by Oscar Venus | 29 May, 2025 | Awards
The countdown has begun for this year’s Inspiring Change Conference & Awards, and nominations are now open.
With new and exciting categories introduced for 2025, the awards are an opportunity to highlight the individuals, teams, and organisations within the finishes and interiors sector who are leading the way in Fairness, Inclusion, and Respect (FIR) across the built environment.
Deadline for nominations: Friday 13 June 2025
You can nominate a colleague, a project, or yourself. If you or someone you know is making a meaningful impact in fostering an inclusive, respectful, and fair workplace culture, we want to hear from you.
Award Categories Open for Nomination:
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TfL FIR Ambassador of the Year Award
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HS2 FIR Inspiration Award
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National Highways FIR Innovator Award
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Network Rail SME of the Year Award
Team-Selected Awards (not open for nomination):
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FIR Learner of the Year Award
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FIR Lifetime Achievement Award
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Diversity Data Benchmarking (SME & Large Organisation)
Conference and Awards Ceremony Details:
Date: Tuesday 15 July 2025
Venue: Grand Connaught Rooms, London
These awards not only celebrate progress but also inspire further action across the construction sector. Limited spaces are available for the conference, so early registration is encouraged.
To learn more about the award categories, judging criteria, or to submit your nomination, visit here.
Let’s continue to inspire change, starting with your nomination. Thank you for helping us celebrate the champions of a more inclusive and progressive industry.
by Oscar Venus | 23 May, 2025 | Health and Safety, Technical
We have been working with a panel of industry experts to address organisational competence amongst contractors. This group has been instrumental in helping us produce building safety policy guidance for those who are accredited on a pre-qualification (PQQ) scheme equivalent to the Build UK Common Assessment Standard (CAS). This guidance should be a timely and meaningful intervention with the June deadline rapidly approaching for the Building Safety section of the CAS becoming mandatory.
It is vital members get on top of this because, whilst companies can currently opt out of the new questions and maintain accreditation, we have been advised the additional questions related to work in scope of the Building Safety Act will become mandatory from as early as the 9th June 2025. Added to this, they provide a good framework for challenging your internal processes. FIS team ran through the questions with a group of members in early May and whilst most should be straightforward, we can provide additional advise based on this discussion and support. If you need any advice in the process, please call FIS on 0121 707 0077 or email info@thefis.org and we will direct you to the appropriate member of our team. If you have comments on the questions, FIS has been invited to join the drafting panel for future editions of the Common Assessment Standard, so please direct comments to jamesparlour@thefis.org.
As a final point FIS is always willing to follow-up requests for specific PQQ schemes as the Common Assessment Standard is designed to support interoperability and remove the need for duplication of accreditation efforts across multiple schemes (this is part of our Responsible No Campaign)
The draft policy document can be found here
by Oscar Venus | 23 May, 2025 | Market data, Technical
FIS responded on behalf if it’s members to the Government Consultation on their Construction Products Reform Green Paper. This paper details plans to increase the oversight of testing and conformity assessment bodies, third party product certification schemes, the role of the general product safety regulations in governing construction products not covered by an existing designated standard. The paper also consults on the introduction of digital product passports and environmental performance characteristics from the new EU Construction Products Regulations along with a suite of measures to enable reuse of construction products. The FIS gathered views from across our membership profile through our working groups and beyond, and we are incredibly grateful to all those who gave their time and expertise to inform a comprehensive response.
In the FIS response we have highlighted the need to review designer responsibility with producer responsibility to ensure key performance and compliance issues are addressed where interface and compatibility issues are essential to overall building performance. The need to consider future life of materials and ensure regulation does not halt the growing market for product re-use and a more circular approach in its tracks. We have also touched on the need to balance Intellectual Property consideration with transparency and support to ensure that the compliance environment works to encourage innovation and doesn’t create onerous compliance loops that limit opportunities to modernise methods of construction. Availability of Standards and the balance a regulator needs to find with respect to robust enforcement and encouraging “black box thinking”.
Thanks to all members who have shared their views and helped shape our response. If you have additional views, this is not the end of the road an Government have committed to ongoing consultation around the key subjects raised in this Green Paper.
The full text of our response can be found here:
Green Paper Consultation – FIS Response
by Oscar Venus | 9 May, 2025 | Main News Feed
FIS will be responding on behalf of its members to the Government green paper consultation on construction products reform. We have been in discussion with individuals throughout the supply chain and have gathered views across all areas of the consultation. Members have one more week to give us your comments if you wish for us to include them in our response, and would encourage you to contact jamesparlour@thefis.org with any comments you have.
Conversations with our members to date have highlighted a few key concerns:
- Lack of harmonisation between regulatory approaches for products with and without a designated standard, means that manufacturers may have to undergo very different processes in order to achieve compliance with regulations as designated standards are introduced over time, or depending on the products they sell. A universal approach that encompasses both product categories would be desirable.
- Recommendations of additional measures for safety critical products such as requiring the use of third party certification schemes are welcomed, however a proportional approach will be needed for some non-fire risk related performance characteristics that whilst potentially fulfilling the definition of safety critical, present a much lower risk in real terms.
- The requirement for manufacturers of products not covered by a designated standard to produce a risk assessment that eliminates or controls safety risk related to “reasonably foreseeable conditions of use” requires much more clarity to ensure that manufacturers are not held to unreasonable standards relating to improper use of products by other operators in the supply chain.
Peter Capelhorn of the Construction Products Association (CPA) recorded a webinar with Building Safety Minister Alex Norris MP there they discussed the consultation in detail which can be viewed here:
Construction Products Green Paper Webinar 030425
Anyone can respond directly to the consultation before 21/05/25 at the link below:
Construction Products Reform Green Paper – Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – Citizen Space
by Oscar Venus | 9 May, 2025 | Main News Feed
FIS is proud to support Mental Health Awareness Week, taking place from 12–18 May 2025, led by the Mental Health Foundation. This year’s theme – community – serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of human connection in supporting our mental wellbeing.
Being part of a positive, safe community helps people to feel supported, find purpose, and know they are not alone, values that align strongly with our mission at FIS. In the finishes and interiors sector, building a culture that prioritises mental health is more important than ever.
To support this, FIS has created a Mental Health Hub, offering access to resources, best practice guidance, and signposting for members and their teams. We encourage everyone in the sector to take a moment during this week to connect with others, share experiences, and promote a culture of care and support within their organisations.
Visit the FIS Mental Health Hub to find out more.
Let’s continue to build strong, connected communities, both on and off-site.
by Oscar Venus | 9 May, 2025 | Contractual and Legal
With recent figures revealing that the construction industry experienced the highest number of insolvencies over the past year, the resilience of the supply chain remains a priority, and Build UK’s contract terms recommendation identifies six contract terms which should be avoided to promote collaboration and ensure a fair allocation of risk
- Fitness for Purpose – Do not include a ‘fitness for purpose’ standard of care for design (except in the process sector)
- Unquantifiable Risks – Do not include delay/loss and expense risk where not reasonably ascertainable for dealing with asbestos; fossils, antiquities and other objects of interest or value; unexploded ordnance; and the carrying out by statutory bodies of work in pursuance of their statutory obligations
- ‘Specified Perils’ – Do not include that ‘Specified Perils’ (as defined in JCT) will not give rise to extension of time where caused by the (sub-)contractor
- Breach of Contract – Do not include a blanket indemnity for breach of contract
- Uncapped Liabilities – Do not include uncapped (sub-)contractor liability (save for certain aggregate cap carve-outs)
- Performance Securities – Do not use a pure on-demand performance bond; a Parent Company Guarantee (PCG) which does not include a ‘no greater liability’ clause and equivalent rights of defence; or a collateral warranty which does not include a ‘no greater liability’ clause.
Build UK have published comprehensive guidance to help implement the recommendation, explaining why each term should not be used and setting out ways to manage the underlying issues more effectively, with specific guidance for JCT and NEC contracts. The recommendation is non‐binding and FIS members are free to negotiate their own contractual terms with their clients.
by Oscar Venus | 9 May, 2025 | Main News Feed
With the Employment Rights Bill expected to receive Royal Assent this summer, FIS members are encouraged to review upcoming changes that will significantly reshape the employment landscape. Described by Government as the ‘biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation’, the Bill introduces new rights and protections, improved working conditions, and stronger enforcement measures.
FIS Partner Citation has published a helpful overview of the proposed reforms, which include removing the two-year qualifying period for unfair dismissal, day-one rights to leave and sick pay, and making flexible working the default unless proven unreasonable. Most changes are expected to take effect by April 2026.
We urge members to familiarise themselves with these changes and review existing HR policies. You can download the guide from Citation (basic contact details required), and FIS members can also access tailored advice by calling 0161 504 0843 and quoting their membership.
This is a significant moment for employers, early planning will ensure a smoother transition.
by Oscar Venus | 9 May, 2025 | Market data
On 8 May, the U.K. and the U.S. agreed a trade deal. The full details have not been outlined, but overall, the agreement leaves tariffs on most UK goods entering the US at a higher rate (10%) than before the tariff disruptions (around 2.5% on average). There is little direct economic impact given that only 2% of GDP comes from goods exports to the U.S., but it is helpful that the U.K. has agreed to a trade deal to prevent the risk that tariffs go up substantially at the end of the 90-day pause. It may also be a strong positive for some affected sectors and companies. For example, for U.K. steel and aluminium, the U.S. tariffs of 25% announced in March have been reduced to zero. However, it is currently unclear whether this will also apply to steel and aluminium derivative products as well, so the full details of the agreement will be important. Interest rate cuts announced yesterday have already been factored in to growth forecasts, but should provide stimulus, particularly in the housing sector.
by Oscar Venus | 9 May, 2025 | Health and Safety
FIS welcomes and supports the joint call by industry groups across the EU and UK for a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) on conformity assessment. The position paper, co-signed by Construction Products Europe and the Construction Products Association (CPA), outlines a clear and pragmatic case for reducing technical barriers to trade between the two regions.
The proposed MRA would allow products certified in either the UK or EU to be recognised in both markets, avoiding the need for costly and duplicative assessments. This is especially critical for manufacturers and suppliers in the finishes and interiors sector, many of whom are SMEs already facing increased regulatory and financial pressures.
Key benefits of the MRA include:
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Lower compliance costs, supporting export growth
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Improved market access and regulatory certainty
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Greater capacity and competition among conformity assessment bodies
As discussions continue ahead of the EU-UK Summit on 19 May, FIS echoes the call for this agreement to be prioritised. It represents a practical step toward rebuilding frictionless trade and strengthening economic ties between the UK and EU construction sectors.
FIS will continue to work closely with CPA and other stakeholders to champion sensible solutions that benefit our members and the wider industry.
by Oscar Venus | 9 May, 2025 | Health and Safety
FIS is proud to support No Falls Week, taking place from 12–16 May 2025 — a vital campaign aimed at raising awareness of the risks associated with working at height and promoting best practices across the construction industry.
Launched in 2024, No Falls Week serves as a rallying call to reduce the number of preventable incidents caused by falls, which remain the leading cause of workplace fatalities in the UK. According to the latest data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 40 people lost their lives to falls from height in 2022–23, accounting for 30% of all workplace deaths.
Whether you’re a contractor, supplier, or site manager, No Falls Week provides an opportunity to reflect on current practices and ensure robust safety procedures are in place. The campaign aims to equip everyone working at height with the knowledge, tools, and motivation to make safer choices — because every worker deserves to return home safely at the end of the day.
How You Can Get Involved:
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Raise Awareness: Share safety reminders and key messages with your teams throughout the week.
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Review Procedures: Use this opportunity to revisit your working at height policies and risk assessments.
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Host a Toolbox Talk: Organise a session to discuss best practices, common risks, and how to prevent falls.
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Share Your Story: Highlight what your company is doing to improve height safety — tag FIS and use #NoFallsWeek to spread the message.
FIS will be supporting the campaign by sharing resources and encouraging members to actively engage with the initiative. Let’s work together to build a safer industry, one where no fall is inevitable.
For more information and resources, visit the No Falls Week website or contact the FIS team.
by Oscar Venus | 25 Apr, 2025 | Market data
We’re sharing a research-led initiative (led by Diane Tocco, a member of our Organisational Excellence Working Group) that explores how manufacturers manage and maintain their BIM objects—focusing on the accuracy, consistency, and structure of the data they contain. The aim is to identify where current industry practices succeed or fall short, and how technology—particularly automation and AI—can help improve data quality across the supply chain. This short survey is aimed at manufacturers whose products are used in commercial building projects—including architectural, MEP, and FF&E components—and who already have Revit Families for at least one fixed product range. By contributing, you’ll be helping shape a more consistent and efficient approach to BIM object creation and data compliance.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HTBFSTH
As a thank you, all participants will be entered into a prize draw to win a Bose SoundLink Flex Portable Speaker (2nd Gen) (RRP £149.95) Whether you’re already producing BIM content or just starting to explore it, your insight is valuable. Thank you for taking part. Diane will be sharing the results with our Working Group in support of our work.
by Oscar Venus | 24 Apr, 2025 | Contractual and Legal
Working with renowned, and self-proclaimed recovering, construction lawyer Sarah Fox, FIS is running an interactive workshop on Wednesday 7th May, 1.30pm – 3.30pm with the aim of creating a simple sub-contract built on the 500 words principle. Sarah has spent 10 years putting her idea into practice and drafting UK construction contracts starting with just 500 words. This work very much aligns to FIS Responsible No Campaign and our wider work on improving contractual practice and procurement in the sector.
At the heart of her work is a simple idea – simplification works. When you streamline deals and clarify terms you’ll save time, improve relationships, and avoid conflict.
The workshop will be held online, is limited to 12 people and we will be using existing (more traditional) Standard Terms created through FIS as the base and the principles of the Conflict Avoidance Process and set down the in the “Best Practice Guide: Improving Management of Building Contracts” to support the process (both available via our legal and contractual toolkit here). We will also be using an Artificial Intelligence Tool, Genie AI, to support the process and help understand and assess the potential of new technology in the process.
If you want a bit more background on the 500 Words Principles, Sarah’s website is here 500 Words and she did a cracking Podcast here.
by Oscar Venus | 17 Apr, 2025 | Market data
Following strong member interest, the CPA economics team has released a new briefing on the Impacts of U.S. Tariffs.
This document will be revised as the situation develops, and made available to FIS members through our weekly newsletter.
The latest version, includes on Page 2, the results of an investment bank polling its key stakeholders on the probability of a U.S. recession (in the light of no hard data or surveys covering the period since the U.S. tariff disruption as yet). The new text is highlighted in yellow.
Join CPA Economics Director, Professor Noble Francis, for a webinar exploring the potential impacts on the UK economy and construction sector.
Wednesday 30 April
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Via Zoom
The session will include a live Q&A. This will be a great opportunity to put your questions directly to one of the sector’s leading economic voices.
The latest update is available here..
by Oscar Venus | 10 Apr, 2025 | Labour, Skills
FIS is proud to be partnering with Building Our Skills to deliver an exciting Careers Festival – showcasing ‘50 Careers in a Day’ – designed to open young minds to the diverse opportunities available within the finishes and interiors sector and the wider construction industry.
Taking place on Tuesday 20th May at the AluK Design Centre in London, this one-day event will bring together school-aged children, teachers, careers advisors, and parents to explore what a future in construction could look like. The festival will feature real stories from real people, with industry professionals sharing insights into their own career journeys, what inspired them, and the variety of roles available across the sector.
Why Get Involved?
This initiative is about more than just awareness — it’s about making construction a career of choice for the next generation. The event aims to:
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Position construction as an exciting and rewarding long-term career
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Provide clear, practical information and guidance
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Enable direct engagement with passionate people working in the industry
We’re inviting FIS members to get involved — whether it’s by giving a short talk, sharing your story, or bringing along a hands-on activity that helps bring your work to life.
Event Details
Tuesday 20th May
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
AluK Design Centre, Henry Thomas House, 5-11 Worship St, London EC2A 2BH
Interested in Taking Part?
If you’d like to be part of this inspiring day and help us shape the future of our industry, please get in touch with Beena Nana at
beenanana@thefis.org by Friday 8 May.
by Oscar Venus | 10 Apr, 2025 | Contractual and Legal
At FIS, we’ve long advocated for better contractual practices and early intervention to help our members avoid the stress, cost, and disruption of disputes. That’s why we’re proud to share that one of our trusted consultants, Len Bunton, has recently been appointed President of the Conflict Avoidance Coalition.
Many of you will know Len through his work delivering contract reviews and offering wise, practical advice to FIS members on a wide range of contractual issues. He continues to be a strong advocate for fairness and collaboration in construction contracts, and his latest message is simple but important:
All FIS members should sign the Conflict Avoidance Pledge. You can do so via the RICS website
What is the Conflict Avoidance Process?
The Conflict Avoidance Process (CAP) is designed to encourage early intervention when issues arise on a project—helping both parties find practical, collaborative resolutions before they escalate into formal disputes. It’s about protecting relationships, maintaining progress, and saving time and money.
We encourage members to go one step further and request that employers and main contractors include the Conflict Avoidance Clause in contracts. A sample clause is available and acts as a declaration of intent from both parties to resolve emerging issues constructively, without affecting their legal rights (including adjudication, if needed).
Why This Matters More Than Ever
With increasing pressure across the sector—particularly around payment terms and cash flow—contractual tensions can escalate quickly. Taking proactive steps now can help prevent those “bumpy rides” later on. By adopting the Conflict Avoidance Pledge and clause, you’re not only protecting your business but also supporting a wider industry shift towards fairer, more sustainable practices.
Need Support?
If you’d like to learn more or need help implementing this approach in your contracts, you can reach out directly to Len Bunton at len@buntonconsulting.co.uk.
FIS remains committed to helping members navigate the increasingly complex contractual landscape—and initiatives like this are a valuable step in the right direction.
by Oscar Venus | 10 Apr, 2025 | Main News Feed
From 1 April 2025, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has introduced increased fees for a range of building control functions, including the processing of applications for Building Control Approval at Gateway Two.
As members navigate the evolving building safety regime, it’s important to be aware of these changes and factor them into project planning and resourcing. To support this, Build UK has updated its Gateway Two Validation Guide, which now includes the revised fee structure and helpful guidance on how to prepare a compliant application.
FIS encourages all members involved in regulated building projects to review the updated guide to ensure smooth progress through Gateway Two.
by Oscar Venus | 10 Apr, 2025 | Labour, Skills
FIS joins concerns in the level of challenges that the workforce are facing as we take part in last week’s Build UK Forum, where we joined industry peers to explore the initial findings of ongoing research by Warwick University into workforce challenges across construction.
The discussion reinforced what many within the finishes and interiors sector are already experiencing which is that the way our industry operates has a direct impact not only on the ability to recruit and retain skilled workers, but also on overall quality, productivity, and performance.
The research is shedding light on some of the key structural and cultural issues affecting our workforce, including:
- High levels of self-employment
- Intense project timelines and long working hours
- Extended periods working away from home
- A lack of recognition and reward
- Poor mental health and wellbeing support
As a sector already facing a significant skills gap, these findings underline the urgent need for change. We welcome Warwick University’s continued work, particularly its focus on understanding what draws new entrants into the industry. This insight will be critical to shaping more effective recruitment strategies and building a more sustainable and supportive working environment.
FIS remains committed to supporting members in tackling these challenges and championing improvements that will help attract and retain the skilled workforce our sector needs.
by Oscar Venus | 31 Mar, 2025 | Contractual and Legal
Reason 1: We could double our profits
“The construction industry spends around 1.6% of its total expenditure in the UK on legal services, double the economy’s median spend of 0.8%.” Oxford Economics 2018
This stat really says it all, but the reality is these costs have been rising since – levels of adjudication increased by 10% last year. If we think about it another way, as a sector the level of profit we generate is very close to legal spend, so if we can reduce our legal expenses to the norm, we double our profits!
Reason 2: Culture is essential to sector change
The Reading Report into Contracting and Procurement Behaviours in the Finishes and Interiors Sector talks of a dysfunctional approach to business, adversarial behaviours manifesting from the introduction of onerous clauses introduced by clients either of their own volition or on the specific advice of their professional advisors. These clauses set the tone for distrust and conflict from the outset of a project. The Conflict Avoidance Process is about setting a different tone, it is something we can use collectively to encourage change.
Reason 3: A dysfunctional design process undermines construction
If required to submit design information for approval, how often do you receive a decision within the specified contractual limit?
Source: Reading Report 2023
This chart is terrifying when you think about how the Design Development Process is supposed to work. Design is an iterative process, contracts need to be clear and problems solved collaboratively. We must define responsibility and incentivise a collaborative approach. Passing the buck and dumping risk means disputes germinate and build from the moment we start the negotiation – our processes are set to a default mode that fuels dispute. The Conflict Avoidance Process encourages us to think about this before we sign, pre-empt problems and enter into the work with a different mindset.
Reasons 4, 5 and 6: Safety, Sustainability and Skills Shortages
Reasons 4, 5 and 6 really are lumped together because they are intrinsically linked. FIS Research in 2021 highlighted that only 2% of dryliners are never asked to start work on site without sufficient design information (82% frequently or always!). The ultimate result of this is 17% of drylining is re-work. We are 70% more likely to have an accident doing re-work. We waste 17% of our material. We are wasting 20% -25% of our labour, an increasingly scarce resource. Disincentivising the right conversations at the start of the job leads to disputes at the end of a job.
Reason 7: We can’t Afford to Waste Time and Delay Payments
Beyond the cost of disputes, anything that slows the flow of cash can kill companies (insolvencies in construction are at all time highs). Avoiding conflict will save time and allow money to flow which will ultimately help improve resilience in the supply chain and in our projects (not to mention saving the costs and heartache associated with insolvency on all parties involved).
Reason 8: It is the law!
For Government contracts, according to the Construction Playbook, procurement should be considering Conflict Avoidance mechanisms. For all, the Building Safety Act has reframed the regulatory environment – it is built around duties. Principal Designers and Contractors, Designers and Contracts. Clients have a duty too to ensure that the right conversations happen at the right time and to appoint competent people, allowing reasonable time and resource to do the job.
Reason 9: If the builder is not insured, the building is not insured
The CLC’s Professional Indemnity Insurance Working Group has identified that too often standard form contract terms are being amended, to include liabilities and obligations that are disproportionately onerous for the nature of the work. This means that if a client seeks to claim for loss or damage, “it cannot be relied upon that it will be settled by the PII insurers, and the consultant/contractor potentially faces financial ruin, and the client left with a claim that cannot be recovered. This is not in the best interest of any party.”
Deciding not to amend a contract is a good place to start any conflict avoidance process (yes, I do recognise the irony here that using the Conflict Avoidance Process requires a change to the JCT contract, but at least NEC have during Conflict Avoidance Week recognised the process – I will save a rant about JCT for another day!).
Reason 10: The human cost of conflict is to high
Many people in construction are running on empty. Commercial tension is draining, we need to be more human in the way we work. I speak to many specialists who are exhausted, ground down and at the end of their tether. A 2020 study found that 83% of construction workers have experienced a mental health issue and suicide remains workers in construction were at some of the highest risk of suicide in the country, at 3.7 times higher than the national average.
It is Conflict Avoidance Week, sign the pledge…help change the culture, every signature adds weight. Remember Conflict Avoidance isn’t a panacea, it doesn’t mean we will never have a dispute, but it means we are learning and evolving around a proven process that supports necessary change.
If you need more convincing, you can see the short event RICS ran on Monday with experts Stephen Blakey FRICS, FCinstCES, FICW , Liam Forry MCIArb Len Bunton – Bunton Consulting, Edward Schryver MRICS and Anthony Armitage) here – you can skip through my bit now as it is laid out above.
Find out why you should sign the Conflict Avoidance Pledge
Sign the Conflict Avoidance Pledge
FIS is supporting The Conflict Avoidance Process as part of our Responsible No Campaign
by Oscar Venus | 28 Mar, 2025 | Sustainability
The Construction Products Association (CPA) is excited to announce an upcoming webinar featuring a special guest, the Building Safety Minister, Alex Norris MP. This virtual event will delve into the intricacies of the Construction Products Reform Green Paper and promises to be a pivotal discussion for those involved in the construction industry.
- Date: Thursday, April 3rd
- Time: 14:30 – 15:10
- Location: Online
During the webinar, CPA’s own Peter Caplehorn will engage in a dynamic conversation with Minister Norris, posing questions that have been submitted by CPA members. This is an excellent opportunity to gain insights into the government’s plans and proposals outlined in the Green Paper.
The administration for the webinar is being handled directly by MHCLG, so to get the Teams link for the webinar you will have to register with them on this link: https://forms.office.com/e/VchrYE35rS
For those who have burning questions about the Green Paper, there’s a chance to have them addressed directly by the Minister. Questions can be sent to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) at constructionproducts@communities.gov.uk. Please note that the deadline for submitting questions is tight, with Monday morning being the cut-off.
Don’t worry if you can’t make it to the live session! A recording of the webinar will be made available shortly after the event, ensuring that you won’t miss out on any valuable information.
This webinar represents an important moment for stakeholders in the construction industry to engage with policy developments that will shape the sector’s future. Make sure to mark your calendars and prepare your questions to make the most of this opportunity.
FIS will also be responding on behalf of its members, and those who are not able to respond to the consultation are encouraged to use Green Paper Consultation – Questions to give responses to as many or as few of the questions as you would like, and return them to jamesparlour@thefis.org by Monday 5th May. We will then incorporate these into our own formal response.
by Oscar Venus | 28 Mar, 2025 | 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.
Although we are nearing the end of the first quarter of 2025, little has changed in construction material supply since this Group’s last statement in December 2024.
Most had expected activity in the construction sector to increase in Q1 following the Chartered Purchasing Institute’s (CPI) December 2024 report showing slight but clear growth. However, we have seen the opposite, with activity shrinking back in January due to the late start and weather disruptions, followed by a significant fall in the overall level of construction activity in February. The latest decline was driven by residential building activity, which contracted for the fifth consecutive month and civil engineering, which contracted at its fastest pace since 2020.
Within the current market, there are few reports of supply issues. However, some price increases have started to come through. The expectation is that the overall increase in the cost of construction products this year will be between 2% and 8%, depending on product type, with energy-intensive products seeing the largest increase. With ongoing negotiations, there is also uncertainty around UK-American tariffs, which may affect the price of steel.
In anticipation of market growth during the year, builders’ merchants are focused on having a range of stock on the ground to meet demand. Members of the Group strongly advocate that the construction industry continues to work closely with their supply chain and forecast and communicate their requirements early with suppliers, distributors and builders’ merchants to assist in production planning and delivery.
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