FIS and Worshipful Company of Plaisterers have announced the winners of the sector Training Awards at its gala lunch held at Plaisterers’ Hall in London today.

In front of a packed audience at Plaisterers’ Hall, the winners of the 2023 Training Awards were announced and presented by Lord Mayor Michael Mainelli. The Awards are a collaboration between FIS and The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers to recognise outstanding apprentices and students, and individuals and organisations that have made a lasting contribution to training and development in plastering and interior trades.

Tony Mitchell, Master of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers, said “The Company is absolutely delighted to once again host these prestigious awards in our magnificent Hall.  We are very pleased to have once again teamed up with FIS to recognise the achievements of many within plastering and the finishes and interiors sector”.

Commenting on the awards, FIS President Philip Brown said: “We are delighted to recognise the outstanding talent, both in apprentices and students themselves but also the colleges and training providers and mentors that work so hard to help the students forge hugely successful and rewarding careers.”

The 2023 award winners are:

Student of the Year – Plastering
Winner – Kathryn Doyland (Training Provider: G.R.W.P Llandrillo)
Runners up – Edward Celmins (Training Provider: Carlisle College) and Caroline Moor (Training Provider: Vision West Nottinghamshire College)

Student of the Year – Interior Systems
Winner – Julius Debrah (Employer: MPG Contracts, Training Provider: Now Get Qualified)
Runner up – Dan Title (Employer/Training Provider: V & D Interiors)

Apprentice of the Year – Plastering
Winner – Bella Romain (Employer: Cyfle Building Skills, Training Provider: Coleg Sir Gar)
Runners up – Ryan Stanford (Employer: Locker and Riley,Training Provider: College of North West London) and Deniss Fridenbergs (Employer: Brian Horn Plastering, Training Provider: Carlisle College)

Apprentice of the Year – Interior Systems
Winner – Zara Dupont (Employer: Sparta Systems, Training Provider: Leeds College of Builiding)

Runners up – Ben Comerford and Michael Aarons (Employer: Measom Dryline, Training Provider: Buttercups Training)

British Gypsum Trophy
Now Get Qualified

Saint Gobain Formula Trophy
K L Langton Decorative Plasterwork

Colleges and Independent Training Providers (large)
Winner – NPTC Group of Colleges
Runner up – College of North West London

Colleges and Independent Training Providers (small)
Winner – DMR Training and Consultancy
Runner up – Carlisle College

FIS Member Training Programme
Zentia

Mentor Award
Ben Kerslake – CarringtonLime Heritage Skills CIC

Lifetime Achievement Award
Dave Radley – DMR Training and Consultancy

Our thanks go to our awards and event sponsors British Gypsum, Formula, The Plaisterers Charity, CITB and STEPs.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended to Government that just eight occupations across the whole economy should be on the Shortage Occupations List (SOL) going forward, including three in construction (bricklayers and masons; roofers, roof tilers and slaters; and construction and building trades not elsewhere classified).

The reason cited is:

“Whilst respondents provided evidence of shortage, there was insufficient evidence provided by stakeholders about measures that had been taken to try to attract more workers. The occupation is of clear public value but attempts to fill the shortages should be made by the industry with the tools available, such as efforts to increase direct employment, creating attractive terms and conditions and benefits packages, and using the existing SW route. Only if these attempts are made but do not solve shortages, should the SOL be considered as a next step.”

However, the MAC is calling on Government to confirm whether or not the Skilled Worker route should be expanded to include low‐wage RQF 3 occupations in order to determine the future of the SOL.

In what would be a significant change of policy, the MAC proposes that the SOL should be either abolished or heavily reformed if Government does not support such occupations being included, in order to meet the demand for labour whilst ensuring that low‐wage workers are protected. The CLC is currently considering its response to the MAC report.

Commenting on the recommendations FIS CEO stated:

“At this stage these are only recommendations and I hope that Government show a bit of pragmatism and leadership.  The reality is that they have only just, in August!, added key trades like Dry Lining and Plastering to the Shortage List following consultation at the start of the year.   We are moving in to farcical terriotory here, not much is going to have changed in six weeks!! 

It is true that there are serious shortfalls in construction training, but they are not limited to construction.  Apprenticeship targets have been missed then removed across the economy as employers are being stifled by educational policy that just isn’t fit for purpose –  the fact Government have trousered £4.3 billion of unclaimed apprenticeship levy is testament to this.

This is compounded in construction by procurement practices that only encourage shortermism and don’t reward vital things like investment in training.  It would be more helpful for MAC to focus on the shortages and needs and Government look inward to encourage reform in education and support for training or as construction picks up the rapant wage rate inflation in wake of cronic shortages will mean construction works and vital investment in the UK will be jeopardised.”

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