Skills Archives - Page 43 of 58

FIS launches free guide to servicing operable walls

by Clair Mooney | 1 Sep, 2021 | Skills

To ensure operable walls are regularly maintained, serviced and repaired, FIS has published a Best Practice Guide, Servicing Operable Walls.

The guide was produced by members of the FIS Operable Wall Working Group which comprises representation from key suppliers of operable walls. This Best Practice Guide is intended to help facility managers and owners of operable walls understand the importance of regular servicing to ensure the correct operation of walls and ongoing safety of everyone. It will also help by identifying the type of wall that has been installed, its performance, sound, fire and robustness, servicing required, and enable users to identify competent service engineers.

Widely used in educational and leisure facilities, offices, exhibition halls and conference centres, moveable walls are often operated by a member of staff or a maintenance crew where damage and undue ware can be caused through not fully understanding the operating procedure or even through incorrect maintenance such as applying grease to moving parts. Furthermore, acoustic integrity can also be compromised due to damaged or poorly working peripheral seals and as a result of a lack of servicing. A good service and maintenance regime, underwritten by a service agreement is key to the wall’s serviceability and the welfare of those operating them.

Commenting on the launch of the guide, Julian Sargent, Chair of the FIS Operable Wall Working Group said:

“The importance of this guide to ensure the ongoing performance and safety of everyone using or working around these walls is paramount. The Best Practice Guide, Servicing Operable Walls will help to identify the competence expected of the engineers and allow facility managers and owners meet their legal obligations.”

With some operable wall panels exceeding heights of 6M and weighing 100kgs to 500kgs, training in working at height and the competence to work with specialist equipment such as chain lifts is important to check and address any health and safety legislation, where the facility team could become liable. Building managers or owners of the business have a responsibility under current health and safety laws to ensure that these systems are properly maintained and recorded as being serviced.

George Swann, FIS Skills and Training Lead added:

“The FIS Operable Wall Working Group employers have developed a National Occupational Standard from which formal qualifications for service, maintenance and repair of operable walls will be derived. To get involved in this work, express your support or to see the details please go to: Interior systems reviews.”

Established in 2015, FIS represents suppliers and contractors in the finishes and interiors sector. Its members are vetted when they join and then every three years. They abide by a code of conduct and agree to carry out work in accordance with the FIS best practice guides.

The free guide is available to download here

Interior Installer Apprenticeship – webinar for employers

by Clair Mooney | 27 Aug, 2021 | Skills

CITB deliver the Interior Installer Apprenticeship; there is availability for Autumn 2021 starts at the Bircham Newton campus, near King Lynn, and further courses are planned for 2022. Two different pathway options are available within this Apprenticeship – Drylining Systems or Suspended Ceiling & Partitioning Systems.

We’d like to invite you to attend an online webinar to find out more about this Apprenticeship. The session will cover the following:

Content of the Apprenticeship – an opportunity to talk through the new Apprenticeship Standard*
Employer requirements – clarification regarding what is expected of you as the Apprentice’s employer
Grants – CITB grants for this Apprenticeship total £8500. We’ll ensure you are accessing these, along with any applicable Government financial incentives
The Apprenticeship experience – including a named Apprenticeship Officer and onsite support, accommodation and food throughout the Apprentice’s block release stay and support with travel costs
An opportunity to ask questions regarding any aspect of the Apprenticeship

* Apprenticeship Frameworks have ceased, all Apprenticeships now follow a Standard, so if you’ve had Apprentices previously through a Framework you may find it useful to attend to hear more about what is covered in the new Standard.
https://lnkd.in/eTHjZfGB
https://lnkd.in/ecQwhZGE

This online webinar will take place on Tuesday 7 September 2021, 11am – 12pm. If you’d like to attend please register through the link below:
https://lnkd.in/e3seyfir

Places available on Interior Systems Installer Dryliner Fixer Boarder Apprenticeship in Leeds

by Clair Mooney | 26 Aug, 2021 | Skills

There are places available on the Interior Systems Installer Dryliner Fixer Boarder Apprenticeship training course starting Monday 27 September 2021 at Leeds College of Building North Street Campus.

This is a block release course. If you are interested contact the college for full details. Applicants must be over 16 years of age (there is no upper age limit), employed and have their employers permission. To apply, visit https://www.lcb.ac.uk/apply-apprenticeship/ and complete the form. If you need more information give the College Apprenticeship team a call on 0113 222 6041.

Setting up a “My Apprenticeship” account

by Clair Mooney | 22 Aug, 2021 | Skills

From 26 August 2021, employers or their training providers must add a unique email address when adding an apprentice record to the apprenticeship service.

Without a unique apprentice email address, employers or their training providers will not be able to save or approve the apprentice record, so funding cannot be allocated. Once the email address is added to the account, the apprentice will receive an email invitation to create a ‘My apprenticeship’ account.

What is a ‘My apprenticeship’ account?

‘My apprenticeship’ accounts are a new service that will improve the onboarding process for apprentices. An account will allow apprentices to:

confirm their apprenticeship details are correct as the apprenticeship starts
access guidance on what is expected of them, their training provider and their employer
access additional support
access and review their apprenticeship details throughout the apprenticeship

It will not impact the apprentice’s start date or apprenticeship funding if the apprentice does not create an account or confirm their apprenticeship details. However, employers and their training providers should encourage their apprentices to complete these tasks to ensure a quality apprenticeship experience.

Key actions

Employers and their training providers need to collect a unique email address for each apprentice they will be adding to the apprenticeship service from 26 August 2021.

Access support

If employers require support using the apprenticeship service, they can watch the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) how-to videos, check the advice on apprenticeships.gov.uk or visit the ESFA help portal. From the help portal they can access help articles, webchat with an adviser, call (08000 150 600) or text (07588 690018) the helpline, or email the ESFA helpdesk.

Talentview – matching great talent with great employers

by Clair Mooney | 19 Aug, 2021 | Skills

Talentview is a platform for talented people to find first jobs, apprenticeships and work experience in construction.

FIS members can now advertise all their opportunities for new entrants, including apprenticeships and work experience, on Talentview Construction, a new dedicated online platform for those looking to secure their first role in construction. Talentview sits alongside the Construction Talent Retention Scheme providing a ‘one stop shop’ for the recruitment and retention of skills across the industry. After calling for an apprentice matching service for a number of years FIS is delighted to welcome the launch of Talentview which should make it much easier for young people to join the industry. Members can register for Talentview now and upload all their ‘first job’ vacancies ready for its full and formal launch in September 2021. This service is free of charge.

Members can also use the FIS JobSpot https://www.thefis.org/jobspot/ to advertise vacancies free of charge.

Fixer Boarder new starters available for work placement NOW

by Clair Mooney | 19 Aug, 2021 | Labour, Skills

Being conscious of the ever-shrinking labour pool available to the finishes and interiors sector, there have been reports of up to 60% labour not being available by some FIS members. FIS is running two projects specifically designed to attract people into the finishes and interiors sector.

FIS BuildBack accepts individuals from a range of backgrounds including HM Forces Career Progression candidates and clients put forward by the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP). To help prepare the candidates for work, each learner receives training in Drylining Fixer, Boarder and are supplied with Personal Protective Equipment, a set of tools and a CSCS Provisional Card. The candidates just need an opportunity to show employers what they can do during a work placement. This may ultimately lead to a full-time work opportunity and will also add new talent to your workforce. All of this is free of charge to employers.

The sector now needs employers to provide a 2 week work placement for these BuildBack candidates. If the individual fits your organisation’s needs, and they are eligible (claiming universal credit) you could transfer them to the governments KickStart Scheme. The scheme provides a grant of £1500 to employers willing to take on individuals for a 6 month work placement and includes payment of the national minimum wage for 25 hours per week.

There are currently 140 people available for work placement including candidates from HM Force Career Progression and the YouthBuild charity. All have received introductory training as Dry Liner Fixer Boarder, a set of tools, PPE, a CSCS Provisional card. Please contact Marie on 07799 903103 or email marieflinter@thefis.org. or Catherine on 07900 083325 or email catherinebullough@thefis.org for details. If you employ any of these people FIS can help their advancement by providing further training as an apprentice or to the achievement of a vocational qualification, all free of charge to the employer.

To find out more about BuildBack click here.