by Clair Mooney | 24 Oct, 2025 | Contractual and Legal, Main News Feed
FIS has proudly become the first trade association in the UK to be awarded Gold Status by the Conflict Avoidance Coalition (CAC), marking a significant milestone in the organisation’s journey in encouraging a more collaborative and responsible approach to contracting.
The Gold Status recognises FIS’s outstanding commitment to promoting early intervention, fairer contractual practices, and the adoption of the Conflict Avoidance Pledge across its membership and wider industry networks. This accolade reflects years of proactive leadership, advocacy, and practical support for dispute avoidance mechanisms that reduce the financial and emotional toll of adversarial conflict in construction.
Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive of FIS, commented:
“This recognition is not just a badge—it’s a reflection of our values and the culture we are building across the finishes and interiors sector. Conflict avoidance is about protecting relationships, improving project outcomes, and ultimately driving profitability by reducing unnecessary legal costs. Our Responsible No campaign is all about leading by example and through this we will continue to champion collaborative working and early resolution.”
The Conflict Avoidance Coalition, supported by leading industry bodies including RICS, ICE, and CIArb, aims to transform the way disputes are managed in construction and engineering. By awarding Gold Status, the Coalition acknowledges FIS’s role in embedding the principles of the Conflict Avoidance Process (CAP) and encouraging widespread adoption of the Conflict Avoidance Clause in contracts.
Len Bunton, President of the Conflict Avoidance Coalition added:
“It is very encouraging to see that FIS has been awarded Gold Status Partner by the Conflict Avoidance Coalition. I have been working with Iain McIlwee the CEO of FIS, for a number of years, on various matters and FIS has grasped the nettle in embedding CAP into its philosophes and in encouraging so many member companies to sign the Pledge. We now need other trade organisations to join this campaign of collaboration and Best Practice to prevent issues on projects escalating into costly and time-consuming construction disputes”.
FIS continues to work closely with its members, offering simplified contracts, contract reviews, guidance, training, and resources to support the implementation of conflict avoidance strategies. This includes promoting the use of standardised contracts, early intervention techniques, and opportunities to work in a clearer and more collaborative way throughout the supply chain.
For more information about FIS and its work with the Conflict Avoidance Coalition, visit www.thefis.org/no
by Clair Mooney | 1 Oct, 2025 | Contractual and Legal
To support its members, FIS has produced a simple contract built for use by members. This work very much aligns to our Responsible No Campaign and our wider work on improving contractual practice and procurement in the sector.
The underlying principle is simplification works – when you streamline contracts and work of clear and simple terms you’ll save time, improve relationships, and avoid conflict.
The simplified contract has been developed by Sarah Fox, a renowned, and self-proclaimed recovering lawyer through consultation with FIS members. It can be used as an upper or lower contract and incorporates options to accomodate design where appropriate.
Vitally too the contracts have removed and clarified areas of contracts that are often weaponised in the legal process. It also includes clauses to help avoid conflict by using the Conflict Avoidance Process. This is part of FIS commitment to the Conflict Avoidance Pledge (in fact the need to challege the system with simpler contracts came out of a Round Table that FIS organised for the Conflict Avoidance Coalition (see the full write-up of the session here).
Matt Hallam, Divisional Director at Telling Finishings who was part of the contract development group said:
“For years construction contracts have increased in both content and terms, often adding minor changes and clauses which continue to confuse, conflict and often compromise those required to sign them.
The need for a shorter, and ultimately more simplified contract has never been greater, and we at Telling Finishings look forward to rolling out the ‘500 word Contract’, both upstream and downstream to hopefully give both the comfort and clarity these contracts were originally built to achieve.”
FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee commented:
There are many reasons for doing this. Firstly, we know a lot of our members start on a soft start with a letter of intent. This is a good set of working terms. Secondly, the contracts provide clauses that can be used as part of any contractual negotiation. Thirdly by deconstructing the existing standard form contracts, we’ve had a good chance to get into discussion of how specific sections are abused and weaponised and we can feed this into future discussions on the evolution of standard form contracts. And finally and perhaps most importantly, we need to highlight that there is a better way.
Despite all logic and every report into construction transformation arguing to the contrary,
we operate in a world where the industry is happy to accept the pantomime of pretence that we have Standard form JCTs or NECs. The reality is that we routinely amend them and waste valuable time and money, distort and destroy relationships, confuse responsibilities and undermine insurability.
Across the sector if we half our legal fees and we double our profits and that is before we think about the benefit of generally collaborative relationships helps create positive transformation – simplification is critical.
FIS is encouraging members to download and use these contracts to help simplify the way they work and improve relationships. To introduce how to use the contracts, author Sarah Fox took part in a webinar hosted by Iain McIlwee, FIS CEO in September 2025. In the webinar, Sarah boths introduces the contracts, answers questions from members and gives insight into some of the discussions that took place in the drafting process.
Members can download copies of the contracts free from the FIS Legal and Contractual Toolkit here.
by Clair Mooney | 26 Sep, 2025 | Contractual and Legal, Payments
On the 9 September, FIS hosted a meeting with the Department for Business and Trade to discuss the key elements of the the government’s consultation on late payments and retentions in the construction sector that was launched on 31 July.
FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee opened the meeting explaining that this is a once in a generational opportunity to get genuine legislative support from government as opposed to weakly enforced guidance. The consultation proposes nine measures to tackle late payments, including a 60-day maximum payment term, mandatory statutory interest, and a ban or protection mechanism for retention clauses.
The aim is to legislate to improve cash flow, reduce disputes and ensure fair payment practices.
Two main proposals for retentions were debated: a statutory ban on retention clauses and a protection scheme requiring retentions to be protected in a separate bank account or insured.
In this discussion it was highlighted that whilst the ban is attractive in principle, concerns were raised about retentions being replaced by expensive bonds and legal loopholes.
The digitalisation of trust accounts combined with automatic release on clearly defined dates associated with completion of works would potentially offer a more cost effective and practical solution. It was felt that this approach would also encourage clients to consider why they hold retention and how to manage quality and remove those companies that may be holding retention purely to retain working capital and seeking to profit from complexity in the current system
You can see the full session here.
FIS will be responding, but members are encouraged to feed their views into this consultation here
by Clair Mooney | 8 Jul, 2025 | Contractual and Legal
The government has released their Employment Rights Bill roadmap – and it includes timelines for consultations and planned implementation dates for big changes.
From Statutory Sick Pay shake-ups arriving in 2026 and day-one unfair dismissal rights landing in 2027, the clock is ticking to get your business ready for the future.
To help you get ahead of the changes our Associate Service Provider Member Citation have shared their latest resources for FIS members to access for free.
- Employment Rights Bill roadmap: Everything you need to know in one easy to digest timeline. Download your copy here
- The Employment Rights Bill: Your ultimate guide to the changes: An in-depth overview of the key changes and how to prepare. Download your copy here
- FREE webinar: The Employment Rights Bill unpacked Webinar: Citation will take members through an in-depth overview of the changes with the chance to ask any burning questions. Register your place here
With more than 300 HR experts, Employment Law solicitors and Health & Safety consultants on your side, Citation makes sure you’re always compliant and confident, no matter the changes coming your way. Their 24/7 support and unrivalled advice guarantee means they’re here to help you navigate any challenges and keep your business running smoothly And, as an FIS member, you can also access preferential rates on new client contracts! Call Citation today at 0345 844 1111 or click here to learn more.
by Clair Mooney | 26 Jun, 2025 | Contractual and Legal, Employment
The Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC) has agreed new pay rates from Monday 30 June. There is a 3.2% increase in the basic wage rates, as well as increases in travel and subsistence allowances and sick pay. The new rates should be read in conjunction with the Working Rule Agreement and Holiday Entitlement.
by Clair Mooney | 24 Jun, 2025 | Contractual and Legal, Employment
From this Autumn, it will become mandatory for all company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) to verify their identity to prove who they are. This is a new legal requirement under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 to help prevent people using companies for illegal purposes.
Taking action now will help you to avoid delays or complications. If your company has multiple officers, allow plenty of time for each one to verify their identity. Directors based outside of the UK may also need extra time if they plan to use an authorised agent, also known as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) to verify their identity.
You can verify:
- online using GOV.UK One Login – if you have the identity documents or information required
- in person at selected Post Offices – you must live in the UK and will need to use the ‘Verify your identity for Companies House’ service first to find out if you can verify this way
- using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) – for example, an accountant or solicitor who has registered as a Companies House authorised agent (you’ll need to provide suitable identity documents)
What happens when you verify
Identity verification is a two-step process.
Step 1: Verify your identity and get your Companies House personal code. This code is personal to you, not the company. Keep this information secure until you need to use it. You can view your personal code in the ‘manage account’ section of your Companies House account.
Step 2: From autumn 2025, link your verified identity to Companies House records. Information on how to do this has not yet been issued.
The Act gives Companies House the power to play a more significant role in disrupting economic crime and supporting economic growth. Over time, the aims is that the measures will lead to improved transparency and more accurate and trusted information on its registers.
There will also be new responsibilities for:
- all new and existing company directors
- people with significant control of a company (PSCs)
- anyone who files information on behalf of a company
More details can be found here and a guide to changes to Company Law can be found here.
