Increased Payment Requirements

by Oscar Venus | 17 Jan, 2025 | Payments

The Government has published PPN 018 which enhances the requirements for prompt payment on public sector contracts. From 1 October 2025, businesses bidding for Government work above £5 million per annum must demonstrate that they pay their suppliers within an average of 45 days, down from the current requirement of 55 days.

New reporting requirements on value of invoices paid and disputed invoices have now come into effect under the Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations. To ensure consistency with the existing requirement for number of invoices paid, Build UK understands that the data on value of invoices paid will be displayed as percentages, rather than ‘sums’, in the Government portal. For companies with a financial year starting on 1 January, their first reports containing the new metrics will need to be submitted by 30 July 2025 and Build UK’s payment performance table will be updated accordingly.

Open Doors 2025 – Promote Your Events

by Oscar Venus | 17 Jan, 2025 | Events

Recruiting the next generation is a priority if we are to maintain the pipeline of talent coming into the industry, and one of the best ways to showcase what construction has to offer is to get involved with Open Doors. Booking for visitors is now open, and there are already more than 180 events registered to take place across the UK from Monday 17 ‐ Saturday 22 March. With major projects like the expansion of the North Stand at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, the refurbishment of the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, and the development of the Hamilton Dock Hotel within the Titanic Quarter in Belfast opening their doors, we are seeing huge interest from potential visitors, so if you or your organisation is yet to get involved, what are you waiting for!

It’s not too late to register your remaining sites, offices, and manufacturing and training facilities and start promoting them in the local area. Please reach out to schools and colleges, who can book group visits for their students, as well as local community groups supporting new entrants into the industry, to help us show there is a career in construction for everyone.

Welsh Government’s proposed changes to Building Regulations: a closer look

by Oscar Venus | 16 Jan, 2025 | Market data

As of January 9, 2024, the Welsh Government is taking concrete steps to boost building safety with a focus on the use of combustible materials. This is part of an ongoing commitment to uphold the strictest safety standards in construction and maintenance.

Key Initiatives:

Strengthening the Combustible Materials Ban

An important change is in the works to reinforce the current ban on combustible materials in and on the external walls of buildings, with the aim of reducing fire risks.

Height-Based Restrictions

There are plans to introduce restrictions on the use of combustible materials for buildings taller than 11 meters to ensure superior safety standards.

Introduction of an Evacuation Alert System

A new Evacuation Alert System is under consideration, which will act as a vital tool for guiding occupants during emergencies.

Installation of Secure Information Boxes

To enhance safety in high-rise living spaces, the introduction of Secure Information Boxes is being proposed. These boxes will hold crucial information for emergency services, boosting response times.

Implementing Floor Identification and Signage

The government plans to introduce floor identification and flat wayfinding signage to aid navigation and safety during emergencies.

Regulation Reference Amendments

There are plans to update references to BS EN 13501 and BS 476 in the building regulations to ensure that safety classifications remain current.

Call for Evidence on Staircases

The government is calling for evidence on the number of stairs in buildings, with the potential to remove all references to the BS 476 classification from Approved Document B (AD B), which governs building fire safety.

The Welsh Government’s proposed changes demonstrate a proactive stance towards improving building safety and ensuring that regulations stay aligned with evolving safety standards. The initiatives focusing on combustible materials, emergency systems, and clear identification measures aim to safeguard residents and enhance overall safety in Welsh buildings. It’s essential for all stakeholders to partake in the dialogue and contribute to the creation of safer living environments.

See full document here

Navigating the Construction Landscape in 2024: FIS’s Commitment to Members

by Oscar Venus | 17 Dec, 2024 | Membership

As we step into 2025, the construction industry continues to face a myriad of challenges. Economic and political uncertainties, the lingering effects of COVID-19, and a complex regulatory environment have made this decade anything but easy for businesses in the sector. Recognising these hardships, FIS is committed to supporting its members through this turbulent time.

We have created a review of 2024 and take a look ahead at what’s to come in 2025. We’ve highlighted new resources and benefits available to members and detail the initiatives and guidance that we are implementing to support members in 2025 and beyond.

FIS Chief Executive Iain McIlwee, said: “Running a business in construction in the 2020s is not for the faint-hearted.
“The challenges are indeed significant, with high levels of insolvency reflecting the seismic shifts within the industry. The recent failure of ISG underscores the urgency of addressing these systemic issues.
In response to these challenges, FIS has launched its manifesto, ‘A Blueprint for Better Construction’, which was presented to the new government. This document outlines a clear set of requests aimed at improving procurement processes and fostering a more stable investment climate within the supply chain. The manifesto not only serves as a guiding framework but also as a call to action for both government regulators and procuring authorities.

FIS’s “Responsible No” campaign further supports this initiative by empowering members to demand better practices in procurement. By uniting the community and identifying irresponsible requests, FIS is fostering a collective effort for change in the industry.

Additionally, FIS has continued to provide a steady flow of technical guidance in 2024, launching a new e-Learning Hub to improve accessibility to resources. They are actively addressing common compliance issues, providing solutions, and setting a standard approach, as evidenced by the FIS Walls as a System Guide. Their commitment extends to bolstering legal support with enhanced helplines and a subsidized contract and insurance review service.

Recognising the importance of insurance in construction, FIS has collaborated with the insurance sector to address concerns regarding contract amendments that could undermine professional indemnity insurance. This proactive approach highlights the organisation’s dedication to its members’ long-term stability and success.

Former FIS President Philip Brown emphasised the importance of advocating for SME contractors, stating that the Reading Report published in 2023 marked a turning point. FIS’s reputation as a technical authority is further solidified through academic research that provides a robust foundation for its advocacy efforts.

For those looking to delve deeper into these initiatives and understand how FIS is supporting its members in these challenging times, a detailed annual review is available.

We invite you to access this valuable resource to fully grasp the extent of FIS’s commitment and the tools at your disposal.

Don’t miss out!

Download the full annual review today and empower your business with the insights and support you need to thrive in 2025.

Click Here

Addressing Fire Safety: Insights from CROSS Reports on Cladding and Sprinkler Systems

by Oscar Venus | 12 Dec, 2024 | Health and Safety

FIS is aware of reports raised through CROSS (Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK) that highlight potential problems that members need to consider regarding passive fire protection implications around cladding and active fire protection implications of sprinklers being deactivated during the construction phase.
The reports can be viewed on the CROSS website using the links below:

Fire barrier requirements in external wall systems | CROSS
Fires involving thermally modified wood | CROSS
Automatic Opening Vents not functional after two cladding remediations | CROSS
Sprinkler system deactivated during construction works | CROSS

CROSS is a confidential reporting system which allows professionals working in the built environment to report on fire and structural safety issues. These are then published anonymously to share lessons learned, create positive change, and improve safety.

FIS Fighting your Corner with newly formed Skills England

by Oscar Venus | 29 Nov, 2024 | Membership, Skills

FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee participated in a roundtable this week with Skills England looking at the New Government’s approach to skills, training and education as it applies to construction. Skills England is a new arms-length body established by Government with the intent to bring together key partners to meet the skills needs of the next decade.

Iain joined a select group of representatives from the Department for Education, Skill England and across construction.

The three key topics covered were:

Current and future skills gaps – building on the current understanding of skills needs
Training routes and talent pipeline
Policy solutions (i.e. What can the government/ employers/ training providers do to address the current and future skills needs?)

Iain highlighted the fundamental challenges employers, particularly SMEs, face when required to invest in skills and the shortcomings of funding in line with the expectation of the level of investment required to make an individual work ready and productive. The failure of the education system to ensure that people leave school with an appreciation of the opportunities available in construction and the demonstrable failure on the current apprenticeship system that means the average UK apprentice is now over 25 and effectively studying for a degree.

All of the points Iain made were drawn from a Policy Position paper that has been agreed with the FIS Skills Board. This has not been published widely as FIS is seeking to collaborate with other specialist organisations to turn it into a cross sector manifesto. If you are interested in seeing a copy and commenting on this working draft, please email Beena Nana: beenanana@thefis.org.

For more information about the FIS kills Board, click here. We are always looking to grow the Skills Board and support for our work in this arena. If you are interested in finding out more, you are welcome to attend the next online meeting scheduled for the 10^th December 2024. To receive your invite, please email Beena Nana: beenanana@thefis.org.

CITB Skills and Training Conference heading to Wales

by Oscar Venus | 29 Nov, 2024 | Events, Skills

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is pleased to be hosting its next Skills and Training Conference in Wales on January 23.

Following the success of CITB’s Skills and Training Conferences in Manchester and Scotland in 2024, this one-day event in Cardiff is the latest step in a revitalised engagement programme for employers and training providers from CITB’s Customer Engagement team. CITB’s executive team will be there to meet employers, training providers and other industry stakeholders.

The conference will share key information and updates, discuss challenges, and outline how the construction industry can work towards narrowing the skills gap.

Construction companies and employers can find out more about hot topics like the Building Safety Act and Social Value, while receiving one-to-one support on accessing CITB funding and services, including the new Employer Network initiative.

Training providers, meanwhile, will have the opportunity to hear about the industry’s major opportunities and meet construction companies and industry trade federations.

Julia Stevens, Engagement Director Wales, CITB, said:

“We’re extremely excited to announce that the CITB Skills and Training Conference is heading to Cardiff in January. It’s an excellent opportunity for construction companies to find out more about the training and funding available, and to discuss how we can collectively address the skills gap.

“We’re also looking to engage more training providers in this important conversation, strengthening our network and creating a more robust future for everyone involved.”

The Skills and Training Conference Wales will be held at voco St. David’s Hotel, Cardiff on Thursday, 23 January 2025.

Want to attend?

For more information and to register

Click Here

Safe methods of isolation of platform controls on Mobile Elevating Work Platforms

by Oscar Venus | 29 Nov, 2024 | Health and Safety

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) has worked with the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to develop the following guidance on the safe methods of isolation of platform controls for Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs).

Background

HSE are investigating an incident involving a MEWP which has found that when at height, the method of isolating the controls on the MEWP can introduce a hazard to the occupants of the platform. The investigation is ongoing.

The emergency stop control on the MEWP platform has been used in the powered access industry for a number of years to achieve isolation of controls and/or power source when the MEWP has reached its place of work.

This practice was first introduced on older machines, not designed to current standards, to reduce the risk of entrapment and inadvertent operation of controls. As the standards have evolved and designs have changed, this practice may no longer be appropriate to reduce the risk as other methods are now used in control designs.

Safe Isolation of the platform controls

The operator of a MEWP may be required to isolate the controls and/or power source using platform controls. Where the machine is equipped with an “engine on/off” control at the platform control console, this should be used to switch the engine off during normal operation rather than the emergency stop control, unless the manufacturer indicates that it would be unsafe to do so.

Where machines are not equipped with a dedicated “on/off” control at the platform control console, the MEWP operator should follow the manufacturers’ operating instructions as to how this should be achieved.

It is the user’s responsibility to ensure the correct MEWP has been selected for the task, and that a suitable and sufficient risk assessment has been carried out and documented.

HSE endorses this jointly developed guidance and has encouraged IPAF to communicate it to MEWP users.

New Code of Practice for fire and escape door hardware published

by Oscar Venus | 28 Nov, 2024 | Health and Safety

A comprehensively revised Code of Practice for the selection of building hardware for fire-resisting and escape door assemblies and doorsets has been published by The Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) and the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF).

This new edition, issue No. 5, is the first revision in more than a decade, and represents a significant update and consolidation of previous guidelines to reflect the very latest legislative requirements and best practices in the industry.
It provides an essential reference and resource for a broad spectrum of construction industry professionals including architects, building control officers, fire officers, responsible persons, duty holders, manufacturers, specifiers, and suppliers of building hardware and fire doors.

GAI technical manager Douglas Masterson said: “The primary goal of this Code of Practice is to ensure that key stakeholders throughout the construction industry have access to the most current and comprehensive advice on selecting hardware that meets the stringent requirements for fire safety and escape routes
“While the Code is advisory, it is designed to provide robust guidance that aligns with the latest legal standards.
“While compliance with the Code does not confer immunity from legal, local authority or insurance requirements, it will significantly enhance the safety and reliability of fire-resisting and escape door assemblies.”

The Code addresses a wide range of legislative requirements, including:
· Construction Products Regulations in both the EU and UK.
· Building Regulations throughout the UK and Ireland, including the Building Regulations 2010 (England & Wales), Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004, Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012, and Building Regulations 1997-2021 (Ireland).
· Workplace Fire Safety Legislation across the UK and Ireland, such as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
· Equality Legislation applicable in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland.

Additionally, the Code considers third-party certification schemes and declarations of conformity with relevant standards, ensuring that the guidance provided is both comprehensive and up to date.
The Code applies to building hardware used on timber fire doors with up to two hours of fire resistance and steel fire doors with up to four hours of fire resistance.
The hardware items covered are categorised into essential items necessary for the successful operation of the doors (such as pivots and hinges, door closing devices, latch or locks, intumescent and smoke seals, and panic bolts), and optional (non-essential) items that could potentially cause door failure if not properly selected or installed.
As a part of this revision there are several new sections relating to electric locking and access control, which are of increasing importance in the world of building hardware.
Issue 5 of the Code replaces the previous issue 4, as well as all previous codes of practice published by both the Association of Building Hardware Manufacturers (now DHF) and the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers, all of which have been withdrawn to ensure that professionals are working with the most current and relevant information.

DHF general manager Michael Skelding said: “This revision is the result of more than two years work by the teams at the DHF and GAI in conjunction with technical specialists at the leading companies in our industry.
“The result should be seen as an essential reference document for anyone involved in the selection, installation and testing of building hardware and furniture for fire and escape doors.”

Code of Practice: Hardware for Fire and Escape Doors edition 5 can be downloaded for free at www.firecode.org.uk

FIS Attends SkillBuild 2024 – Congratulations to all the winners

by Oscar Venus | 22 Nov, 2024 | Main News Feed

SkillBuild 2024 proved to be a tremendous success, highlighting remarkable talent and creative energy.

The FIS team was in attendance, advocating for the interior sector with FIS Head of Skills and Training, Beena Nana, who was graciously hosted by Locker & Riley at their booth. On the second day, Greg Greves joined Beena, interacting with our members and identifying emerging stars in our industry.

After the event, Beena shared her thoughts:

“It was an honor to be part of the Construction Showcase at the SkillBuild Finals. Witnessing such talented individuals showcase their abilities was genuinely inspiring, and it was uplifting to see the industry come together to celebrate pride in their craft while connecting with fellow apprentices and trainees. The event truly celebrated construction, and I believe the many young people, educators, and careers advisors who attended caught a glimpse of a future they might one day embrace. We are dedicated to supporting SkillBuild and eagerly anticipate collaborating with CITB and colleagues from various trades to enhance its impact.”

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners from the event (notably FIS Members Michael amd Owen from Errigal who placed 1st and 2nd in the Dryliing Competition and Dawson from Tyne Metropolitan College who came third and Niall from Newcastle College and Wesley from Leeds College of Building who placed in the Plastering). All involved should be commended for using their efforts.

Discover the full list of winners here

Report identifies actions to increase uptate of electric vehicles in the construction industry

by Oscar Venus | 22 Nov, 2024 | Employment

A report published today (20 November 2024) by the Construction Leadership Council sets out the four main issues which have led to the slow uptake of electric vehicles in the construction industry. They are:

Home charging
On site charging
Legislation regarding Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) Electric Vehicles (EVs) o Cost of ownership

The report studies the impact of each issue and makes recommendations to overcome them, with the aim of increasing electric vehicle uptake in the sector, currently at just 5.2%.

Firstly, for home charging, the issues centre around employees taking work vehicles home and the availability of home charging facilities, as well as associated costs and liabilities. Recommendations include improvements to Public Charge Networks, and consideration to installing a separate meter in employee homes, allowing expenditure on work EVs to be easily monitored.

Secondly, regarding on site charging, conflicting priorities on worksites can mean there is insufficient capacity to connect EVs to the mains supply for charging. Alternatives such as hydrogen powered generators have been considered to increase capacity, but costs can be prohibitive. Recommendations include a more strategic approach, including potentially leaving permanent charging facilities behind, once the construction job is finished.

Thirdly, legislation is a challenge due to regulations regarding using LCV EVs in place of 3.5t diesel vans. An electric van weighing between 3.5 – 4.25t is classed as an HGV in certain areas of legislation, such as MOT testing, and will require a tachograph to be installed, and speed restricted to 56mph. Recommendations include removing LCV EVs from HGV thresholds to remove these extra requirements.

Fourthly, the cost of electric vehicles continues to be high and is a barrier to ownership or lease. Recommendations include capital offset for firms investing in or leasing electric vehicles, and reduced MOT costs and timings, which would help to further reduce running costs.

Matt Palmer, Industry Sponsor for Net Zero and Biodiversity at the Construction Leadership Council, Executive Director of the Lower Thames Crossing and sponsor of today’s report said: “The UK relies on the infrastructure our industry builds, but we have to do so in a way that is compatible with a Net Zero future, and that includes the vehicles we use – on site, and for our workforce travelling to, from and between sites. Whilst uptake of electric vehicles in the construction industry has been slow to date, I’m optimistic that our report sets out clear actions and suggested policy changes that would make electric vehicle ownership or lease a more attractive option for our whole industry.”

Joanna Gilroy, Group Director of Sustainability, Balfour Beatty said:

“It’s been a tremendous opportunity for Balfour Beatty to support this CLC Sprint Project involving stakeholders from across the industry to align our approach that will enable the uptake of electric vehicles to gain traction in projects across the UK. Throughout this process we have identified consistent challenges faced and recognise the issues of infrastructure, regulation and investment that is required to move the industry collectively forward in reaching Net Zero”.

Construction Leadership Council info here.

CO2nstruct Zero Sprint Project: Championing and accelerating the switch to electric vehicles.

Find out more

Employment Rights Bill guide

by Oscar Venus | 15 Nov, 2024 | Main News Feed

On 10 October, the UK Government introduced its new Employment Rights Bill, marking the most significant overhaul of UK employment law in decades. Ministers assert that the proposals will create fairer workplaces and better address modern needs for both workers and employers, while also fostering economic growth.

The Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV) has issued a briefing document outlining the key changes:

Day One Protection

Employees will be protected from unfair dismissal, with employers still able to operate probationary periods. They will also be entitled to paternity, parental, and bereavement leave from their first day on the job, eliminating the current two-year waiting period.

Zero-Hour Contracts

The Bill addresses exploitative zero-hour contracts, allowing workers on regular hours to request guaranteed hours while preserving flexibility for those who prefer it.

Fire and Rehire

The Bill aims to end ‘fire and rehire’ and ‘fire and replace’ practices, preventing companies from re-hiring employees on worse terms.

Statutory Sick Pay

Sick pay eligibility will be expanded by eliminating the lower earnings threshold and removing the waiting period before it begins.

Fair Pay

The Government has revised the Low Pay Commission’s remit to consider the cost of living when recommending the National Minimum Wage rate. This Bill will also remove age bands, ensuring that every working adult is entitled to the same minimum wage, regardless of age.

Flexible Working

Flexible working will become the default, unless employers can show why it is not practical for their business.

Pregnancy

Protections for pregnant women and new mothers returning to work will be strengthened, specifically safeguarding them from dismissal during pregnancy, while on maternity leave, and for six months after returning to work.

Pay Disparities Between Men and Women

Large employers will be required to produce action plans to address pay gaps between men and women.

Trade Union Rights

All restrictions on trade unions introduced by the previous Conservative administrations over the past 14 years will be repealed, and a series of new powers will be granted.

For a more detailed look at the changes our Associate Service Provider Member Citation’s latest guide, ‘The Employment Rights Bill: Your ultimate guide to the 28 changes‘, is designed to help you understand these changes so you can successfully adapt your business.

Navigating the Building Safety Regime: new mandatory reporting guidance

by Oscar Venus | 15 Nov, 2024 | Main News Feed

With new homes and infrastructure at the heart of the Government’s plan to drive economic growth, construction is firmly in the spotlight, and we need to ensure the industry is delivering high quality buildings that are safe to occupy and perform as expected. There is significant focus on the new building safety regime, which has strengthened existing legislation and introduced a raft of new requirements, and it can feel quite overwhelming as more information is published while everyone is getting up to speed.

Build UK, of which FIS is a member, is regularly meeting with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) as well as the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), enabling them to respond to issues quickly and effectively.

There is still a long way to go, particularly with further changes likely as a result of the final report from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, and through our links with Build UK we will continue to work closely with the BSR and MHCLG to ensure the new regime is implemented as effectively as possible. The prize is a more organised and productive industry, with earlier engagement of the contracting supply chain and more advanced design before construction work begins, and it is clear from the improved success rate at Planning Gateway One that the industry is adapting and fire safety measures have been integrated into the design process.

We understand that Gateway Two is proving to be a real challenge, and Build UK is developing guidance to support members through the process and have published a guide to Mandatory Occurrence Reporting, which includes a template MOR system for use during the construction of Higher‐Risk Buildings (HRBs) to help ensure a consistent approach across the supply chain. This guide is for Build UK members (which includes FIS members).

This guidance summarises the requirement under the Building Safety Act to notify and report certain types of building safety incidents and risks in HRBs to the BSR. Mandatory Occurrences are incidents and risks during the construction and occupation phases of an HRB that have caused, or if not remedied are likely to cause, the death or serious injury of a significant number of people and involve structural failure and/or the spread of fire or smoke in the building.

The BSR has provided additional information on why applications are being rejected. Applications must clearly demonstrate how the design and construction of the building complies with Building Regulations by identifying every single element that needs to demonstrate compliance, clarifying how compliance will be demonstrated using the appropriate standard or code, and justifying how compliance has been achieved with a narrative. Further details can be found on the BSR microsite and the BSR recommends that professional advice is taken before submitting an application.

There is also a new FAQ explaining the difference between Category A work, which involves significant alternations to the structure, safety or design of an HRB, and Category B work, which is much simpler in scope and includes all work that does not fall under Category A. Both categories of work are required to go through the Gateways with the BSR as the Building Control Body. Work carried out under a Competent Person Scheme and work that is exempt as defined in schedule 2 or emergency repairs as specified in Regulation 10 of The Building (Higher‐Risk Buildings Procedures) (England) Regulations 2023 do not fall under Category A or Category B.

Take our Building Safety Act Training Course

FIS created an online training course to help members understand compliance with the Building Safety Act, specifically for those in the finishes and interiors sector.

Click Here

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FIS Sustainability Research – Your help needed

by Oscar Venus | 15 Nov, 2024 | Sustainability

FIS is data driven and keen to support research that improves our collective understanding to and helps us to drive positive change. To this end, the FIS Sustainability Leadership Group has agreed to support the research stage of a Masters Project being conducted by Nicola Forest (who has a long association of working with the group).

Nicola is now employed by The Crown Estate and her project is looking at the barriers to circularity in London by proposing a material flow analysis methodology to quantify available materials within London’s CAT B office building stock. The project will map the types and locations of existing materials by analysing their lifecycles and assessing their potential for reuse.

With growing interest in this subject and a scarcity of academic studies in this area, this research is both timely and crucial. Specifically Nicola is looking to the FIS community to help:

Provide opportunities to undertake site visits of recent fit outs (completed within the last 1 to 2 years exceeding £10 million) through clients, end-users and fit out contractors
Provide copies of architectural finishes schedules for fit outs (completed within the last 1 to 2 years exceeding £10 million) from architects, sustainability design consultants and contractors. Please can you also confirm total floor area for each finishes schedule provided.
Provide copies of any existing pre-demolition audits for projects expecting strip out in the next 12 months.

The completed data will be showcased through a digital and interactive map created with GIS and Power BI. Users will be able to click on buildings to reveal internal components, estimated quantities (calculated using material coefficient rates and reuse efficiency), and potential reuse opportunities. This will be shared with participants and key findings will be presented to FIS Sustainability Leadership Group to support our ongoing work.

We hope you can support Nicola, to take part or find out more, please email njf44@cam.ac.uk

Material Supply Chain Group Statement

by Oscar Venus | 8 Nov, 2024 | Material Shortages

Statement from John Newcomb, CEO of the Builders Merchants Federation and Peter Caplehorn, CEO of the Construction Products Association, co-chairs of the Construction Leadership Council’s Material Supply Chain Group.

The latest statement below from the Construction Leadership Council’s Material Supply Chain Group (formerly Product Availability Group) continues to show good levels of product availability as we move into the final quarter of the year.

Most regions reported stronger sales prompted by a slight increase in house building activity. This has raised demand for bricks and roof tiles, but their supply has not been unduly impacted, and there are generally good levels of availability across the board. Previously reported issues regarding aerated blocks are being managed by allocated supply. This is likely to continue until the end of the year as manufacturers rebuild stocks.

In the week before the new Chancellor’s first Budget, the main concerns flagged by the Group centred on the potential impact of the government’s ambitions for new housing and infrastructure when, over the past 18 months, manufacturers have adjusted capacity to match far lower levels of demand. This includes construction products manufactured in the UK but also materials, such as structural timber, which are predominantly sourced from European suppliers, and are subject to demand from many countries, not just the UK. Demand world-wide has declined in the last two years leading to the closure of older facilities, the loss of skilled labour, and very low stock levels. This may be problematic if there is a rapid surge in demand for construction products as we progress through 2025.

Understanding the complexity of the construction materials supply chain and the limitations this presents, will be essential to the successful planning and implementation of the government’s plans for growth.

The Group is undertaking research to establish capacity amongst UK producers and assess how quickly this could be increased to accommodate the level of demand required to achieve 300,000 new homes a year. The Group also recognises the global nature of the full construction supply chain, which is more difficult to assess.

Despite these concerns, the latest industry forecasts expect any notable growth prospects, particularly for housing activity, to occur in the second half of 2025. Having noted the complexity and length of the material supply chain, members of the group strongly advocate that industry uses this time to plan in advance, work closely with your supply chain, and forecast and communicate your requirements early with suppliers, distributors and builders’ merchants. Collaborative, ongoing communication throughout the whole supply chain is mutually beneficial and essential to a healthy, productive UK construction industry.

CITB Skills and Training Conference heading to Wales

by Oscar Venus | 8 Nov, 2024 | Events, Skills

CITB is hosting its next Skills and Training Conference in Wales on 23 January.

Following the success of CITB’s Skills and Training Conferences in Manchester and Scotland in 2024, this one-day event in Cardiff is the latest step in a revitalised engagement programme for employers and training providers from CITB’s Customer Engagement team. CITB’s executive team will be there to meet employers, training providers and other industry stakeholders.

The conference will share key information and updates, discuss challenges, and outline how the construction industry can work towards narrowing the skills gap.

Construction companies and employers can find out more about hot topics like the Building Safety Act and Social Value, while receiving one-to-one support on accessing CITB funding and services, including the new Employer Network initiative.

Training providers, meanwhile, will have the opportunity to hear about the industry’s major opportunities and meet construction companies and industry trade federations.

Julia Stevens, Engagement Director Wales, CITB, said:

“We’re extremely excited to announce that the CITB Skills and Training Conference is heading to Cardiff in January. It’s an excellent opportunity for construction companies to find out more about the training and funding available, and to discuss how we can collectively address the skills gap.

“We’re also looking to engage more training providers in this important conversation, strengthening our network and creating a more robust future for everyone involved.”

The Skills and Training Conference Wales will be held at voco St. David’s Hotel, Cardiff on Thursday, 23 January 2025.

To book your place, visit https://skillswales.citbevents.co.uk/home

Skills Hub

The Skills Hub brings together details of courses specific to the finishes and interiors sector, making accessing and booking training quick and easy. In addition, it provides information on sector careers, apprenticeships and funding, as well as access to e-learning, CPD and other training.

Click Here

Changes to CSCS Green Labourer Card

by Oscar Venus | 8 Nov, 2024 | Skills

The Green Labourer card is evolving from February 2025.
The card’s duration will initially be two years instead of five. However, businesses that can verify their commitment to a labouring role will have the opportunity to extend the card’s lifespan to a full five years.
Starting from the 1st of February, 2025, the Labourer card, upon first application, will be valid for two years. Those continuing in labouring roles can renew the card for five years, provided they present proof of employment in a labouring role.
In addition, the CITB Health, safety, and environment test, required only for the initial two-year card application, will now be valid for three years, making it applicable for renewal.
Existing Labourer card holders seeking renewal from February onwards will qualify for another five-year card upon presenting the necessary evidence.
For further discussion, feel free to reach out to Marie Flinter at marieflinter@thefis.org.

Lens Blog – Navigating the Turbulent Waters of the UK Construction Industry

by Oscar Venus | 30 Oct, 2024 | Insurance, Lens Blog

What an absolute rollercoaster the construction industry in the United Kingdom has experienced in the last 4 to 6 weeks, and I want to talk about some of the issues that I see that have emerged, and to consider what may happen in the future.

The background of course has been the demise of ISG Construction Ltd in administration in the latter part of September 2025 and the Administrators have published a Statement of Affairs which makes absolutely grim reading with the supply chain being owed significant sums of money and they are not likely to receive anything. In my next Blog I may be able to update readers on what has emerged but as at 26 October 2024 it is not clear how some of these major projects will be recommenced and completed and what the impact will be on the supply chain.

In the past few days, we have seen the fallout of two subcontractors also going into administration as a result of the amounts of money that they were owed. As to whether or not there were other issues affecting these organisations, remains to be seen.

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Saving Lives: The Critical Importance of Defibrillator Training and Awareness

by Oscar Venus | 21 Oct, 2024 | Health and Safety, Main News Feed

In readiness for Restart a Heart Day, the FIS (Finishes & Interiors Sector) team undertook Basic Life Saving training to understand what to do when faced with an emergency situation. Here, Hermione Neale, FIS Marketing Apprentice, highlights what the team learnt and how early defibrillation can save lives.

In this article, I will cover the effectiveness of defibs, the action to take in an emergency, what CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is, The Circuit and how to access defibrillators, storage of defibrillators, number of first aiders, statistics and Cardiac Awareness week.

Giving people a chance

Statistics show that using a defibrillator within the first minute can have a survival rate as high as 90%, however every minute that passes after this, the survival rate drops by 10%. This proves the effectiveness of defibrillators and how much of a difference they can make in saving lives. With manual compressions the survival rate is between 5-10%, with 1 in 10 people surviving resuscitation.

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is rescue breaths and compressions in an attempt to bring back the patient’s heartbeat and breathing. CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is different for adults, children over a year and infants under a year. A defibrillator is a device used to restore a regular heartbeat by an electric current.

In the case of an emergency check your surroundings for danger, begin compressions, call 999, call for a defibrillator, turn on the defibrillator, cut off clothing covering chest, place pads as shown, follow defibrillators verbal instructions, if there are signs of responsiveness place them in the recovery position and monitor.

Finding a Defib

The Circuit is the national defibrillator network that is used by the 14 ambulance services across the UK. This allows ambulance services to locate the nearest defibrillator upon arrival of a cardiac arrest. These defibrillators are connected to each of the 14 ambulance services and there are an estimated 90,000 defibrillators currently in the UK. Through calling 999, the operator can tell you where the nearest defibrillator is and then what the code to access it is.

Defibrillators should be stored in a case to protect it from damage and the recommended temperature range is between 0 to 50 degrees. The AED needs to be kept within this temperature range due to the adhesive gel on the pads melting and not sticking to the patient properly, therefore preventing the electrical shock from getting to the heart. In the winter months the defibrillator should be stored in a heated outdoor cabinet. Defibrillators should be checked every day including the batteries to ensure that the defibrillator is ready for use.

It could be you

Every year in Britain, 30,000 people have cardiac arrests outside of a hospital and statistics show that 1 in 10 patients survive due to lack of education and training. 72% of cardiac arrests happen at home and 15% happen at a workplace. Half of out of hospital cardiac arrests are witnessed by a bystander and 7 out of 10 attempt CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation). However, public defibrillator use is reported at being used less than 1 in 10. The average ambulance response time is 6.9 minutes, which means by the time a call is made and the wait time for the ambulance, the patients survival rate from defibrillation will have dropped by 70%. In 2018, 59% of the public were trained in CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) training, however only 19% knew how to use an AED, which means that the chance of cardiac arrest patients has a significantly lower chance of survival.

In a workplace with 25 employees, the minimum legal requirement is one appointed first aider.

This information and statistics show how important informative first aid is to the survival rate of cardiac arrests. It is important for employers to take the time to train their employees and ensure they all have awareness surrounding cardiac arrests, the signs and how to use a defibrillator.

Restart a Heart Day

Restart A Heart Day took place on the 16 October. The Day helps raise awareness of cardiac arrests. This program encourages confidence in CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) practice and allowing them to learn lifesaving skills. The focus for this year’s Restart A Heart Day was to aid equal access to defibrillators, which will increase the chance of survival rates. This is now an internationally celebrated day.

Preventing deaths from cardiac arrest

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Sources

Overview and Slides from FIS Commercial Fit-out Day

by Oscar Venus | 18 Oct, 2024 | Events

On Tuesday FIS hosted its Commercial Fit-out Industry Day (kindly hosted by Hill Dickinson and sponsored by FireDNA.

The current legal and regulatory backdrop

At the meeting FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee covered the current impact of the Building Safety Act on the market, some of the challenges and key findings from the Grenfell Inquiry and how this is likely to impact further change. Sarah from Hill Dickinson helped contextualise this with details of current cases and how things are starting to be interpreted. Key takeaways were that the impact is starting to be felt, but not always in a complex way with difficult compliance issues and risk being forced down. There is a danger things are getting worse before they get better. The free FIS E-Learning course on the Building Safety Act was recommended for more detailed briefing. FIS Training Modules

Technical challenges in the fit-out process

The next session was opened by James Parlour, FIS Technical and Vetting Manager who looked at competency requirements and changes in the Building Regulations. He went on to draw out some of the core details from the recent work FIS has done on understanding systems and compatibility issues within the construction of the fit-out. The presentation was based on the latest guide FIS has collaborated on with a variety of organisations from across construction – https://www.thefis.org/membership-hub/publications/best-practice-guides/walls-as-a-system/. Hannah Mansell of consultancy Adoorability and Elliott Brown of The FDI helped to get into the detail of fire doors in this context. A key stat that was included was that of 40,000 doors surveyed, 32,595 doors failed due to the gap between the frame and leaf not being within tolerance and 14,729 doors failed due to incorrect lineal seal fire stopping method! The key concern raised in questions is it is still the case that we find ourselves on site with partly designed buildings and unresolved details where it is very challenging to prove compliance.

Reframing fit-out and the importance of the Responsible No

The session then moved on to explore the FIS work around the Responsible No, with Anthony Armitage of Thirdway talking about the devil in the detail of contracts and why we need to be pushing harder than ever to revert to standard form contracts unamended. He looked at the most common and concerning areas of amendment and the importance of our sector in getting behind the Conflict Avoidance Process. Iain McIlwee looked specifically at challenges in design intent and the consequences of tendering and procurement not being integrated into the design development process. The session concluded with a small group working session where attendees were asked to consider irresponsible asks and three key requests for our clients. The results of this are being reviewed and will be worked up as part of the development of the FIS Responsible No campaign.

Ahead of lunch the group had a demonstration of the OpenSpace Tool

After lunch the group had a demonstration of the FireDNA Tool and the exciting news that FireDNA has expanded their offering to cover partitions and fire stopping of penetrations.

Sustainability reducing the industry’s environmental impact

The first session of the afternoon looked at how we start to better measure the impact of our works. The Net Zero Carbon Building Standard was presented by Dan Doran, this described how the wider construction sector is starting to adopt a more common approach and how FIS members have fed into this process to ensure that the refurbishment of buildings is effectively considered. The impact of multiple fit-outs is significant!! The need to measure more effectively was picked up by Matt Robinson of Ambit who updated those assembled on an FIS Sustainability Working Group looking at more consistent measurement of impact of CAT A to CAT B transitions (and how starting to adopt standard definitions helps). Joe Croft of Overbury picked up here to look at how CAT B impacts with a new “median fit-out” measure now being available to support benchmarking. Rachel Hoolahan of Orms concluded this session by providing a designer’s perspective pulling out some fascinating case studies and perceptions.

The potential for re-use

The final session was an engaging panel discussion led by Paul Gaughan of Lumybel. The topic of re-use was then explored from multiple perspectives. Nicola Forest provided a contractor perspective and Katherine Adams of Reusefully then looked at the requirements of pre-refurbishment audits. A manufacturers perspective came from Nigel Harvey of Recolight and Tim Phillpot of SAS International and Dilush Selva of TP Bennet provided an architect’s perspective. Whilst challenging, it is clear as we gain greater understanding of the impact that re-use is paramount for helping to hit net-zero targets. Whilst challenging to both commercial models and programmes, real progress is being made. Flavie Lowres (FIS Sustainability Champion) finished the session by presenting progress on the FIS Physical Re-use Hub.

In this session Recolight announced a new opportunity for FIS members to get EPDs produced for their products by opening up their partnership with One Click LCA – online LCA and EPD software. If you are interested in finding out more contact LCA@Recolight.co.uk

Finishing on re-use felt like bringing the event full circle and leant into presentations throughout the day (such as FireDNA), construction is moving to a new model of asset management or perhaps a better phrase coined by Rachel Hoolahan, “custodianship”. Across the themes of Compliance, Safety, Productivity and Sustainability, the need for better collaboration and clearer contracts built around better defined duties, ultimately being clear about what is possible in the time and resource allowed and crucially what is impossible. The session finished with a reminder from FIS CEO Iain McIlwee that whilst our focus is getting rid of the culture of amendment, contracts must still be checked – “the devil is the details and if we are not careful the contracts are the gateway to hell!” FIS offers a subsidised contract review service for members here Contractual and Legal – FIS

https://www.thefis.org/industry-day-fit-out/

Thank you to FireDNA for supporting the day

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Giving people a chance

Finding a Defib

It could be you

Restart a Heart Day

Preventing deaths from cardiac arrest

Sources

The Circuit

British Heart Foundation

NHS

Resucitation Council UK