Response to Migration and Shortage Occupation Consultation

Response to Migration and Shortage Occupation Consultation

Whilst the future of Government Immigration Policy remains somewhat unclear, through the CLC, FIS was asked to respond to the Migration Advisory Committee’s interim review of the construction occupations in the Shortage Occupations List (SOL).

We have responded directly focussing specifically on the status of shortages in the finishes and interiors sector and supported the response from CLC which has called for 17 new occupations to be added to the SOL carpenters, painters and decorators, piling rig operatives, dry liners, ceiling fixers, plasterers, roofers, and scaffolders. The outcome of this interim review is expected in March, with a full review of the SOL due to be undertaken later this year.

To view the FIS response which includes our underlying data click here this drew on data collected throughout the year including our Skills Pulse Survey, this is survey is still open and if you have a few minutes to complete the more data the better.

No Going Back: creating career opportunities for ex-offenders

No Going Back: creating career opportunities for ex-offenders

FIS is working with No Going Back (NGB), an innovative programme of training, support, employment, and housing funded and driven by 35 Livery Companies working collaboratively to reduce re-offending.

With Employment being such a major part of changing people’s lives when people leave prison, helping to dramatically reduce the likelihood of reoffending, between 23 January – 3 of February 2023, New Futures Network are hosting ‘Unlocking Construction’ employment events in prisons across England & Wales. and NGB are delighted to be a part of this in HMP Onley, Brixton, Wandsworth, and Thamesmead.

HMP Wandsworth and HMP Onley would like to invite Employers from the Construction Industry inside to be part of a special employment event on Wed 25 January (Wandsworth) and Wed 1 February (Onley) to support men into sustainable jobs in the construction sector upon release. This could be men with experience or those who are looking to pursue a new career in the sector.  As more than 80% of men released from HMP Onley return to London and the Home Counties, many fantastic potential candidates are keen to find out about jobs on release.

For those attending, the events will follow the format:

HMP Wandsworth – Wednesday 25th January at 1:30 pm (likely finish time 4pm)

An interactive session in the Bounce Back Dry Lining workshop for serving prisoners who are interested in working in Dry Lining – some are currently doing the dry lining training course, and others have completed it.

This event is to improve their awareness of, and access to information on further training and employment opportunities available by introducing them directly to specialists and employers in the sector.  It would give the men a chance to raise any questions to address challenges or concerns relating to employment or training within the sector. The prison will also pre-select a couple of men who are work-ready and approaching release for employers to speak with individually.

HMP Onley – Wednesday 1st February at 8:30 am (likely finish time is 4pm) POSTPONED DUE TO RAIL STRIKE, BUT IF YOU WANT TO BE KEPT UP-TO-DATE ON THE REVISED DATE, USE THE CONTACT LINKS BELOW

HMP Onley are hosting a Construction Fair on the day, with a cross-section of employers from the industry to support men into sustainable employment upon release. This could be men with experience or those who are new and looking to pursue a career in construction.

They are running a morning and afternoon session to allow more prisoners to take part and fit around the prison regime. More than 80% of men released from HMP Onley return to London and the Home Counties, there are many fantastic potential candidates who are keen to find out about jobs on release.  For employers attending, there would also be an opportunity to have a prison tour to visit the Industry Workshops and recently launched Employment Hub.  Training programmes running in this facility include Dry Lining, Carpentry and Joinery and Flooring.

NGB are also happy to facilitate visits in other prisons.

If you are interested in attendng one of these prison visits or finding out more about opportunities to engage in a programme in your local area (or arranging a seperate arrangement for these two facilities), please email jokeane@bouncebackproject.com asap (copy beenanana@thefis.org) or call the FIS on 0121 707 0077.

Right to Work: Ukrainian & Afghan Workers and end to COVID relaxations

Right to Work: Ukrainian & Afghan Workers and end to COVID relaxations

Employing Ukranian and Afghan Workers

Minister for Refugees Lord Harrington has written to businesses confirming that Ukrainian and Afghan nationals have a right to work in the UK where they have resettled under the Ukraine Family Scheme, Homes for Ukraine Scheme, Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy or Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme. Although the exact process will be determined by how the individual arrived in the UK, employers should conduct right to work checks in the usual manner and contact the Home Office Employer Checking Service (ECS) if further verification if required.

In his letter the Minister re-iterates that all employers in the UK have a responsibility to conduct simple right to work checks before employing someone. These checks are required regardless of nationality – even British citizens are caught by the measures.

Afghan nationals who have resettled in the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy or the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, and Ukraine nationals who have resettled in the UK under the Ukraine Family and Homes for Ukraine Schemes have a right to work. To evidence that right, employers should conduct right to work checks in the usual way.

For Ukraine nationals, the exact process required of the employer is shaped by how the individual arrived in the UK and the documentation held. But, broadly speaking, at the time of writing:

  1. Where an individual has a stamp in their passport which provides a time-limited right to work, the employer will need to manually check the passport as set out in published guidance, and perform a follow-up check to ensure the required documentation to evidence the right to work for a longer period (i.e. a Biometric Residence Permit) has been obtained;
  2. Where an individual has an eVisa (digital evidence of their immigration status, accessible online), the employer should use the online right to work checking service on GOV.UK in the same way as they would for others in possession of a biometric card; and
  3. Where an individual does not have a passport but instead has an Entry Clearance vignette attached to a ‘Form for Affixing the Visa’ (FAV), where necessary this document can be used as proof of right to work in conjunction with confirmation from the Home Office Employer Checking Service (ECS) in the form of a PositiveVerification Notice (PVN). However, in most cases, shortly after arrival a BiometricResidence Permit is available for collection, and this should be used to access the online checking service.

Where necessary, employers may contact the Home Office Employer Checking Service(ECS) verify right to work:

End of COVID-19 Temporary Changes

The temporary changes to right to work checks introduced in response to COVID‐19, which allow employers to undertake checks via video calls and use scanned copies rather than original documents, are due to end on 30 September 2022. After this date, employers are recommended to verify an individual’s right to work using a certified digital identity service provider (IDSP).

The relevant guidance on Right to Work Checks can be accessed here.

You can visit the FIS Employment Toolkit Here

Price inflation and a diminishing labour supply are now of greater concern than product availability

Price inflation and a diminishing labour supply are now of greater concern than product availability

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 Product Availability working group

Price inflation and a diminishing labour supply are now of greater concern than product availability in most construction sectors.

In terms of availability, little has changed since our last report, with a good supply of most products and materials. Ongoing challenges continue to affect bricks, aircrete blocks, roof tiles, chipboard flooring, gas boilers and other products requiring semi-conductors within sub-components, all of which will be subject to longer lead times throughout the year.

The market is becoming more adept at managing supply of these critical products, and the long-term nature of some of the underlying issues. Although there are reports of delays in supply of boilers leading to extended completion times in new housing, new semi-conductor capacity is coming on stream in late 2023/2024, and expansion in existing capacity will feed into the market over the same timescale.

Demand remains strong in all areas, and this is set to continue into the autumn, although some product forecasts now anticipate a slight slowdown in housing starts towards the end of the year, stemming from rising prices and concerns about affordability. Home improvement work will depend on levels of consumer confidence as costs of living rise.

Members of the group raised concerns regarding the threatened rail strike. This will affect aggregate and concrete deliveries to major infrastructure products, highlighting the need for government to prioritise transport of construction materials should the strike go ahead.

There is, however, some good news from parts of China. With Shanghai gradually removing covid restrictions, production should normalise in that major industrial region by mid-June. Shipping analysts warn, however, that this may exacerbate the current bottlenecks in deliveries to the West.

Across the board, managing price volatility and labour are now the biggest issues.

Although labour shortages are affecting manufacturers, the greatest concern is expressed by housebuilders and SME builders, as it takes at least three years to train a skilled tradesperson.

The cost of energy and fuel are major drivers for price volatility. Initial results of the Group’s horizon scanning exercise suggest energy hedges are short term and very significant increases are expected to come through quite quickly. This will particularly affect energy-intensive products including steel, glass, plasterboard, cement, ceramics and porcelain.

Although steel prices have come down slightly, since initial disruption following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, energy prices remain a major issue and price volatility will continue. Market prices will also be affected by the Indian Government’s unexpected increase to export duties on iron ore and steel, effective from 22 May.

The CLC group will continue to actively engage with energy intensive manufacturers over the coming months, and closely monitor market conditions and the impact of any further price increases and volatility.

New Visa Route Available

New Visa Route Available

The Home Office has introduced a new immigration route, Global Business Mobility, to support companies expanding their presence in the UK. It includes a number of new visa options for foreign workers: Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, Secondment Worker, Service Supplier, and UK Expansion Worker. Companies will need a sponsor licence to provide a certificate of sponsorship for these new visas, but eligible foreign workers will not need to prove their knowledge of English when applying.

Most foreign workers in construction are likely to be ‘skilled workers’ and will require a Skilled Worker visa to work in an eligible occupation. The Build UK flowchart providing an overview of the process of employing a foreign worker, along with our detailed guidance on How to Get a Sponsor Licence and How to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa, have been updated to reflect the latest requirements.

Buckinghamshire Skills Show – FIS Construction Ambassadors, helping industry recruit

Buckinghamshire Skills Show – FIS Construction Ambassadors, helping industry recruit

FIS is hugely excited to have signed up to the Go Construct/STEM Ambassador Scheme. Go Construct STEM Ambassadors bring the construction industry to life. Ambassadors engage with young people at educational events across the UK to raise aspirations, showcase career options and support learning.

As a sector, we need to really get ahead of bringing in new talent.  There are lots of opportunities within our industry for new entrants and career changers. Careers in the finishes sector are not however widely publicised; teachers and influencers and therefore young people are not aware of the work and training options available. We need to be more visible as people and as businesses!

One of the ways FIS is helping to promote our sector is through the Go Construct/STEM Ambassador Scheme. Go Construct STEM Ambassadors are construction people who act as the face of the industry. Ambassadors bring the construction industry to life, engaging with potential recruits at educational events across the UK. showcasing career options and supporting learning. Examples of Ambassadors activities include running a trade stand at a careers fair, delivering a talk and sharing experiences of getting into and working in the industry, leading practical sessions or workshops, giving young people a taste of life in construction offering site visits and work experience.

Marie Flinter and Catherine Bullough at FIS are helping to drive this great initiative forward and FIS were delighted to be invited to take part at the Spring 2022 Buckinghamshire Skills Show.

Catherine Bullough said:

With over 5000 young people and job seekers visiting the show over two days, we were certainly kept busy speaking with visitors to our stand who were interested in finding out about careers in the finishes and interiors sector. Over 120 businesses and associations attended, so we also had a great opportunity to network with fellow exhibitors such as CITB, the National Federation of Demolition Contractors and Morgan Sindall. It was a real pleasure to attend such a well organised event; we literally just had to turn up with our stand which gave us loads of time to interact with the students and their teachers

One of the career challenges for our sector is that it can be overshadowed by the more talked about trades such as brick work and plumbing. So, we need to be louder and out there! We need lots more people from industry to become ambassadors for the sector and really shout about what a great job being a dryliner or a plasterer or a ceiling fixer is.  Anyone working in the industry can be a Go Construct STEM Ambassador. Go Construct/STEM have resources available which can support your ambassador activity with access to a national network of likeminded people

Whether you’re a first-year apprentice, a qualified dryliner or a company director, we’d love your support to help more people experience the many varied opportunities in our sector. You just need to be passionate about construction and the built environment and be willing to share your experiences with others.

To find out more about the Scheme, please contact either Catherine or Marie at FIS 0121 707 0077 catherinebullough@thefis.org marieflinter@thefis.org. For more information on the Go Construct STEM Ambassador Scheme click here