As the full implication of the Building Safety Act and it’s impact on the wider Building Regulatory environment and commercial behaviours, FIS has updated its Product Process People Risk Register.  The aim is to provide members with a comprehensive Risk Register to support compliance and business improvement.

The FIS PPP Risk Register gives people a structured framework to interrogate project risk based on a assessment of severity and probability of a risk occurring.  The standard scoring system helps members to identify any unacceptable high risks and ensure management strategies are put in place to address.  The tool also helps a management team to assign risk correctly and contains a range of links to additional tools and information that will help support specific risk management.

FIS CEO Iain McIlwee said:

“Risk is inescapable in any construction project, but at times we can feel so beset by risk that we become indifferent to it.  It is vital that as an industry we get better at measuring, managing and mitigating.

A large part of our work centres on identifying, interrogating and helping members to manage day to day problems they may encounter.  Our understanding and exposure to risk is constantly moving and evolving and it is critical we adopt a consistent approach to risk management.

This simple tool is built on collective wisdom, lessons learned and understanding gained through our wider work that ensures members are alert to where problems may appear.  It aims to help people to score and priorise risks and to start the necessary focus on mitigation, linking the user to the vast array of tools available to our members, directly through the FIS and our wider network.  The underlying principle is that the school of hard knocks is fine, but it is better to learn together and avoid learning the hard way wherever possible.”

Richard Brackstone Chief Executive of RB Management and Consulting Ltd who supported FIS in this update added:

“This is a really useful tool and one I would urge all members to work through, it is comprehensive and accessible.  Construction is fast and furious and risk is all around us, and it is tempting to bury our heads in the sand and hope for the best.  But, ultimately, success in construction is entirely dependent on how well we manage that inherent risk.  This list provides a focal point to conduct a review and at the very least serves as a helpful reminder”.

The FIS PPP Risk Register is available for members to download here

RB Management and Consulting Limited provide specialist Risk Management Support for FIS Members

Staying updated on FIS activities can be challenging. Consider enabling notifications on LinkedIn for FIS content to receive updates about important industry issues that affect your business and related FIS guidance, as well as notifications, member benefits, our events and other activities.

To help us to stand out in the noise that is social media, have you considered enabling notifications on your LinkedIn account for FIS content? We understand if you prefer not to receive frequent updates, and we assure you that we limit our posts to three times a day (excluding award announcements) to avoid overwhelming you. By doing this, you can stay informed about award opportunities, upcoming events, and ways to contribute to your trade association’s direction.

Simply click on the bell icon at the top right of our LinkedIn page and select your preferred notification settings.

Are you an FIS member? Access your TradePoint card here

The FIS Scottish Awards recognise and celebrate the high levels of craftsmanship in the finishes and interiors sector carried out in Scotland. After visiting all projects entered, we are excited to announce that our judges have determined their shortlist.

The standard of entries into this year’s Awards was extremely high, so congratulations to all companies that entered.

Interior Fit Out Shortlist

Scotwood Interiors – Kin & Carta, Edinburgh

Veitchi Interiors – Boclair Academy, Glasgow

Clansman Interiors – Arnold Clark, Glasgow

Specialist Installation shortlist – sponsored by Nevill Long

D V McColl – National Robotarium, Edinburgh

Indeglas – Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow

Veitchi Interiors – Boclair Academy, Glasgow

Allied Interiors Scotland – NMIS, Glasgow

The winners in each category, along with the architect or interior designer of the winning project, will be announced in front of a packed audience at the FIS Scottish Awards Lunch on 15 September at The Voco Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow.

The event will also see the announcement of the Apprentice of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Developed by FIS with the support of expert legal advisors at law firm Anderson Strathern, the new Client Order and Guidance Note for use in Scotland, England and Wales, is based on common issues and concerns that members have raised and is backed up by expert helplines. These new contracts will support FIS members working directly for clients and include a new and fresh set of standard terms that offer a fair share of risk and reflect the latest legislative and regulatory changes.

In an environment where the standard contract has become a misnomer, these contracts provide a mechanism to measure and benchmark onerous clauses that may have been introduced and offer more reasonable alternatives. In recent procurement research conducted by FIS, only 11% of contractors are routinely working on unamended “standard” contracts.

It is more common than might reasonably be expected for companies in the sector to start on site in the absence of a formal contract – 20% of respondents to research by the University of Reading indicate that they are required to start on site without a formal signed contract most of the time.  The client order and guidance note will therefore provide a framework to support better training of members into some of the risks that are routinely being buried in contracts.

“The Guidance in particular gives FIS members key parameters to run and manage the commercial end of construction projects.  Working in conjunction with the excellent construction solicitors, Karyn Watt and Gillian Green from Anderson Strathern, gave us the platform to marry legal and commercial advice to FIS members,” said Len Bunton FRICS FCIArb Hon FRIAS, Bunton Consulting Partnership.

“It is essential, particularly in today’s complex and challenging market, that members are aware of the risks they are taking on when entering into contracts and do what they can to mitigate them. The provisions in the Client Order and the Guide are there to highlight risks and to give members guidance as to how to best manage them. In a sector where recent  changes can often be difficult to manage, the Client Order aims to address the most common issues the members are currently encountering in a pro-active and commercial manner,” added Karyn Watt, Partner at Anderson Strathern.

Commenting on the launch of the Client Order and Guidance Note, Iain McIlwee, CEO, Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) said:

“Contracts sit firmly at the heart of risk management. Developing these, whilst it isn’t a panacea to all the problems raised in our report produced with the University of Reading, it does start to focus efforts on managing the risk associated with the significant changes in the commercial and legislative landscape.  They also build upon recent Best Practice Guidance that we produced with the CICV and the great work of the Conflict Avoidance Process to help individuals to better understand how we can improve overall understanding and management of the contractualisation of risk.”

In addition to this new Client Order and Guidance Note, FIS members can access a range of services to support them in managing the complexities of contracting and supplying products into the construction market. This includes template contracts, guidance on standard terms, support in dealing with disputes and a raft of best practice advice.

For further information or for any questions and comments, please contact FIS at info@thefis.org or call 0121 707 0077.