Labour Archives

Inspiring the Next Generation: Join FIS at the ‘50 Careers in a Day’ Festival

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:

Position construction as an exciting and rewarding long-term career
Provide clear, practical information and guidance
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.

Recruiting and Retaining the Construction Workforce

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.

FIS Mental Health Hub

Here you can find information and resources to help you with your mental health and wellbeing.

Click Here

FIS supports Open Doors to unlock opportunities in the finishes and interiors sector

by Oscar Venus | 14 Feb, 2025 | Labour, Membership, Skills

Open Doors is an initiative organised by Build UK to inspire the next generation to choose a career in construction.

This sector is hugely rewarding, and Open Doors provides organisations with an opportunity to showcase their sites, manufacturing facilities, offices and training centres. Feedback from previous year’s events show that visits during Open Doors lead directly to new entrants joining our industry.

With the industry needing to recruit an additional 50,000 new entrants each year, we are encouraging our members to support or host events as part of Open Doors 2025. There may also be local events in your area that you can promote to schools, colleges and universities so they can see construction in action.

Further information on how you can get involved can be found in Build UK’s latest Open Doors update, and your comms teams can help to promote events on social media using the hashtag #OpenDoors25.

Skills Bootcamps to support labour shortages

by Clair Mooney | 30 Jan, 2025 | Labour, Main News Feed, Skills

FIS is working with British Gypsum and Construction Skills People to deliver Skills Bootcamps in Interior Systems at their Erith Academy. Aimed at adults aged 19 and over, Skills Bootcamps can support businesses in upskilling their existing workforce or to recruit new talent. They are developed and delivered in partnership with your business and can be offered full or part-time.

How Skills Bootcamps can benefit your business
Skills Bootcamps can help you to:

quickly recruit and upskill staff with the right training and skills
reduce costs associated with traditional recruitment processes
boost productivity with motivated learners who can bring in fresh ideas and perspectives

How can you get involved in Bootcamps?
FIS is working with British Gypsum and Construction Skills People to deliver Skills Bootcamps in Interior Systems at their Erith Academy. This is a 10 day course across two weeks:

Week one: 31 March – 04 April
Week two: 07 – 11 April

The course will include:
Day 1 – Course overview, Introduction to H&S in Construction (Interior Systems)
Day 2 – Understanding your carbon footprint & Mental Health Awareness
Day 3 – 4 – Beginners Metal Stud work for Dry Lining Systems
Day 5 – Gyplyner Wall Lining Systems
Day 6 – Metal Frame (MF) Ceiling Systems
Day 7 – 8 – Dotting and Dabbing Boarding Technique
Day 9 – 10 – Hand Jointing/Tape and Jointing Systems

We require support from members in the South East, London and Kent, who are able to provide interviews, work placements or employment.

Please contact marieflinter@thefis.org should you require further information.

Making use of Sector Based Work Academies

by Clair Mooney | 10 Sep, 2024 | Employment, Labour, Main News Feed

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:

Employers get access to candidates who have undergone relevant pre-employment training tailored to the specific needs of the job role.
Trial period for candidates
The work experience component of SWAP allows employers to assess candidates’ suitability and fit for the role in a real-world setting before making permanent hiring decisions.
By providing tailored training and work experience, SWAPs help ensure candidates are well-prepared for the job, which can lead to higher retention rates.
SWAPs often focus on helping unemployed individuals, including those from underrepresented groups, re-enter the workforce, enhancing workforce diversity.
Participation in SWAPs demonstrates a company’s commitment to supporting local employment initiatives, which can enhance its reputation within the community.

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.

Government Focus on UK Recruitment

by Oscar Venus | 9 Aug, 2024 | Employment, Labour, Skills

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