Open your doors to help recruit the next generation

by Clair Mooney | Dec 8, 2022 | Skills

Last chance to register your sites for Open Doors 2023

FIS Supports Open Doors, run on behalf of the industry by Build UK.  There is now just one month to go until booking opens for Open Doors visitors on Monday 9 January. Recruiting the next generation is vital if we are to maintain the pipeline of talent coming into the industry, and Open Doors is one of the best ways to show young people the fantastic work we do! Please upload all your sites, factories, offices and other facilities on the Open Doors website as soon as possible and start promoting them to potential visitors in the local area.

Students from Walsall College visited HS2’s Long Itchington Wood Tunnel site last month to kickstart the countdown to Open Doors and 16‐year‐old Ethan said:

“If someone else had the chance [to go on site during Open Doors], I’d say definitely go for it. It gives you a really great insight into all the opportunities and careers, and there’s excellent people to speak to that can recommend any path to you within construction!”.

This short video from the event shows just how we can inspire people across the country to choose a career in construction. Open Doors will run from Monday 13 ‐ Saturday 18 March.

Employer guidance needed for FIS Skills

by Clair Mooney | Nov 24, 2022 | Skills

There are currently three employer vacancies for members of the FIS Skills Board. The role involves contributing information that will direct FIS in the support needed for the finishes and interiors sector to ensure a competent and safe workforce.

We are looking for employer representatives from installing organisations that can join discussion on the skills needed by the sector so that we can prioritise activities and focus on the areas of greatest concern.

The commitment is four, two-to-three hour meetings per year where we explain the information FIS has and ask for your input.  For more information, a copy of the Terms of Reference or an informal chat please contact George Swann on 07553 874383 or email georgeswann@thefis.org or Marie Flinter on 07799 903103 or email marieflinter@thefis.org

Training Awards winners announced

by Clair Mooney | Nov 22, 2022 | Skills

Guidance on employment entry into construction

by Clair Mooney | Nov 11, 2022 | Skills

Build UK has published a guide setting out the most common Routes of Entry in Construction for young people in England leaving school, including apprenticeships, traineeships, T Levels and degrees, and how they might suit different employers.  Although the routes of entry into the industry can be complex and confusing, employers that understand them are well placed to offer opportunities and recruit their future workforce.

This helps deliver work under:

• The CLC’s Skills Plan (pg.10), Priority 2: Routes into Industry to ‘Improve the links between education and employers to support the pathways into and through apprenticeships, T Levels and employment’; and
• CITB’s Strategic Plan (pp.8), which states: “supporting and equipping employers and potential entrants with the information they need and making the routes into construction as simple as possible”

 The guidance has been endorsed by CITB and the Department of Work & Pensions.

Commenting on the launch, FIS Skills and Training Lead George Swann stated:

This is a straight forward brief on what is primarily available in England, if you need more details or have any specific questions, contact me on 07553 874383 or email georgeswann@thefis.org

Apprenticeship training places available

by Clair Mooney | Nov 11, 2022 | Skills

Get ready for Open Doors!

by Clair Mooney | Nov 7, 2022 | Skills

HS2’s Long Itchington Wood Tunnel site hosted the launch of Open Doors 2023 showing more than 20 students from local colleges what a career in construction might look like! As well as catching a glimpse of ‘Dorothy’, the tunnel boring machine currently excavating a one‐mile twin bore tunnel under an ancient woodland, attendees had the chance to put their questions to the site team about what it’s like to work on such a transformative project. Speaking at the event, Build UK Chief Executive Suzannah Nichol called on the industry to get behind Open Doors and show the next generation that “whatever you enjoy doing and are good at ‐ there is a job for you in construction”.

With bookings for visitors opening on Monday 9 January 2023, members are encouraged to register their sites, factories, offices and other facilities on the Open Doors website as soon as possible, giving schools and colleges plenty of time to plan visits. The initiative is spearheaded by Build UK who have provided a Coordinators’ Toolkit to help you identify suitable sites and maximise your involvement in the event which will run from Monday 13 ‐ Saturday 18 March 2023.

If you are interested or registered to take part in OpenDoors, please advise the FIS via marieflinter@thefis.org and we will help to promote your involvement.  Not FIS also has prepared standard letters and guidance to help you in contacting local schools which we can send across.