by Clair Mooney | 7 Nov, 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.
by Clair Mooney | 24 Oct, 2022 | Drylining, Skills
CITB-registered employers can now receive an additional £2,000 on top of the existing grant (£2,500 per year for attendance and £3,500 for achievement) for Dry Lining Apprenticeships that started from 1 April 2022 onwards. This is applicable for employers in each of the home nations.
- £1,000 paid with first quarterly attendance payment (13 weeks),
- £1,000 paid with the final quarterly attendance payment.
Your apprentice must complete 13 weeks of the apprenticeship before there is entitlement to the first £1,000 increase. A maximum drylining increase of £2,000 is payable per apprentice.
In instances where apprentices change employers:
- The first £1,000 grant is paid to the employer with which the apprentice first completes 13 weeks of their apprenticeship.
- The final £1,000 grant is paid to the employer with which the apprentice completes their attendance.
You must use an approved apprenticeship provider that is on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers: Download the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) (education.gov.uk)
How to apply for the Grant
If CITB are your Apprenticeship provider, your dedicated Apprenticeship Officer will help you complete your application correctly. If they receive your application within 20 weeks of the start date of the apprenticeship, they will begin making your grant payments, backdated to this start date. The attendance grant will be paid automatically every 13 weeks.
If CITB are not your apprenticeship provider, you will need to complete an application form. Download and save the 2022-2023 Apprenticeship Attendance Grant application (Excel, 207KB) and ensure you complete all sections before submitting.
Please note: Use Chrome or Firefox to download the application. CITB recommend that you do not use Internet Explorer as you may have problems downloading.
You must provide evidence from your college or training provider that your apprentice is registered onto an approved apprenticeship programme. This evidence must be provided from the college or training provider on either their headed paper or from their email address and it must contain the following information:
- The full name of the apprentice.
- The full apprenticeship standard course title and level including the pathway if applicable.
- The apprentice’s start date with the college or training provider.
Evidence directly from an employer, certificates or unit credit reports are not acceptable evidence.
Send your completed application and supporting evidence as detailed above to Customer.servicesYNET@citb.co.uk.
by Clair Mooney | 21 Oct, 2022 | Main News Feed, Skills
There is a new £2.5k Skills and Training Funding opportunity for Employers with CIS only (No PAYE). This is an enhancement to the Skills and Training Funds currently available: Skills and Training Fund funding from £2,500 to £25,000 over a 12‐month period for companies with 250 or fewer employees to train and develop their workforce. Detailed guidance on how to apply is available for both small and micro‐sized and medium‐sized businesses.
To apply for grant, applicants should visit CITB’s website. The requirements specific to each grant type should be checked prior to submitting an application as some grants operate restrictions. If you are unsure please contact Marie Flinter 07799 903103 or email marieflinter@thefis.org
by Clair Mooney | 21 Oct, 2022 | Skills
FIS worked with NOCN to create a much needed training qualification for Dryliners working on house building projects. Recent information received from NOCN shows there are 24 Centres approved to deliver with 40 Tutors and 37 Assessors assigned to the qualification. If you are working in house building and need to train new entrant this is a perfect qualification to start their learning journey with.
For more information contact George Swann, FIS Skills and Training Lead on 07553 874838 or take a look at the NOCN web site: Dry Lining (housing)
by Clair Mooney | 21 Oct, 2022 | Skills
After coming first in their regional qualifiers over 85 finalists will compete in the finals of SkillBuild 2022. Described as “the UK’s construction’s Olympics”, SkillBuild will be delivered by CITB in conjunction with WorldSkills and will take place at Edinburgh College from 14–17 November 2022.
All eight finalists in the Plastering and Drywall category are from FIS members:
- George Batchelor and Archie Downham – Measom Dryline East Midlands
- Ben Henry, Ashley Carragher, Hugh Treanor and Shaun McKenna – Errigal Contracts Northern Ireland
- Zara Dupont is a student at Leeds College of Building
- From Neath Port Talbot College Sammy Young will compete in the Carpentry category, Paul Mason will compete in Painting and Decorating, Jack Holmes and Jonathan Donaldson are competing in Plastering.
You can see the full list of finalists on the WorldSkills website
George Swann FIS Skills and Training Lead said:
If you are an employer and you have an opportunity it is well worth a visit to see what the competition is about.
by Clair Mooney | 13 Oct, 2022 | Skills
The Government has commissioned a review of the Shortage Occupations List (SOL) to identify whether other occupations need additional support when recruiting workers from outside the UK. The SOL, which lists the job roles where a worker can be paid 80% of the usual going rate whilst still qualifying for a Skilled Worker visa, will be reviewed to determine whether the current occupations should continue to be included and any new occupations with a RQF level 3 or above qualification should be added. Build UK will be contributing to the review through the reconvened CLC working group on immigration, and it is scheduled to be completed by March 2023 with any changes implemented by autumn 2023.
Under the Points‐Based Immigration System, most workers from outside the UK in construction are ‘skilled workers’ and require a Skilled Worker visa to work in an eligible occupation. Build UK has updated its flowchart providing an overview of the process of employing a worker from outside the UK, as well as its detailed guidance on How to Get a Sponsor Licence and How to Get a Skilled Worker Visa.
