Skills Archives - Page 30 of 43

NEBOSH qualification now accepted for CSCS Academically Qualified Person registration

by Clair Mooney | Aug 6, 2021 | CSCS, Skills

The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) is to formally recognise the NEBOSH Health & Safety Management for Construction (UK) qualification for its Academically Qualified Person (AQP) card, effective immediately. CSCS, the UK’s leading skills certification scheme within the construction industry, will accept the qualification alongside a range of already recognised NEBOSH courses, with applicants required to supply a copy of their qualification while also passing the CITB Managers and Professionals Health, Safety and Environment Test.

The course will replace the NEBOSH Construction Certificate, although both will run in tandem until 21 July 2023 to allow existing learners to complete their final assessment. The new course is primarily intended for construction site managers, contract managers, site workers with health and safety responsibilities and construction health and safety advisors. It centres on areas including workplace injuries and illness, Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, employee wellbeing and demonstrating, as well as strengthening, health and safety culture.

Applicants can apply for their AQP card online via CSCS’s online service, with the card valid for five years from issue. The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) is a leading global organisation, which provides health, safety and environmental qualifications. Their internationally recognised qualifications help to raise the competence of safety and environmental professionals as well as individuals at all levels in the workplace.

Consultation on plans for degree apprenticeships

by Clair Mooney | Jul 22, 2021 | Skills

A consultation has launched (16 July) on proposals to improve how degree apprenticeships are developed, approved, and work in practice for employers and apprentices. A key aim is to better capitalise on the prestige that degrees and graduate status carry with employers and the wider labour market, to ensure that level 6 and 7 apprenticeships better meet employers’ skills needs and support apprentices to progress in their careers. The proposals would create more opportunities for degrees to be included in level 6 and 7 apprenticeships, where employers can demonstrate that graduate status is generally required for an individual to be employed in a particular occupation or sector. Additionally, degree apprenticeships would only be approved where the end-point assessment (EPA) integrates with the final assessment of the degree. EPA would need to involve people with appropriate industry expertise.

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) would also ensure that degree apprenticeships are distinct from other higher education programmes and support further integration of on and off the job training, which is a key principle of all apprenticeships. The idea is to rule out degree apprenticeships that amount to no more than rebadging of existing full-time or part-time degree programmes.

You can visit the Institute’s website to take part in the consultation that will close at midnight on 16 September.

IfATE will be running a series of stakeholder events to provide an opportunity for people to discuss the proposals in more detail on:

5 August 2021:

Employers: 09:30-10:30, sign up here
Higher education institutions and training providers: 10:30-11:30, sign up here
Professional, statutory, and regulatory bodies and end-point assessment organisations: 15:30-16:30, sign up here

2 September 2021:

Employers: 09:30-10:30, sign up here
Higher education institutions and training providers: 11:00-12:00, sign up here
Professional, statutory, and regulatory bodies and end-point assessment organisations: 15:30-16:30, sign up here

If you have any further questions please email: Enquiries.IFA@education.gov.uk

Places available on Interior Systems Installer Training course

by Clair Mooney | Jul 22, 2021 | Skills

The National Construction College in Bircham Newton (Norfolk) have scheduled two courses to train apprentices in Dry Lining Fixer Boarder, Interior Systems Installer. These are block release courses and although the employer will lose apprentices for up to three weeks, when they return to the workplace they will have been trained in tasks applicable to employers needs. The courses are scheduled to start:

Week commencing Monday 20 September 2021
Week Commencing Monday 25 October 2021

For more details contact the National Construction College Enquiries and Bookings by calling 0344 994 4433 or email ncc@citb.co.uk

Find and book courses online

Find out more about accommodation at NCC East

CITB now provide a grant to assist with subsistence costs for apprentices, the grant can cover up to 80% of the costs for details please see Apprenticeship travel and accommodation

Helen Tapper of Tapper Interiors says

“We have sent apprentices to Bircham Newton for training in previous years and been very happy with the results, these apprentices are still with us and continue to contribute at a high standard to the work of Tapper Interiors. We have two places booked on these courses and recommend the National Construction College as an apprenticeship training provider.”

For more information about apprenticeships or to identify a training delivering organisation visit https://www.thefis.org/skills-hub/apprenticeships-and-qualifications/ On this page you will find a downloadable document ‘Apprentice – Guidance for Employers’ which is full of information on the process for taking on an apprentice. If you require more information please don’t hesitate to contact FIS on 0121 707 0077 or email info@thefis.org we will be happy to help.

Skills Hub

The Skills Hub brings together details of courses specific to the finishes and interiors sector, making accessing and booking training quick and easy. In addition, it provides information on sector careers, apprenticeships and funding, as well as access to e-learning, CPD and other training.

Find out more

Qualification route for maintenance of operable walls

by Clair Mooney | Jul 16, 2021 | Skills

FIS is working working with the developed governments regulatory authorities to add a qualification route for the maintenance of operable partitions. Support from employers is needed to complete this work, if you agree a qualification is needed for this activity, please email georgeswann@thefis.org indicating your agreement of the need for a qualification in service, maintenance and repair of operable walls.

This work is supported by CITB. For details visit the Interior systems sectionf of the CITB website and look in ‘Reviews’ titled Operable Partition NOS – Service, maintain and repair operable partition wall systems.

CITB Consensus – make your view known

by Clair Mooney | Jul 8, 2021 | Skills

FIS members who are likely to pay the Construction Industry Levy as proposed by CITB for 2021 to 2025 are invited to have their say by participating in the Consensus Survey

The proposed CITB Levy Rate for the period 2022-2025 is 0.35% for PAYE and 1.25% on Net paid (taxable) CIS sub-contractors. Those with a total wage bill between £0 – £119,999 will be exempt from paying Levy and those with a total wage bill between £120,000 – £399,999 will see a 50% reduction on their Levy.

FIS is a ‘Prescribed Organisation’ which means that we are required to formally consult members on the Levy proposals put forward by CITB and respond collectively on their behalf.

To this end, we are asking members to complete our short survey – it should only take 5 minutes to complete. Only the views of those employers who are likely to pay the construction levy under these proposals will be counted in the consensus vote.

The closing date for responses in 6 August 2021.

If you have any queries please call the office on 0121 707 0077.

Looking to expand your workforce? Have you considered an apprentice?

by Clair Mooney | Jul 7, 2021 | Skills

At this time of year many young people will be considering ending their academic studies and entering the world of work. The opportunities available are many, as an employer it is a great time to consider taking on an apprentice in roles such as dry lining, ceiling fixing, partitions installer, plastering, design, estimating, planning or quantity surveying.

The road to a quality apprenticeship has been published by Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to help employers understand the steps involved in delivering high quality, successful apprenticeships in their businesses. The document provides links to information that employers can use to help them achieve a quality experience for their apprentices while maximising the benefits for their business. It will be followed by similar guides for end-point assessment organisations and apprentices.

The government continue to provide incentive grants for employers that take on apprentices:

In England

From 01 June 2021 employers of all sizes in England can apply for extra funding to help them take on new apprentices. The boost to the apprenticeship incentive scheme was confirmed by the Chancellor in the Budget in March. Business can apply to claim £3,000 for each new apprentice hired as a new employer from 01 April until 30 September 2021. The cash incentive is designed to help more employers invest in the skilled workforce they need for the future as part of the government’s Plan for Jobs.

This is in addition to the £1000 available for:

aged 16 to 18 years old
under 25 with an education, health and care plan or who has been in the care of their local authority.

In Scotland

£5,000 for employers taking on or upskilling a 16 to 24-year old apprentice, and for those aged up to 29 years who are disabled, care leavers and Minority Ethnic.

£3,500 for employers taking on or upskilling an apprentice aged 25 plus.

In Wales

Until 30 September 2021 businesses will be able to claim up to £4,000 for each new apprentice, they hire under the age of 25.

Skills and Training Lead George Swann say:

“Now is the ideal time to recruit the workforce of the future via apprenticeships. For more information on the options available to employers please see the FIS Apprentice – Guidance for Employers. If you would like to discuss this please give us a call we will be happy to help”.

Thinking of taking on an apprentice? FIS is here to help

Apprenticeships are key to building the pipeline of skilled workers in the Finishes and Interiors Sector. With a range of apprenticeships available and funding support from both Central Government, Local Funding and the CITB complex to navigate, FIS can offer FREE specialist one to one support help you to work out your options, recruit candidates and identify training providers who can help you to get started or keep going. See our Apprenticeships – Guidance for Employers for more information, email Apprentice Help! with your contact details to info@thefis.org or simply call FIS on 0121 707 007