by Clair Mooney | 22 Jul, 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
by Clair Mooney | 22 Jul, 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.
by Clair Mooney | 16 Jul, 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.
by Clair Mooney | 8 Jul, 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.
by Clair Mooney | 7 Jul, 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
by Clair Mooney | 7 Jul, 2021 | Labour, Skills
The Construction Leadership Council has added its voice to other industry representatives including the CBI and the Road Haulage Association calling for a review of the occupations eligible for a visa and an immediate update to the shortage occupations list to include specialist piling rig operators, HGV drivers and others.
Along with other industry sectors, construction is feeling the impact of the new Points Based Immigration System and it is not just core construction skills that are affected. The availability of HGV drivers has been a growing cause of concern and complaints within the CLC’s Product Availability Group, and has clearly worsened to the point that it is now delaying deliveries and inflating costs across the UK.
Parliament’s Transport committee recently heard that the industry faces “a huge challenge of shortages, both in craft and particular skills” and that this shortage will have a greater impact as more major infrastructure programmes get under way. Employers of all sizes are now reporting challenges in employing suitably skilled workers and are calling for the new visa system to accommodate specialist construction workers to help alleviate the shortage in the short term whilst education policies are aligned to support UK workers gain appropriate qualifications and training including apprenticeships.
Whilst exploring the changes required to boost the construction sector workforce the CLC is supporting the Road Haulage Association’s calls to add HGV drivers to the Government’s Skilled Worker Shortage Occupation List and offering a seasonal visa scheme for qualified HGV drivers.
The recent upturn in the economy since the lockdown is increasing demand across supply chains, and the reopening of non-essential retail outlets and parts of the hospitality sector is making the situation more acute. According to the RHA, the UK has lost 15,000 European drivers this year due to Brexit, and 30,000 UK driver tests due to Covid, exacerbating the existing 60,000 driver shortage.
The construction industry is one of the largest users of the UK road network. With Government intervention and support, the sector was amongst the first to return to work during the pandemic; but the resulting sharp increase in activity has made clear an imbalance in supply and demand, including labour shortages.
Construction Leadership Council co-chair Andy Mitchell, said:
“We now have a situation where we believe the Government needs to intervene. Manufacturers, merchants and builders large and small are having products and materials delayed or not delivered, and warn that it is having a knock-on effect on construction schedules and leading to higher build costs. Industry can only take this so far, and as Government is also the largest client of construction services, we trust it will listen to the calls from all sectors to enable timely and appropriate reviews of the new immigration system.”
Suzannah Nichol MBE, CEO of Build UK, said:
“We do not have all of the specialist skills we need for the volume of construction projects underway and those in the pipeline across the UK. The new immigration system is proving difficult to navigate, is costly and actually prevents many of the people with the skills construction needs from coming here to work. By reviewing the eligible skilled occupations and the shortage occupation list we can ease the current pressures, support businesses to grow the economy and keep building faster, better and greener”
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders, added:
“The construction industry cannot be expected to ‘build back better’ when the industry is struggling to access key inputs – be that labour or materials. Small builders are already struggling to hire bricklayers and carpenters. Shortages of HGV drivers to get goods to merchants are now adding to the troubles they face. Clearly what SME builders are experiencing is part of a larger problem, and we hope the Government addresses it with the big picture in mind. The Road Haulage Association’s recommendations are sensible, achievable, and work for both the short term and long term.”
Richard Burnett, Chief Executive at the Road Haulage Association, said:
“We welcome the support of the Construction Leadership Council and the industry it represents. It is our view that there has never been a more challenging time for road haulage. We have strongly urged Government to take these decisive steps to ensure that we can continue to maintain the UK’s integrated and finely balanced supply chains. We certainly encourage the construction industry to ask Government and their local MPs for swift action.”
