by Clair Mooney | Sep 30, 2021 | Labour, Material Shortages
The Government has announced a package of measures to tackle the shortage of HGV drivers, which is causing widespread disruption across supply chains. It includes training 4,000 new drivers, offering 5,000 temporary visas for HGV drivers in the run up to Christmas, and using Ministry of Defence examiners to increase HGV testing capacity.
Build UK continues to work with the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) to publish up‐to‐date information on the availability of key construction materials. For the first time, each material has been RAG‐rated on price as well as availability, and timber and concrete are currently ‘red’ for both. Only cladding and paint are rated ‘green’ on availability and price.
To help members manage the contractual impact of a range of Brexit‐related issues, Build UK has worked with Wedlake Bell LLP to produce guidance on Your Contracts Post‐Brexit, which provides comprehensive advice on dealing with delays to time and programme, price and currency fluctuations, and sourcing materials and legal ownership.
by Clair Mooney | Sep 25, 2021 | Labour, Skills
We need an extra 217,000 workers over the next five years to ensure construction can continue to thrive and apprenticeships will help futureproof the industry and provide an excellent route to secure a skilled, diverse future workforce.
There are a number of schemes that are supported by Levy and are free to access, and with your involvement will help bring new talent into the industry.
Here you can find out the support available from CITB and the UK Government to take on an apprentice.
by Clair Mooney | Sep 17, 2021 | Labour, Main News Feed, Skills
Watch to see how BuildBack can benefit your business and the progamme in action
FIS went behind the scenes at Sandwell College to film candidates in action on its BuildBack training programme, which covers the skills and competencies required for installing drylining.
The programme aims to get individuals site ready and aware of the health and safety requirements of being on site, before being placed on two-weeks work experience.
FIS also hosted a webinar to explain how BuildBack offers support for employers who are experiencing labour shortages. The emphasis is on this being of no direct financial cost to employers. You can watch this here and find out how BuildBack can benefit your business.
BuildBack has candidates ready for work placement, so if you have any opportunities to help them get started in our sector, email info@thefis.org and FIS can do the rest.
Background on BuildBack
BuildBack is an standardised recruitment and induction programme for those looking to start a career in drylining. Run by FIS and funded by CITB – it has been developed to help find the next generation of dryliners. The programme recruits and assesses candidates before putting them through two weeks of introduction training in the skills and competencies required for installing drylining, followed by a two-week work placement on-site with a local employer.
To register as an employer and offer BuildBack candidates work placements, or are interested in starting a career in drylining email info@thefis.org or telephone 0121 707 0077.
Join the conversation at #attackthegap
by Clair Mooney | Aug 26, 2021 | Labour
The Department for Transport and Cabinet Office are seeking input for an urgent review of the HGV driver shortage. DfT and Cabinet Office are asking all operators who employ HGV drivers to complete the following DfT haulier survey https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/JW0TW8/ (A Word document with the questions is available here to allow you to review the questions in advance of answering them online).
The survey closes on Friday 27 August 2021.
This information will allow the government to analyse the scale of the problem in greater detail, as well as consider any mitigations that might be needed. If you have any questions, please email pamela.dennison@dft.gov.uk in the first instance.
by Clair Mooney | Aug 19, 2021 | Labour, Skills
Being conscious of the ever-shrinking labour pool available to the finishes and interiors sector, there have been reports of up to 60% labour not being available by some FIS members. FIS is running two projects specifically designed to attract people into the finishes and interiors sector.
FIS BuildBack accepts individuals from a range of backgrounds including HM Forces Career Progression candidates and clients put forward by the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP). To help prepare the candidates for work, each learner receives training in Drylining Fixer, Boarder and are supplied with Personal Protective Equipment, a set of tools and a CSCS Provisional Card. The candidates just need an opportunity to show employers what they can do during a work placement. This may ultimately lead to a full-time work opportunity and will also add new talent to your workforce. All of this is free of charge to employers.
The sector now needs employers to provide a 2 week work placement for these BuildBack candidates. If the individual fits your organisation’s needs, and they are eligible (claiming universal credit) you could transfer them to the governments KickStart Scheme. The scheme provides a grant of £1500 to employers willing to take on individuals for a 6 month work placement and includes payment of the national minimum wage for 25 hours per week.
There are currently 140 people available for work placement including candidates from HM Force Career Progression and the YouthBuild charity. All have received introductory training as Dry Liner Fixer Boarder, a set of tools, PPE, a CSCS Provisional card. Please contact Marie on 07799 903103 or email marieflinter@thefis.org. or Catherine on 07900 083325 or email catherinebullough@thefis.org for details. If you employ any of these people FIS can help their advancement by providing further training as an apprentice or to the achievement of a vocational qualification, all free of charge to the employer.
To find out more about BuildBack click here.
by Clair Mooney | Jul 13, 2021 | Labour, Material Shortages
The construction industry is currently facing challenges on the availability and pricing volatility of labour and materials. This volatility could have a significant impact on the timeframes and delivery costs of many projects.
Most forms of construction contract have standard provisions for managing volatility, without the need to make contract amendments. These provisions, such as fluctuations provisions in JCT and NEC 4 Secondary X1, provide a means of collaboratively sharing the risks associated with this volatility.
In an open letter to the industry Andy Mitchell, Chair of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) is strongly urge those responsible for developing, agreeing and managing contracts, existing and new, to consider adopting these provisions in their contracts.
The contractual challenges created by lack of product availability and inability to access approved products are likely to mean design changes are necessary. Therefore, again, the CLC would encourage a collaborative approach to be taken to managing these risks.
Commenting on the statement FIS CEO Iain McIlwee stated:
“This is a welcome intervention from the Construction Leadership Council and I would personally like to thank Andy for picking up the mantel here. We have been vocal and remain concerned that clients and main contractors are still focussed on squeezing risks through the supply chain and we are getting to the point where fixed price contracts may not be tenable on certain works. We continue to urge members, before you sign a contract check the delay clauses and look at the fluctuation clauses too, if you cannot negotiate a shared risk approach with your client, you need to seriously consider pricing in risk moving forwards and ask yourself what could worse case scenario mean to your business if prices drifted or sourcing issues beyond your control delay the programme.”
Read the letter here.
