by Oscar Venus | 13 Nov, 2025 | Membership, Skills
FIS is encouraging members to get involved with the Go Construct STEM Ambassador Programme, a fantastic opportunity to help shape the future of the Finishes and Interiors Sector and inspire the next generation of talent.
If you’re passionate about supporting young people and promoting careers in construction, this initiative offers the perfect way to make a real difference. By becoming a STEM Ambassador, you’ll have the chance to engage directly with schools, colleges, and communities to highlight the diverse and rewarding opportunities available across the industry.
To help you get started, Go Construct is hosting two upcoming webinars introducing the programme and showing how current ambassadors are already making an impact.
Upcoming Webinar Sessions
Monday 8 December, 11:00–12:00
Thursday 15 January 2026, 11:00
During these sessions, you’ll:
- Be introduced to the STEM Learning platform
- Receive a step-by-step guide to becoming an Ambassador
- Learn how to engage effectively with schools and career events
- Have the opportunity to sign up live and start your journey
Whether you’re completely new to outreach or already active in career engagement, becoming a STEM Ambassador is a great way to build confidence, develop presentation skills, and connect with young people exploring construction as a career.
To register for your preferred session, contact: Marie Flinter – marieflinter@thefis.org
Together, we can inspire the next generation and help secure a bright, skilled future for the finishes and interiors sector.
by Oscar Venus | 31 Oct, 2025 | Events, Skills
FIS is proud to be supporting this year’s SkillBuild National Final, taking place at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes, on 19–20 November 2025, the UK’s largest multi-trade skills competition showcasing the next generation of construction talent.
Visitors to the event can watch top scoring competitors from across the UK compete across multiple trades including Drylining, Bricklaying, Carpentry, Plastering, Painting and Decorating, Wall and Floor Tiling, and Joinery. As the competition unfolds, projects will transform from blank canvases into stunning displays of craftsmanship, skill, and precision.
Construction Showcase: Inspiring the Next Generation
FIS will be exhibiting as part of the Construction Showcase, an interactive experience hub packed with have-a-go activities and live demonstrations designed to inspire young people to explore careers in construction.
Construction Showcase Opening Times
- Wednesday 19 November: 09:00 – 16:00
- Thursday 20 November: 09:00 – 15:00
FIS is inviting members to get involved by supporting the stand with interactive activities or demonstrations that highlight the diversity of skills within the finishes and interiors sector.
If you’re able to contribute, please contact Beena Nana at beenanana@thefis.org by Friday 7 November.
Book your free visitor tickets here
by Oscar Venus | 31 Oct, 2025 | Labour, Skills
FIS is proud to be partnering with The Skills Centre to support a series of Skills Bootcamps and Employment Programmes at training facilities across the UK.
As part of this initiative, The Skills Centre will be delivering an ‘Introduction to Drylining and Insulation’ course designed to equip learners with the essential skills and knowledge needed to take their first steps into the finishes and interiors sector.
Training and Qualifications
Participants will gain a strong foundation in key areas, with courses including:
- Cskills Level 1 Health & Safety
- CITB CSCS Health & Safety Environment (Green Card)
- Level 2 Understanding Domestic Retrofit
- Level 2 Removing Non-Hazardous Waste in the Workplace (Blue Card)
- Environmental Awareness in the Construction Industry
- Introduction to Interior Systems
Introduction to Passive Fire
Note: The specific qualifications delivered may vary based on employer demand at the time of delivery.
This intensive training programme aims to provide practical, hands-on experience that prepares learners for real-world work environments and long-term careers in the interiors sector.
A Call to FIS Members
As part of our ongoing commitment to tackling the industry’s skills shortage and nurturing new talent, FIS is calling on members in the Greater London area to get involved.
Can your business offer work experience, employment opportunities, or apprenticeships to support these new entrants into the sector?
This is a fantastic opportunity to help shape the next generation of fit-out professionals and strengthen the future workforce of our industry.
To find out more or to express your interest, please contact Beena Nana or Marie Flinter at FIS.
by Oscar Venus | 31 Oct, 2025 | Skills
FIS is encouraging members across Scotland to take part in a national review of the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for plastering — a crucial step in ensuring training and qualifications reflect the skills, techniques, and technologies used in today’s industry.
Led by Skills Development Scotland (SDS), this consultation seeks input from employers and industry professionals to make sure the refreshed NOS and future apprenticeship framework truly align with the needs of the plastering sector.
Why Your Input Matters
Your expertise and insight are essential in shaping a framework that reflects real-world practices and supports a skilled, competent, and future-ready workforce.
By getting involved, you’ll help influence the content of training programmes, ensure new entrants are job-ready, and support long-term skills development across the Scottish construction sector.
How You Can Get Involved
SDS is inviting employers and stakeholders to:
- Review and comment on the draft NOS documents
- Attend virtual consultation sessions
- Share feedback on skills gaps, training needs, and industry trends
This work will directly inform the development of a refreshed plastering apprenticeship framework, helping to attract and prepare young people for successful careers within the industry.
To register your interest or find out more, contact:
Jim Johnstone, Development Manager (Construction)
Have Your Say: Help Shape the Future of Plastering in Scotland07929 814289 | jim.johnstone@sds.co.uk
FIS encourages all Scottish members involved in plastering and interior finishes to take this opportunity to contribute their knowledge and help shape the next generation of skilled professionals.
by Oscar Venus | 24 Oct, 2025 | Labour, Skills
The Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has joined a coalition of leading construction and built environment organisations in signing an open letter to the Prime Minister, urging the Government to suspend proposed apprenticeship reforms that risk undermining skills, competence, and safety standards across the sector.
The letter, coordinated by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), expresses serious concern over plans by Skills England to shorten apprenticeship durations to as little as eight months and introduce new assessment methods that could weaken quality assurance and consistency. Industry leaders warn that these reforms could dismantle established routes to competence, erode employer confidence, and threaten the delivery of safe, high-quality construction at a time when the UK faces an ambitious target of building 1.5 million new homes.
FIS Head of Skills Beena Nana, said:
“These reforms represent a race to the bottom at a time when our sector is working harder than ever to build competence, professionalism, and trust. Apprenticeships must be driven by industry – not diluted by process. If we are serious about quality, safety, and long-term productivity, we cannot afford to weaken the very foundation of skills development.”
The coalition is calling for the Government to:
- Suspend the implementation of the proposed apprenticeship reforms.
- Re-establish meaningful collaboration with industry trailblazer groups to ensure apprenticeship standards reflect real workplace competence.
- Align training and assessment approaches with the Building Safety Act and the work of the Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG).
FIS continues to work closely with partners across construction to promote robust training and qualification pathways that ensure every individual entering the sector is equipped with the right skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviours to build safely and competently.
Read the full letter to the Prime Minsiter here
by Clair Mooney | 23 Oct, 2025 | Skills
FIS has continued the expansion of its e-learning offering with the introduction of three new training courses. Tailored to meet the evolving needs of those working in the sector industry, these courses are a valuable resource for those working in the sector to enhance their skills and knowledge.
These development of these new courses reflect FIS’s commitment to fostering professional growth and supporting the continuous development of its members and the wider community.
Estimating
The first course is Estimating training which has been developed to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of the contractual and commercial factors that influence the estimating process within the interiors sector. Whether you’re new to the industry or transitioning into an estimating role, this course will equip you with the essential knowledge needed to support accurate, compliant, and commercially sound estimates.
https://www.thefis.org/skills-hub/training-offers-for-members/fis-training-modules/estimating-training-module/
Specifying Partitioning
The second course focuses on Specifying Partitioning and has been created to highlight and guide learners through some of the key criteria that should be considered when writing a specification for partitions. The course is aimed at Architects, Designers, Acousticians, Specialist partitioning companies, Building managers/end users and all others associated with partitioning specification.
https://www.thefis.org/skills-hub/training-offers-for-members/fis-training-modules/specifying-partitioning/
Drylining Inspection Methods
Our third course is part of our wider campaign to help drive out improper snagging practices of plaster finishes which often results in contractors suffering from delayed and incomplete payments. This course is aimed to educate those carrying out inspections on best practice and the use of correct lighting and range when doing so. It follows current guidance within BS EN 13914-2 which recommends that a plaster finish should be viewed with natural light from either the centre of the room or a two-metre minimum distance.
All courses are freely available to FIS members, and CPD certificates will be issued on completion.
Speaking on the launch of these courses at the AGM on 16 October, FIS President Ian Strangward said:
“FIS is focussed on building skills and competence and key to this is the development of e-learning to support our members and the wider community. Since we launched our e-learning platform in 2024 we have developed seven new courses. The bank of knowledge which FIS has built is impressive, and the transition of this content into e-learning puts guidance into people’s heads. Hundreds of people have accessed our courses so far and we will continue to develop more courses targeting vital interventions, job titles and knowledge gaps””
Click here for more information on how to register on these courses
