by Oscar Venus | 24 Oct, 2025 | Labour, Skills
The Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has joined a coalition of leading construction and built environment organisations in signing an open letter to the Prime Minister, urging the Government to suspend proposed apprenticeship reforms that risk undermining skills, competence, and safety standards across the sector.
The letter, coordinated by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), expresses serious concern over plans by Skills England to shorten apprenticeship durations to as little as eight months and introduce new assessment methods that could weaken quality assurance and consistency. Industry leaders warn that these reforms could dismantle established routes to competence, erode employer confidence, and threaten the delivery of safe, high-quality construction at a time when the UK faces an ambitious target of building 1.5 million new homes.
FIS Head of Skills Beena Nana, said:
“These reforms represent a race to the bottom at a time when our sector is working harder than ever to build competence, professionalism, and trust. Apprenticeships must be driven by industry – not diluted by process. If we are serious about quality, safety, and long-term productivity, we cannot afford to weaken the very foundation of skills development.”
The coalition is calling for the Government to:
- Suspend the implementation of the proposed apprenticeship reforms.
- Re-establish meaningful collaboration with industry trailblazer groups to ensure apprenticeship standards reflect real workplace competence.
- Align training and assessment approaches with the Building Safety Act and the work of the Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG).
FIS continues to work closely with partners across construction to promote robust training and qualification pathways that ensure every individual entering the sector is equipped with the right skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviours to build safely and competently.
Read the full letter to the Prime Minsiter here
by Clair Mooney | 23 Oct, 2025 | Skills
FIS has continued the expansion of its e-learning offering with the introduction of three new training courses. Tailored to meet the evolving needs of those working in the sector industry, these courses are a valuable resource for those working in the sector to enhance their skills and knowledge.
These development of these new courses reflect FIS’s commitment to fostering professional growth and supporting the continuous development of its members and the wider community.
Estimating
The first course is Estimating training which has been developed to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of the contractual and commercial factors that influence the estimating process within the interiors sector. Whether you’re new to the industry or transitioning into an estimating role, this course will equip you with the essential knowledge needed to support accurate, compliant, and commercially sound estimates.
https://www.thefis.org/skills-hub/training-offers-for-members/fis-training-modules/estimating-training-module/
Specifying Partitioning
The second course focuses on Specifying Partitioning and has been created to highlight and guide learners through some of the key criteria that should be considered when writing a specification for partitions. The course is aimed at Architects, Designers, Acousticians, Specialist partitioning companies, Building managers/end users and all others associated with partitioning specification.
https://www.thefis.org/skills-hub/training-offers-for-members/fis-training-modules/specifying-partitioning/
Drylining Inspection Methods
Our third course is part of our wider campaign to help drive out improper snagging practices of plaster finishes which often results in contractors suffering from delayed and incomplete payments. This course is aimed to educate those carrying out inspections on best practice and the use of correct lighting and range when doing so. It follows current guidance within BS EN 13914-2 which recommends that a plaster finish should be viewed with natural light from either the centre of the room or a two-metre minimum distance.
All courses are freely available to FIS members, and CPD certificates will be issued on completion.
Speaking on the launch of these courses at the AGM on 16 October, FIS President Ian Strangward said:
“FIS is focussed on building skills and competence and key to this is the development of e-learning to support our members and the wider community. Since we launched our e-learning platform in 2024 we have developed seven new courses. The bank of knowledge which FIS has built is impressive, and the transition of this content into e-learning puts guidance into people’s heads. Hundreds of people have accessed our courses so far and we will continue to develop more courses targeting vital interventions, job titles and knowledge gaps””
Click here for more information on how to register on these courses
by Oscar Venus | 23 Oct, 2025 | Employment, Labour, Skills
Significant changes to visa sponsorship were announced on 14 October 2025 which will impact on upcoming Skilled Worker visa applications. Please see below for a summary of the changes:
Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) Increase – Effective 16 December 2025
The Immigration Skills Charge will increase by 32% from 16 December 2025. This means an increase for small and charitable companies of £364 a year to £480, and for medium and large companies an increase from £1,000 a year to £1,320.
The additional costs of future hires and extensions can be avoided by assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship before 16 December 2025.
Sponsors should check now that they have an available allocation of Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship and consider their sponsorship plans in light of these increases.
English Language Requirement Increase – Effective 8 January 2026
From 8 January 2026, the required English language level for Skilled Worker visa applicants will rise from B1 to B2 under the CEFR scale. We advise that applicants intending to join the Skilled Worker route submit their applications before 8 January 2026 to avoid being impacted by this change. Please note that current Skilled Worker visa holders will not be affected and will not be required to take a new test.
Visa processing Delays and Holiday Travel
Visa processing times have lengthened significantly due to a surge in applications following earlier rule changes in July 2025. UKVI is currently experiencing a substantial backlog, and we are seeing many standard applications take the full 8 weeks or longer to receive a decision.
If applicants need to travel over the Christmas period, we strongly advise using the Priority Service (£500 additional fee) to receive a decision within 5 working days of submission or biometric enrolment (depending on application type).
UKVI anticipates another spike in applications due to the upcoming ISC and English language changes, which may further impact processing times.
Sponsor Management Reporting and Compliance
UKVI is increasingly focusing on compliance checks relating to changes in salary and using intelligence provided by HMRC. Sponsors are being warned to ensure that all payments, including periods of unpaid leave, maternity leave, or other absences, are properly reported on the Sponsor Management System. Failure to do so may trigger a compliance audit, as UKVI is targeting sponsors who delay payments for months and then make large lump-sum payments.
Additionally, the right-to-work checks are expected to move entirely digital in the future, reducing or eliminating in-person verification. Employers should be prepared for these changes and ensure their processes and staff training are updated accordingly.
If you require advice on how these changes may affect your business or have any upcoming applications to process, please contact us – we are here to help.
by Clair Mooney | 23 Oct, 2025 | Skills
The Industry Task and Finish Group on the management of competence in organisations (ITFG) has launched its short consultation on its draft guidance Managing Competence in the Built Environment: A Guide. Feedback is welcomed until 10 November 2025.
The ITFG was pulled together in June 2025, to collaborate on guidance that will support organisations across the sector to manage competence of individuals, engaging with the Industry Competence Committee (ICC). The resulting output is a consensus document that follows the principles in the recently published ICC Consultation document. While the ICC principles document is pitched at a high level of ‘what’ is expected of organisations in this area, the ITFG document follows these principles and seeks to help organisations understand in detail ‘how’ to put in place approaches and processes to meet the ICC principles.
The broad representation in the ITFG aims to ensure that the wide-ranging needs of all types and size of organisations are met. More information about the terms of reference of the ITFG and who are collaborating in the ITFG can be found here
The consultation seeks to ensure that the document will provide practical guidance to implement the ICC high-level principles. Feedback is sought on whether the approach included provides useful guidance and tools to that end, or whether there is anything else that should be considered. The anonymous survey will take on average 8 minutes.
The ITFG and the ICC will present both guidance documents at a webinar on 30th October 10-11am. It is open to anyone interested in organisational management of competence. You can register for the webinar here
Following the consultation period, we will review the feedback with our technical Steering Group, collaborate with the ICC to ensure both guidance documents remain aligned, before getting final sign off from the full ITFG. Once published through members’ channels, the guidance will be an open-source document, accessible to all.
The ITFG draft guidance – Managing Competence in the Built Environment: A Guide – can be found here
The ITFG consultation survey, and all documents, can be found here
Webinar registration: please find the link here
by Oscar Venus | 16 Oct, 2025 | Labour, Skills
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published the first stage of its review of the Temporary Shortage List (TSL), which sets out occupations that may qualify for a Skilled Worker Visa under the recent changes to the UK’s Points-Based Immigration System.
With the threshold for Skilled Worker Visas now raised to RQF Level 6, the TSL provides a critical route for occupations at RQF Levels 3–5 to remain eligible, many of which are vital to the finishes and interiors sector.
The MAC’s initial list identifies 82 occupations considered potentially crucial to delivering the UK’s 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy. These include key trades relevant to our community such as plasterers, painters and decorators, floorers, wall tilers, and construction supervisors. The list will be refined following an industry-wide call for evidence, and FIS will continue to work with the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) and Build UK to ensure the sector’s needs are represented.
The MAC has also proposed that occupations on the TSL be reviewed every three years and that no salary discounts be applied against the standard Skilled Worker Visa threshold. The Stage 2 report, including final recommendations, is expected in July 2026, with final decisions to follow from the Home Secretary.
Build UK’s flowchart providing an overview of the process of employing a worker from outside the UK is being regularly updated in line with changes to the immigration system, together with our detailed guidance on How to Get a Sponsor Licence and How to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa.
FIS will keep members updated and contribute evidence on behalf of the sector to ensure the critical skills needed across the finishes and interiors community are recognised within immigration policy.
by Clair Mooney | 8 Oct, 2025 | Awards, Skills
We’re delighted to announce the shortlist for this year’s Training Awards.
Celebrating excellence and achievement in plastering and interior trades, these awards acknowledge the accomplishments of apprentices and students who have exceeded expectations, training delivery by colleges and training providers, mentors and others who have supported sector training, including a lifetime contribution to training award.
Apprentice of the Year – Plastering Shortlist
- Damian Hayes from Thomas & Wilsons
- George Stamp from Locker & Riley (Fibrous Plastering)
- Jake Waite of Wannop
Apprentice / Student of the Year – Interior Trades Shortlist
- Dawson Dellar of ACS Plastering
- Nicole McKeown from The Errigal Academy
- Sam Woodward of Measom Dryline
Student of the Year – Plastering Shortlist
- Mohammad Abuali studying at The City of Liverpool College
- Monique Fenell from Cadman Manpen Systems Limited
- Yusuf Ibrahim studying at Derby College
Training Provider / College of the Year Shortlist
- Carlisle College
- Coleg Llandrillo
- Coleg Menai
- Craven College
- Leicester College
- NPTC Group of Colleges
- The Skills Centre
Formula Trophy Shortlist
- Entol MFG North America Inc trading as Ceilings4U
- KLLangton Decorative Plasterwork
- Plaster Mouldings Direct
FIS Member Training Programme Shortlist
Training Champion Shortlist
- Adam Barringer
- Terry McDermott
- Paul Orton
The winners of the above categories, and the Rising Star and Lifetime Contribution to Training will be announced at the Training Awards Lunch on 25 November at Plaisterers Hall in London. If you haven’t yet reserved your seats you can book your place here.
Congratulations to all the nominees for their hard work and dedication in pursuing their academic goals!
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