0121 707 0077              info@thefis.org

Employers and drylining experts needed to help develop traineeship

Employers and drylining experts needed to help develop traineeship

by | Dec 9, 2021 | Drylining, Skills

CITB has started work on a Traineeship for Drylining occupations and need support from employers and subject matter experts.  The next development meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 15 December starting at 13:00 to get involved please email alexandra.lee@citb.co.uk

What’s a Traineeship
A traineeship is a skills development programme that includes a work experience placement.  Traineeships help prepare young people aged 16 to 24, or 25 with an education, health and care plan, for employment or an apprenticeship.  Traineeships must include at least 70 hours of work experience placement.  They can last from 6 weeks up to 1 year, but most last less than 6 months.  Employers can offer a work experience placement to a trainee.  They will work with a training provider to design the workplace element of the programme.  Traineeships are introductory courses to attract individuals, at risk of becoming long term unemployed, into employment the training should be broad and provide as much variety as possible with the work experience placement focused on a specialism.

The training provider will assess the needs of the trainee.  Trainees may need pre-employment training before starting their work experience placement.  Employers will then work with the training provider to plan and agree:

  • the length of the work experience placement
  • the days the trainee works
  • how the programme will be delivered

Traineeships are flexible.  Employers can change the programme as they go to make sure they and the trainee get the most out of it.

Employers must provide:

  • a safe, meaningful and high-quality work experience placement
  • a minimum of 70 hours of work experience placement over the duration of the traineeship (if the trainee claims benefits, the placement cannot last longer than 240 hours)
  • constructive feedback and advice to the trainee
  • an interview for an apprenticeship or job in their organisation at the end of the traineeship if one is available
  • an exit interview at the end of the traineeship with meaningful written feedback if no job is available

Offering a work experience placement gives employers the chance to:

  • get to know and work with a young person to see if they’re right for an apprenticeship or job in their business
  • design a programme that suits the needs of the trainee and their business
  • develop current employees’ experience in training and mentoring
  • recruit new talent for their business
  • claim an employer incentive of £1,000 when a work experience placement of over 70 hours has been completed

Employers who make new work experience placement opportunities available may be eligible for an incentive payment of £1,000 per trainee.  They can claim this incentive for up to 10 learners per region. Employers decide how to use the money.  You can view more guidance on employer incentive payments and how to claim them.

Traineeships are funded by the government.  Traineeships are free to the employer, but they may choose to support trainees with expenses such as transport and meals.  If you are interested in offering a work experience placement for a traineeship:

  1. Contact the National Apprenticeship Service to register your interest and to ask for advice and support on traineeships.  They can help you set up a traineeship and advertise it on Find a traineeship.
  2. Partner with a training provider who will help you to design a traineeship that will meet your business needs.  They will also advertise the work experience placement for you.
  3. Agree with the trainee and your training provider exactly what each of you expects from the traineeship.

George Swann FIS Skills and Training Lead says “Traineeships are part of the Governments Plans for Jobs; approximately 60% to 70% of people on construction training course delivered by FE do not enter the construction industry.  By providing more variety in the college element, introducing individuals to the wide range of careers available, Dry Lining Fixer Boarder and Finisher, Ceiling and Partitions Fixer, Plasterer solid and fibrous something should hook their interest and the work experience placement will put them in the work environment and show what the occupational specialism is about.  It’s worth employers giving this a try as addressing the labour shortages is all about home grow talent and if you find capable individuals, well enough said.  I encourage all employers and subject matter experts to get involved with the development work of CITB the more variety finishes, and interiors Traineeships have the greater the exposure of the fantastic opportunities this sector has to offer and more young people it should attract….Bigger net more fish”.

Do you need to bolster your drylining workforce?

Do you need to bolster your drylining workforce?

by | Jul 1, 2021 | Drylining, Labour, Skills

In light of severe shortages predicted in the drylining sector, FIS has been helping to train new talent serious about a career in drylining.

For every 5% of EU workers that leave the UK, we double our annual recruitment target for drylining. The Settlement Scheme is now officially closed.

Through the FIS BuildBack programme, we have scheduled a number of courses which will help to get candidates site-ready, have a grounding in the skills and competencies required for installing drylining and have undergone an assessment and robust training course and that includes mandatory HS&E training and the provision of a Provisional CSCS card, PPE and basic tools.

The next step is where we need YOU.

We are looking for employers to provide the candidates with two-weeks work experience. There is no cost involved, we make all the arrangements for you. You can meet and select the candidates you want to offer work experience in order to ensure they are the best fit for your business.

If you are interested in finding out more, or can offer a placement, email catherinebullough@thefis.org

Your support needed: drylining training materials

Your support needed: drylining training materials

by | May 5, 2021 | Drylining, Skills

FIS is working to support an increase in availability, quality an uptake of apprenticeships in the sector to help address labour shortages linked to the new immigration system.  We need the sector to rally to help accelerate this work.

We are particularly keen at the moment to get sight of any materials, documents, folders, electronic data and images that are being or have been used to deliver training for Dry Liners (from suppliers to support their customers, training providers or internal resources from contractors).  At this stage, absolutely anything and everything you send will be considered and possibly used in the production of a single standardised trainer package that can be accessed by all FIS Approved Training Providers and Employer members.  The aim is to ensure a consistent standard of training is delivered across the UK and that employers will know what to expect from and how to support training providers.

If you have anything that you feel can be used to support (links, files, documents, animations, videos, youtube clips etc) please email to georgeswann@thefis.org or post to FIS, Olton Bridge, 245 Warwick Road, Solihull, B92 7AH.  There is a specific package produced by CITB around 2007 that we are particularly keen to get our hands on.  The inside cover contains a CD and this has been identified as a good starting point for reviewing and updating the core Dry Lining training support materials, if you can copy or send this to FIS, it would be a great help.   Many thanks in anticipation and any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us on 0121 707 0077.

An image of a similar the pack

We have also set up an employers group to support the development of the Interior Systems Installer Apprenticeship and Drylining Apprenticeship in Scotland – the next meeting is set for 19 May – if you are interested in attending, you can register to attend here.

Thanks in advance from your support and please don’t hesitate to contact George Swann me with any questions, comments or thoughts.

Drylining – what the inspector saw

Drylining – what the inspector saw

by | Mar 4, 2021 | Drylining, Main News Feed

Steve Halcrow of Chelwick Ltd used his vast experience of  inspecting drylining installations to highlight the 5 most common problems he encounters on site. He looked at what may have caused them and vitally, what can be done to avoid them in the future.

A member of the FIS and dedicated to quality in the sector, Steve spoke on the FIS PPP (Product, Process People) Quality Management Framework and tools to support a get it right first time approach to drylining installation.

Steve has developed a range of new E-learning courses to support development of competence through the supply chain.  This training is now on offer to FIS members for £55 (standard rate £95 per candidate) and full details are available at https://www.stepsdigital.co.uk

Watch on demand
FIS launches new career and competency pathways to support drylining and ceiling fixers

FIS launches new career and competency pathways to support drylining and ceiling fixers

by | Jan 14, 2021 | Building Safety Act, Drylining, Membership, Skills

FIS has launched two new Career and Competency Pathway documents for drylining and ceiling fixing occupations. With a focus on quality and safety within the sector, the pathways show how individuals can show proof of competence by the achievement of training and qualifications.

Through the FIS Skills Board and support for the ongoing competence work as part of the Grenfell Industry Response Group activities, FIS has a renewed focus on developing the principles outlined in the FIS Competency Framework (SAKE) which measures competency through a combination of skills, attitude, knowledge, experience.

The new career and competency pathways map the qualifications and training available against the critical stages of a career in drylining and ceiling fixing occupations.  It provides a spine of information to help individuals and organisations to understand which steps to take and whether an individual is ready to progress through a better defined “gateway” to the next stage of their career. The pathway is aligning trained and assessed outcomes that support progression within the occupation, through to supervisory and management roles.

Commenting on the launch of the pathway, FIS Skills Board Chair, Paul Leach of Stortford Interiors said: “The aim of this work is to provide a better-defined pathway built around clear job roles and the stages within a career in key occupations within our sector.  It will remain fluid and we can adapt it as new competency standards, qualifications and guidance emerges, but we felt it important to make a start to both support companies in managing competencies and help to present careers within the sector.  The publishing of these pathways is a vital and clear rally call to the sector as we seek to improve competence within the workforce and address any skills shortages.”

FIS Skills and Training Lead, George Swann added: “Many are already well on this journey and undoubtedly there will be subtle differences within individual companies. But, by providing this standard pathway we can help all contractors and employers to understand what good looks like, benchmark where they are at and hopefully support a better culture of training and development through the sector.  We often talk about skills and competency and default to a conversation about card colour, but a genuine focus on competency is much more than this and involves ongoing learning as well as effective supervision and management and providing support and encouragement for individuals.  Having an organisational training plan supports social value requirements which are now prominent in contracts.”

The pathways are designed to be adapted by individual companies in-line with roles within organisations.  FIS is working to provide more detailed standardised job descriptions to further support a consistent approach to career management within the industry, and developing pathways to cover all the core occupational areas associated with the Finishes and Interiors sector.

You can download the Career and Competency Pathway documents for Drylining and Ceiling Fixing occupations here

For further information or for any questions and comments please contact the FIS by email at info@thefis.org or call 0121 707 0077.

FIS develop training qualification for drylining in housebuilding

FIS develop training qualification for drylining in housebuilding

by | May 15, 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

  1. 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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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: