwee added a note of thanks to the group who have pulled this together “Construction is one of the most people intensive business, but the erratic nature of the industry, poor planning and communication means that our talent funnel leaks. The underlying message from the CLC and behind this initiative is that people are at the heart of our industry and we must do all we can to retain the best of us to lead the industry forward. The challenge for any one business in an uncertain environment is how we flex and adapt as businesses around project and location. If we don’t start to work more effectively as a wider ecosystem to balance this then we continue to lurch from skills crisis to skills crisis and we will fail to get to the nub of the competency and emerging productivity challenge that we currently face. We look forward to learning more and working with our members and the wider sector to ensure that this platform works for the people and businesses in our sector.”
by Oscar Venus | 6 Jul, 2020 | Main News Feed
A Free Online course where you learn how to foster a culture of quality in construction with the CIOB.
Poor quality builds have a detrimental impact on the construction industry. On this course, you will tackle this problem with professional research and insight into the delivery of quality construction and development projects.
You will look at the current issues faced by the construction industry and how quality management has developed in construction and elsewhere. You will also address some basic practical steps that can be made to ensure construction quality. Upon completion of the course, you will become more confident at instilling a culture of quality on all your construction projects.
FIS Technical Director, Joe Cilia is one of the contributors:
“It was great to support the CIOB in the development of this course. The FIS PPP Quality Framework is central to all we do and it is great to get this opportunity to share it with the professionals from across the sector and promote these values more widely.”
Joe Cilia
For construction professionals requiring a more in-depth look at the topic and the practical tools and techniques to achieve quality, our 2 day course on Construction Quality Management is the perfect solution.
Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about this course:
- The course takes place 100% online over a period of 3 weeks. New content is released on a weekly basis, and those who sign up should expect to make a commitment of 2 hours per week.
- There are no live sessions; we will not expect you to be online at any specific times over the duration of the course.
- If you require a Certificate of Achievement, please select the option to upgrade your enrolment for a fee of £42. Your certificate will be delivered at the end of the course. Those who don’t require proof of their studies can enjoy full access to the course free of charge.
- The course will be open all the time from the 6th July 2020. To join, please click here to be redirected to the Future Learn online platform. This is where the course will be delivered, and it’s also the place where many more FAQs are answered.
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Identify the impacts of poor quality in construction
- Explain and define quality in construction
- Summarise the history of quality management in various industries
- Discuss relevant legislation, regulations and standards
- Explain the principles of embedding a culture of quality in construction
- Investigate quality management methods and systems
Curriculum
- Defining quality in construction and its importance to those who build and interact with buildings and infrastructure
- The social, economic and human costs associated with poor quality
- A history of quality management in construction and other industries
- The role and importance of training and education
- Legal and regulatory environment for quality management
- Putting quality into practice; methods, processes and systems
- Changing an organisation to instil a culture of quality in construction
For construction professionals requiring a more in-depth look at the topic and the practical tools and techniques to achieve quality, our 2 day course on Construction Quality Management is the perfect solution.
Leaders
Martin McCabe MCIOB, C. Build E MCABE, CMIOSH, QTLS
Martin applies his years of experience in construction to create training that leads to real change. Chartered as a Construction Manager, Building Engineer and Health & Safety Practitioner, Martin has worked in a diverse range of roles across the industry and designed courses delivered around the world. He sits on the Chartered Institute of Building’s Education, Standards and Qualifications Committee and provides Quality Assurance for the CIOB and other awarding organisations. He consults in a variety of industry roles offering advice on Project Management, Health & Safety and Temporary Works. He has designed and run training programmes at the Royal School of Military Engineering. In 2017 Martin consulted on the lifting operations at London’s Natural History Museum for the blue whale main exhibit. Martin aims to facilitate learning that is relevant to each course delegate, so that the theory can be put into practice in the real world.
by Oscar Venus | 2 Jul, 2020 | Main News Feed
Today the Scottish First Minister (SFM) published the findings of a review by the COVID-19 Advisory Group on the 2 metre physical distancing rule. Their advice makes clear that the fundamental science around distance and transmission remains unchanged and that risk increases with proximity to an infected individual.
‘The risk of transmission will be increased if the physical distancing recommendation is reduced to 1 metre from 2 metres. This is not only because of the increased risk of direct transmission from respiratory secretions, but also because of increased surface contamination that would occur in indoor environments with higher occupancy.’
However in her update the SFM recognised that there is also a need to take into account the four harms as set out in our Framework for Decision Making. The framework made clear that, after the necessary condition of suppressing the virus has been met, decisions can be taken which seek to minimise overall harm viewed across health, the economy and broader society. What this means is that policy decisions are required that balance any increased transmission risk from changing the 2 metre requirement, given the current status of the epidemic, with the reduction in other harms that would stem from such a change to the 2 metre requirement.
‘In balancing these considerations, a value judgement must be taken as to whether reducing the physical distancing to 1 metre is a tolerable risk. If this is a policy decision, it must be accompanied by clear guidance on spacing in any indoor environment, emphasis on surface cleaning, hand hygiene and cough etiquette. Messaging must be clear that the virus is still present and a continued threat.’
In Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis: Update on approach to physical distancing in light of advice from the Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group, Published on 2 July 2020 the SFM sets out plans for exemptions and appropriate mitigations in certain sectors as Scotland moves to Phase 3 of the National Routemap (at present these do not include construction and will not impact on Construction Scotland’s Site operating procedures or additional guidance produced by the CICV Forum in Scotland).
Additional Downloads:
Advice Commissioned by the First Minister and Chief Medical Officer on Physical Distancing 2 July 2020
Advice Commissioned by the First Minister and Chief Medical Officer on Superspreading 2 July 2020
Update on Application of Building Regulations to Adaptations in Scotland
An update was also published yesterday from from Stephen Garvin, Head of Building Standards Division, on the Application of Building Regulations to Adaptations.
Letter re application of building regulations to adaptations, 30 June 2020
Advice note re application of building regulations to adaptations, 30 June 2020
FAQs re application of building regulations to adaptations, 30 June 2020
by Oscar Venus | 15 May, 2020 | Drylining, Main News Feed
The Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has today announced a new industry qualification. The Drylining in Housebuilding qualification has been created by National Open College Networks (NOCN) to address the lack of a recognised qualification for the sector specific skill and support a more robust approach to training and measuring competence.
Housebuilding makes up approximately one third of the drylining marketplace with some businesses and individuals focused entirely on this market. The new qualification offers a flexible delivery approach and specific trained outcome to support both employers and individuals to by a step by step approach to demonstrate competence in a vocational setting. It ensures that those companies and individuals investing in training can be supported with funding even if they are not able to offer the full scope of experience required to meet the new English Drylining Apprenticeship Standard.
The FIS supported by industry partners created a working group to identify the skills and agree the level of training required to create a standalone qualification. The working group comprised Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) standards team, NOCN, Home Builders Federation (HBF) along with colleges and training providers.
The project objectives were to:
- Develop standardised, formally recognised training that enables the delivery of drylining within housebuilding.
- Identify and agree the funding available that will enable the delivery of the training.
- Ensure quality of provision of training in the right locations.
The outcome is an Office of the Qualifications Examinations Regulators (OfQual) registered training qualification that can be delivered on housebuilding sites at the point of installation with a formal trained outcome and national recognition. The training can be delivered in-house by a qualified instructor, this can be a suitably qualified employee (e.g. Level 3 Award in Education and Training (PTLLS), which can be achieved in 5 days) or an independent trainer. In order to ensure quality, sites will need the required resources as specified in the NOCN qualification criteria.
NOCN Executive Director of Job Cards and Services, Mark Buckton, said: “NOCN has been delighted to work with FIS on the drylining in housebuilding qualification. At NOCN we know that specialist trades are absolutely vital to the success of the industry and in accomplishing the aims of the nation, like achieving the Government’s housebuilding targets. The drylining in housebuilding qualification fitted perfectly into the new suite of construction training qualifications, where we have totally redesigned each trade’s syllabus and provided greater teaching and learning materials. NOCN is dedicated to ensuring we provide top quality qualifications for both specialist and the larger trades.”
This project clearly highlighted the need for a new qualification for dryliners in the housing sector. This is now complete and ready to deliver. With training providers and colleges working alongside contractors and individuals, together with the support of the FIS, housebuilders and the backing of CITB, it is unanimously agreed the form of qualification and method of delivery will provide a solution that the construction industry needs.
HBF Home Building Skills Partnership Manager, Sara Cartin, said: “The new qualification will help to deliver quality workmanship to industry-agreed standards for home buyers. It is another key part of our skills framework and, combined with the virtual skills cards we are developing, will ensure that training gaps are addressed”.
FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee, said: “It is vital that we move the conversation about skills onto supporting competence within our workforce. As part of this project, we interrogated the current training situation for the housebuilding market and it was clear intervention was needed to support change and help our community meet future skills needs. The key aspect of this is the flexibility that it delivers within a framework.
We often talk of sectors as though they are one harmonious constant, but this is not the case. From business to business and throughout the regions of the UK there are different practical considerations. Within this work we have been mindful of the employer-defined competency requirements. With the support of training providers, housebuilders, and specialist contractors, we have ensured this trained outcome can be adapted to meet specific workplace requirements.
We are grateful to CITB and particularly NOCN for their support in targeting and delivering this new qualification. We are confident that it will be a valuable, new asset to support the measurement and management of competence in the sector”.
The Drylining in Housebuilding Report can be downloaded here.
ENDS
Editor notes
- FIS is the representative body for the £10 billion finishes and interiors sector in the UK. The FIS has more than 500 members drawn from contractors, manufacturers and distributers of ceilings, facades, partitions, plastering, drywall and specialist interior fit-out and refurbishment businesses.
FIS exists to support its members, improve safety, minimise risk, enhance productivity and drive innovation in the sector. As well as specialist publications, technical support and expert helplines, FIS is a dynamic network that brings the sector together through a range of events, awards and specialist working groups, all aimed at sharing best practice, setting standards and advising Government, that help its members to improve performance and win work. Members of the FIS are subjected to an audit and vetting process when they join and then again, every three years that underpins the values by which the organisation operates. To drive quality and ensure the future sustainability of the sector, FIS has a dedicated skills and training team and works with a number of Approved Training Providers to attract new people to the sector and deliver a fully qualified and competent workforce.
FIS is dedicated to collaboration in construction and a proud member of BuildUK, the Construction Products Association and the Passive Fire Protection Forum.
- The Home Building Skills Partnership (HBSP) was set up by the Home Builders Federation in 2016 (initially funded by CITB) and is a collaboration of home builders and supply chain organisations working together to attract and develop the workforce of the future and in doing so change the culture of the home building sector.
- For more information contact: George Swann – FIS Skills and Training Manager
Finishes and Interiors Sector Olton Bridge, 245 Warwick Road Solihull
West Midlands B92 7AH
www.thefis.org
E-mail: georgeswann@thefis.org
Tel: +44 (0)121 707 0077
Mobile: +44 (0)7792 959481
The Drylining in Housebuilding Report can be downloaded from our Skills Hub:
by Oscar Venus | 30 Apr, 2020 | Main News Feed
Having identified over a 100 work items that are currently performed in the finishes and interiors sector where it was deemed difficult to maintain the two-metre working rule, a Task Group established through specialist trade body, Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) reviewed methods of work and assigned a ‘traffic light’ category (red, amber, or green) to each task. This has resulted in a Four Step People First COVID-19 Safety Protocol and supporting toolkit aimed at helping contractors manage their return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Four Steps are:
- Start Safe – Essential information for workers and guidance on travelling to site
- Site Safe – Building on requirements in the Construction Leadership Council’s (CL) Site Operating Procedures
- Task Safe – Assessing tasks against the 2m working rule
- Home Safe – Advice on decontamination processes
The Task Group set-out to review common tasks in the sector through a detailed survey, the results of which identified eight tasks (red) that cannot be done by following current methods and 32 tasks where significant change to the process is required in order to maintain the two-metre social distancing rule (amber). The Task Assessment Tool collates the data and against each task provides a suggested review of existing methods of working and controls for the two-metre rule.
Work is ongoing and the Task Group has been meeting virtually every few days and is supported by over 30 H&S experts from the sector through the COVID-19 H&S Task Group established through the FIS. Whilst new tasks can still be reviewed against the criteria, the focus of the group is now on developing clearer information on appropriate PPE, reviewing innovative ideas and exchanging and sharing best practice in order to support safer working across the sector.
FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee said “It is clear that the top down approach from the CLC needs to be supported by a bottom up approach through the specialist sectors, the devil is in the detail. Collaboration is critical at the moment. There is a lot of information out there, but it can be difficult to line up and lacks critical detail – this has the potential to lead to conflict and compromise. Some compromises could take us too far – our approach has to be people first. Beyond this, we are aware of the contractual pressures on our community and it is vital that companies have a formal review process to identify if people can get to site safely, the site itself is safe and that work that needs to continue can be managed safely. The easier we can make and the more we can support this review process, the less disputes there will be. The industry now needs to be better than it has ever been – for too long we have been overly contractual and this has led to risk avoidance rather than risk management. As we start to return to work we must leave the bad old days behind us, avoid the disputes, siloed thinking and tiered approach, instead focussing on finding ways to support one another, putting our energy into innovation rather than infighting”.
These resources are all available through the FIS website.
Howard Collins, Managing Director COBRA Insurance Brokers who has been working closely with the FIS added:
“The FIS Four Step People First Covid-19 Safety Guidance and Task Assessment Tool supports members and their employees with their risk management planning for returning to constructions sites. UK Employers’ Liability Insurance is designed to provide cover for an Insured’s legal liability for injury arising out of the Insured’s actions or failures to act where a duty of care is owed. The safety of workers is paramount in the minds of the association and its members, following the four steps protocol will help companies to protect their employees and demonstrate to their insurers that they have a considered approach to risk assessments.”
The four step protocol and task assessment tool can be downloaded from the H&S Toolkit on the FIS Website
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