Understanding the barriers and challenges when recruiting

Understanding the barriers and challenges when recruiting

The FIS Skills Team are working on setting direction to support the skills strategy for the year. To help suport this, we want to understand the barriers and challenges members have with recruiting.

Your support in completing the Skills Pulse Survey will help ensure FIS provides the right support.

We would like to understand:

  • What the challenges are with training
  • What is being done to recruit and engage with potential apprentices/trainees and how can we share best practice wider
  • Is there sufficient provision for training?

This data will help FIS to build evidence and focus our priorities to ensure we are responding to the needs of our members and the wider sector.

The survey can be completed here and the closing date for responses is Friday 9 February.

National Apprenticeship Week 2024

National Apprenticeship Week 2024

It’s the last day of National Apprenticeship Week 2024 where the focus has been ‘Skills for Life’. Apprenticeships are designed by employers to help apprentices gain the skills and knowledge needed in the workplace. Apprenticeships can support your business to grow talent and develop a skilled workforce.

FIS members have been actively demonstrating their support and dedication this week by investing in training the next generation through apprenticeship programs. Here are some highlights:

  • CG Reynolds established a specialised Trade Academy last year and brought in Trainee Fixers, leading to notable successes for both the company and the apprentices.
  • Alby Gumble and Aaron McElligott, Assistant Site Managers at Pexhurst Services Limited, and Tom Kasoulis, Assistant Contracts/Commercial Manager, shared their positive experiences with the apprenticeship scheme and discussed their future career goals.
  • British Gypsum proudly supports over 1,200 apprentices across 51 Thistle Partnership Colleges in the UK. They spoke with plastering apprentice Ryan to learn more about his motivation for joining the apprenticeship program.
  • Errigal featured apprentice Nicole, who aspires to become a project manager, and highlighted the valuable support she has received.
  • Domino Commercial Interiors hosted an open event to engage with the community and showcase their diverse range of services.

Offering an apprenticeship can:

  • introduce fresh talent and ideas to your business by recruiting new staff and upskilling existing members
  • align training to your business needs
  • boost staff loyalty and motivation

Apprenticeships available for Finishes and Interiors are:

  • Level 2 Interior Systems Installer – pathways are:
    • Ceilings and Partitions
    • Drylining

This apprenticeship includes learning about Installing, repairing and maintaining various elements of the internal structure of a building.

In addition, the government will fund up to a maximum amount of £14,000 for this apprenticeship training.

  • Level 2 Plastering

Plastering includes preparing walls and ceilings for decoration and finishing.

In addition to supporting NAW 2024 and following the theme of ‘Skills for Life’, FIS have produced and launched a competency framework to demonstrate routes to baseline installer competence for Drylining. The framework can be found here: Competence Framework for Dry Liners – FIS (thefis.org)

This framework aims to support members to identify Drylining routes to competence and SKEB Statements, which will help to understand what training, qualification and competence does and should look like for this area, and help identify potential training gaps and how they can be addressed.

New Competence Framework for Project Managers in the Built Environment

New Competence Framework for Project Managers in the Built Environment

The competence framework for project managers is now available for use.

The new competence framework for project managers in the built environment is a fantastic resource for those looking to develop their skills and knowledge in the field. The framework is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the competencies required to excel as a project manager, with a particular focus on the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the built environment.

To learn more about the framework and its benefits, you can visit here. Additionally, if you’re interested in attending a joint webinar hosted by APM, RICS, and CIOB, you can register for by clicking here. This is a great opportunity to gain further insight into the framework and to connect with other professionals in the field.

To see more about the FIS competency framework for dryliners, click here

Discover careers in construction with Open Doors 2024

Discover careers in construction with Open Doors 2024

FIS is encouraging its members to get involved in this year’s Open Doors event which allows young people and career changers to visit construction sites and workplaces across Great Britain from Monday 18 – Saturday 23 March. This is our chance to showcase the range of career opportunities available in our sector.

Open Doors, delivered by Build UK of which FIS is a member, offers a unique insight into what it is like to work in construction by taking visitors behind the scenes to showcase the diverse range of opportunities available in the industry.

Construction needs to recruit almost 45,000 new entrants each year, and Open Doors aims to show that the industry offers exciting and rewarding careers for everyone – whatever their age, background or skills.

Schools and colleges can book group visits for their students to discover first-hand what the industry has to offer, including a wide range of apprenticeships. New events will continue to be added over the coming weeks, so keep an eye on the Open Doors website for events taking place in your local area.

Visitors can book their place now at more than 150 events already registered across England, Scotland and Wales. From high profile projects – including One Leadenhall in London, the new Aquatics Centre in Manchester, and the Paisley Museum in Scotland – to manufacturing facilities, offices and training centres, Open Doors enables visitors to see the industry in action and learn more about the 180 careers available.

Julie White, Chair of Build UK, said:

“I am passionate about making the world of construction open and accessible to as many young people as possible, so they can see all the different career opportunities there are in our industry. Open Doors is a fantastic way to find out more about the amazing things we build and what the industry has to offer, so book your visit today to see where a career in construction could take you.”

Michael Oppong, Management Trainee Quantity Surveyor at Willmott Dixon who attended an Open Doors visit in 2015, added:

“Open Doors definitely sparked my interest in a career in the construction industry. I have since taken the degree-level apprenticeship route, combining on-the-job training with university studies. I would encourage everyone to attend an Open Doors visit and consider a career in the industry – just like me!”

Help prison leavers to break free and begin a sustainable career in construction

Help prison leavers to break free and begin a sustainable career in construction

FIS is continuing its work with No Going Back, an initiative to support prison leavers, and an opportunity has come up to visit HMP Brixton.

The visit will take place on Thursday 25 January from 9am and we are looking for members to join us to explain the pathways into the sector and how they can build a lasting career.

The individuals attending this event are within their release window and have an interest in drylining and construction, as well as those actively enrolled in the drylining workshop.

Instructors at HMP Brixton will provide details on the training individuals have undertaken during their sentence. Additionally, No Going Back and Employers can deliver an overall presentation (a talk on the company and pathways to roles in the industry) and men could showcase different drylining tasks.

There will then be dedicated time for one-on-one sessions between employers and the prison leavers.

If you can support this event, email beenanana@thefis.org by Tuesday 16 January as the prison will then be able to promote the event.

Workshops and webinars available through the Supply Chain Sustainability School and FIS

Workshops and webinars available through the Supply Chain Sustainability School and FIS

The Supply Chain Sustainability School and FIS have collaborated to bring you a range of workshops and webinars specific to the finishes and interiors sector. We’ve highlighted below all the upcoming sessions and relevant resources.

Introduction to Modern Slavery with Willmott Dixon
Tuesday 16 January 2024, 10 – 11am
This webinar will introduce you to the topic of modern slavery featuring insights from Willmott Dixon.
REGISTER HERE

Using Lean for Continuous Improvement and Problem Solving
Tuesday 23 January, 10am – 12pm
REGISTER HERE

Net Zero, SBTs and Carbon Offsetting
Thursday 1 February, 10 – 11am
REGISTER HERE

Introduction to Circular Economy
Thursday 15 February, 12 – 1pm
REGISTER HERE

Embedding Sustainable Procurement
Wednesday 21 February, 9:30 – 11:30am
REGISTER HERE