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.
by Clair Mooney | 13 Oct, 2022 | Skills
Despite concerns about a recession, the industry’s skills shortages have shot up the agenda once again, with ‘People and skills’ identified as one of the four most important strategic priorities in the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) new vision and leadership summary published in September.
The CLC has stated that it will focus on people issues within the industry, with a big push on attracting talent and enhancing skills for the future. It is also very keen to ensure that, if construction business insolvencies do start to increase, workers at risk of redundancy are quickly redeployed and not lost to the sector.
The issue of recruiting enough people into the sector isn’t a new one, but it is becoming increasingly urgent. In 2017, it was predicted around 500,000 workers are expected to retire from the industry over the next 10 years which doesn’t leave long to fill this gap.
As well as replacing the exiting skills and experience, the industry also needs to recruit 53,200 additional workers every year to keep pace with the levels of demand, according to the CITB’s Construction Skills Network report, including people with new skills in digitalisation, sustainability and offsite manufacturing.
How can employers attract new people into construction?
While it might sound like a mammoth task, there are lots of ways for employers to attract new people to join the industry.
Apprenticeships, traineeships, graduate jobs, placements and internships, T Level courses, work experience and taster opportunities, and any well supported entry-level jobs, all provide great ways for young people to gain the skills and experience they need to forge a career in construction.
If your organisation is currently offering any opportunities like this, make sure they are added to Talentview Construction (TVC), a free online platform that helps individuals to get started in the construction industry.
This month marks the first anniversary since TVC was launched, supported by CITB industry levy funding and backed by Government.
Over the last 12 months, more than 11,600 early careers vacancies have been added to the site, attracting more than 48,000 views from potential applicants.
How can Talentview Construction help FIS members with recruitment?
By using TVC to support with early-careers recruitment activities, you can:
- Promote information about your business
- Upload unlimited vacancies and training opportunities
- Search for local candidates
- Create saved searches and alerts for people who match your criteria
- Have direct contact with individuals
- Manage the recruitment of numerous positions
- Integrate with existing recruitment systems
The platform can also help you build links with local schools. There are 148 universities, university technical colleges (UTCs), FE colleges and schools across the UK registered on the platform – including the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, Chesterfield College, South and City College Birmingham, and the United College Group London – all of which will be incorporating student registration onto TVC as part of their 2022/2023 intake.
To help you promote vacancies on Talentview Construction, there is a handy Comms Toolkit which has free videos and social media graphics, as well as text that can be used across websites, newsletters and other comms: https://bit.ly/CTRS-TVC-employers-toolkit
For more information on how TVC can support your organisation with recruitment, visit: www.talentview.org/construction
by Clair Mooney | 12 Oct, 2022 | Skills
Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) and the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers are delighted to announce the annual Training Awards will be presented by the Lord Mayor of London.
The 694th Lord Mayor of the City of London, Nicholas Lyons will be attending the Training Awards on 22 November, where he will be continuing the tradition of the Lord Mayor presenting the worthy winners with their awards.
Held at the Plaisterers’ Hall in London from 12:00 – 15:30, the Training Awards recognise excellence and achievement in plastering and interior trades and will celebrate:
- The achievement of apprentices
- Students who have exceeded beyond expectations
- The delivery of training by colleges and training providers
- Training delivery by an FIS member company
- Mentors and others who have supported sector training
- Lifetime contribution to sector training
Commenting on the awards, FIS President Helen Tapper and Member of The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers Industry Committee, said:
“We are delighted to welcome the Lord Mayor to the annual training awards. The event showcases the very best of the sector’s occupations and the achievements of students and apprentices, supportive employers and mentors, colleges and training providers.”
Garth Manger OBE, Clerk of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers said:
“The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers is delighted to be partnering with FIS and hosting the Training Awards in our Hall. Having the Lord Mayor present the prizes will make it a very special day for the worthy winners and we look forward to welcoming him and the winners on 22 November”.
The awards, which traditionally covered plastering and drylining, have expanded to cover the wider finishes and interiors sector and include the following occupational areas: Dryliners, Ceiling Fixers, Partition Installers, Plasterers, Carpenters and Joiners, Access Flooring Installers and Steel Framed System Erectors.
Trade-specific sponsored awards include the British Gypsum Trophy – which recognises the highest achievement in drylining skills education – and the Formula Trophy, for contributions to the development of skills and long-term future of Fibrous and GRG plasterwork.
For more information on the awards, visit www.thefis.org/training-awards-2022 or https://plaistererslivery.co.uk/industry-support/plasterers-training-awards/ or call 0121 707 0077.
by Clair Mooney | 6 Oct, 2022 | Skills
The City of London Corporation is leading ‘Skills for a Sustainable Skyline,’ a three-year Taskforce. It aims to identify and fill emerging ‘green skills’ gaps within Central London’s commercial built environment. This work is being lead by a Board of Industry Experts including FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee and a number of volunteer groups, some of which are supported by FIS Members.
As part of this work they are reaching out to businesses and individuals involved in delivering sustainable commercial buildings to gain deeper insight in the skills needed to deliver these projects and the barriers to recruiting, retaining and training them,
Please complete this short questionnaire (8 mins) to help inform the Taskforce on emerging issues facing the sector. Answers to this survey will inform the Taskforce’s evidence base and the interventions in 2023-25. The detail contained in responses will be kept anonymous
You can complete the survey here.
