Autumn sees significant Employment Law changes with three legislative changes. To support members, FIS Associate Member Citation has produced an essential guide packed with an expert analysis of the Employment Rights Bill, Equality (Race and Disability) Bill, and Skills England Bill set out in the King’s speech with actionable tips so members can ensure compliance.
Members can download their copy at https://tinyurl.com/22558pwz
Sector-based work academies (SWAP) are another DWP Funded programme that can support individuals transitioning into a new field of work. They provide training and education for those currently receiving unemployment benefits. The goal is to equip them with the skills needed to apply for jobs in a different sector. Academies are tailored to meet the immediate and future recruitment needs of employers, ensuring the workforce is prepared to support business growth.
FIS is working with West London College and DWP to deliver SWAPs in the area.
A key component of the SWAP model is the provision of a guaranteed job interview, work experience, or employment, enabling members to efficiently recruit candidates
Recruiting through a SWAP has many benefits, such as:
West London College have put together a short video detailing what the SWAP includes.
Please get in touch if you can support and are able to offer work experience or employment and keen to get involved in the SWAP.
FIS has a dynamic Skills Board that helps to drive our work in this space. If you would like to join the Skills Board or have a colleague who could help target our collective effort, please do consider getting involved. Find out more here.
In a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has set out plans to reduce net migration in favour of sectors “sourc[ing] the skills they need here at home”. Promising a new approach that “links migration policy and visa controls to skills and labour market policies”, she has commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the reliance of key sectors on international recruitment, starting with engineering and IT, which have consistently been on the list of shortage occupations for over a decade. The Government will keep a number of changes introduced by the previous Government, including maintaining the salary threshold for Skilled Worker Visas at £38,700 and scrapping the 20% going rate discount for overseas workers in shortage occupations.
Build UK’s flowchart provides an overview of the process of employing a worker from outside the UK in construction, with detailed guidance on How to Get a Sponsor Licence and How to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa.
Find out more about FIS work to address the Skills Shortage here
With new home building targets and a pent up pipeline of high rise residential and commercial projects, the respite from labour shortages in the sector are likely to be short lived. FIS is exploring two interventions that can support members in finding work ready people.
How can you get involved in Bootcamps?
FIS Bootcamps will initially target trade roles. The programme involves an period of intense training to get people site wise and trade aware before letting them loose on site. These are similar to the successful Build Back model that FIS ran several years ago, but funding is more flexible and can be tailored more effectively for the businesses offering work experience.
To get these off the ground FIS will be collaborating with training providers and the Department for Education. The programme is zero cost to employers. The funding provided through the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) covers the initial training and induction of the candidates – the employers involved need to offer work trials and/or employment. The process identifies and recruits candidates from the local area and will include self-employed Green CSCS Cardholders, prison leavers and job seekers. The Bootcamp presents an great opportunity to tap into the local labor market and support your recruitment as well as assist with delivery of Section 106 and equivalent social value requirements. The training locations span across London, Essex, Suffolk, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and North East Mayoral Combined Authority. The aim is to onboard over 100 new Drylining candidates in England between September and January 2025 through these bootcamps based on cohorts of 12 candidates .
Your support for this initiative is crucial. Whilst no commitment to employ candidates is required, we will not be starting cohorts without employer support and we would ideally like to involve you from the candidate assessment stage.
If you are interested and can think you can support a drylining home building, taping and jointing or commercial drylining bootcamp let us know. You can set up a dedicated cohort (if you can commit to 12 work placements) or you could commit to supporting a smaller number and we can look to collaborate with other employers. To stress you will not be expected to fund the training or employ unsuitable candidates, but you will be required to offer work trials.
If you want to find out how FIS Bootcamps can work for you please contact Beena Nana.
Sector-based work academies (SWAP) are another DWP Funded programme that can support individuals transitioning into a new field of work. They provide training and education for those currently receiving unemployment benefits. The goal is to equip them with the skills needed to apply for jobs in a different sector. Academies are tailored to meet the immediate and future recruitment needs of employers, ensuring the workforce is prepared to support business growth.
FIS are working with West London College and DWP to deliver SWAPs in the area.
A key component of the SWAP model is the provision of a guaranteed job interview, work experience, or employment, enabling members to efficiently recruit candidates
Recruiting through a SWAP has many benefits, such as:
West London College have put together a short video detailing what the SWAP includes.
Please get in touch if you can support and are able to offer work experience or employment and keen to get involved in the SWAP.
FIS has a dynamic Skills Board that helps to drive our work in this space. If you would like to join the Skills Board or have a colleague who could help target our collective effort, please do consider getting involved. Find out more here.
Prioritising mental health can be hard and is often forgot about, but it not only impacts your team, your business can also suffer. Your employees deserve a safe working environment and learning how to take care of your people will make a significant difference to your business’ productivity and absenteeism.
To learn more about managing mental health in your business join our Associate Service Provider Member Citation’s upcoming webinar ‘Mental health awareness- Building a healthier happier team’ taking place on Tuesday 21 May from 11-12pm.
What’s included?
Register now: https://tinyurl.com/jy2jw7b4
If you’d like to chat about how Citation can help with the HR and Health & Safety side of your business, just fill in their call-back form, and they’ll get right back to you. Remember to quote ‘The Finishes and Interiors Sector’ when enquiring to access preferential rates.
Where you can find all the information and resources you need to help you with your mental health and wellbeing.
For new workers the Government has announced a number of changes to the Points‐Based Immigration System (PBIS). These seem to be designed to reduce overall net migration and do make it harder for FIS Members to engage overseas workers. The key changes are outlined below.
Workers need to earn more than under the old system
The earning threshold for the Skilled Worker visa has risen from £26,200 to £38,700, as well as raise the Immigration Health Surcharge from £624 to £1,035. The Shortage Occupations List will also be replaced with a new ‘Immigration Salary List’, which retains a general salary discount but includes fewer occupations (plastering and drylining is not on the list, they culled most of the construction workers on the grounds they want to incentivise the industry to do more to recruit and train local people).
Under the PBIS, most workers from outside the UK in construction are required to be ‘skilled workers’ and require a Skilled Worker visa to work in an eligible occupation.
Employers need to pay more than under the old system
The Home Office has increased the fees for most types of visas, including the ‘Skilled Worker’ visa used by most workers from outside the UK in construction.
The fine for employing illegal workers has increase from £15,000 to £45,000 per illegal worker for a first offence and from £20,000 to £60,000 for repeated offences. More on the fees here.
Right to work checks are still important
Depending on the individual, employers have the following options for ensuring they have right to work in the UK: a digital check via a certified Identity Service Provider, an online check via the Home Office online service, or an in‐person manual document‐based check.
FIS is working with Migrate UK to help members navigate the changes. Migrate has produced specialist guidance for FIS Members (including a great webinar hosted for FIS Members: “How to hire skilled workers from the Global Talent Pool”) and the free consultation and discounted services available exclusively to FIS Members through this relationship here.