by Clair Mooney | 25 Mar, 2021 | Skills
FIS Associate Member DMR Training has secured government National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) funding for the insulation sector in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Sheffield City regions.
Based in Greater Manchester DMR is a construction training provider and has access to full funding to cover assessment in NVQ Level 2 in Insulation and Building Treatments. A number of pathways exist within this qualification including internal, external wall, cavity wall and loft insulation, all of which qualify for CSCS Skilled Worker ‘blue and ‘gold’ card applications. Funding makes these qualifications free of charge to FIS members.
DMR specialises in onsite NVQ assessment and has been helping construction industry workers gain vocational qualifications and CSCS cards since 2013. DMR Managing Director Dave Radley said, “When I set the company up eight years ago, it coincided with the start of the original Green Deal. We started to deliver qualifications within this area immediately as we felt that it was an important shift in the way the industry works and the effects on the economy. However, it never really took off as expected and demand simply wasn’t there, and government stopped supporting the scheme in 2015. I am delighted that the government is now supporting a green recovery and the retrofit of energy efficiency measures. The ten point plan for a green industrial revolution shows just how serious government are about making it happen this time.”
Dave went on to say, “We want to play our part in building back better, supporting green jobs and contributing to the goal of net zero. We’re looking forward to working with FIS members and helping them gain the qualifications they need for their business to be involved.”
This funding is no longer available but visit www.dmr-training.co.uk for more information
For more information on this and other funded training offers visit www.thefis.org/membership-hub/memberbenefits/member-benefits-training/training-offers-for-members/nvq-training-offers/
by Clair Mooney | 25 Mar, 2021 | Skills
Following the reopening of schools and colleges, the Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that on‐site training can resume for students of all ages in the following further education (FE) settings if a provider follows the operational guidance:
- Sixth form colleges
- General FE colleges
- Independent Training Providers (ITPs) ‐ defined as organisations that receive Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) formula funding for the provision of 16 to 19 education
- Designated institutions
- Adult and Community Learning Providers (ACLPs)
- Special post‐16 institutions.
All FE providers should continue to follow pre‐COVID‐19 guidance for adult students and “judge the right balance between on‐site and remote delivery in order to provide high quality education and training”. Apprenticeship providers should also read the current apprenticeships guidance, which confirms that FE apprentices may now return to training and assessment in educational settings, in addition to the training and assessment that is currently permitted in the workplace where the apprentice cannot work from home and the workplace is COVID‐19 secure.
There has not been any further guidance issued about resuming face‐to‐face training in the workplace, and companies will need to determine if any training required can be undertaken remotely or is essential at this time, as they may be required to explain how they are complying with current restrictions.
Visit the FIS Skills Hub here to find out about our network of Approved Training Providers
by Clair Mooney | 23 Mar, 2021 | Skills
In response to various feedback, CITB has confirmed the introduction of a revised grace period to Site Safety certificates. This will provide support to delegates who are unable to access a Site Safety refresher courses, due to the new lockdown measures.
Individuals now have until 30 April 2021 to join a SSSTS or SMSTS refresher course if their current certificate expires after 1 October 2020. Any delegate whose certificate expired before the 1 October 2020 and does not attend a refresher course before 31 January 2021, will be required to join a full SSSTS or SMSTS course, rather than the refresher equivalent. Find the centres delivering remote refresher training here.
If your organisation is struggling to get places on courses please let us know via info@thefis.org and if the numbers are high enough FIS will request a further extension to these dates on behalf of members.
by Clair Mooney | 18 Mar, 2021 | Skills
The cap on apprenticeship starts for small employers will be reset to zero from April 2021. It means that any non-levy paying business can start up to 10 new apprentices from 1 April 2021 regardless of the number they currently employ. The cap will be kept under review during the next financial year.
Non-levy-paying businesses have been capped on the number of apprentices they can put through the digital apprenticeship service since January 2020 – starting with a limit of three before increasing to 10 in July – to ensure the overall apprenticeships budget is not overspent. The digital service was launched in April 2017 but was only for levy-paying employers to manage and spend their apprenticeship funding. Small employers will fully transition onto the service next month, meaning that all apprenticeship starts must now go through the system rather than procured non-levy contracts held by training providers.
Announcing the cap reset, the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) head of apprenticeship operations Jason Poole said: “The cap is there to help with the overall spend controls that we need to have in place for the whole apprenticeship programme. As we’ve moved away from individual provider contracts, we still need a way to be able to monitor and manage the flow of funding. As we are now moving from the beginning of next month to have all new starts on the service, I am really pleased to confirm that from 1 April, we will be resetting that total. There are quite a lot of employers now who have started to use those reservations and an increasing number that have got up to their limit of 10.”
Apprentice “reservations” made by small employers before April which convert to starts beyond next month will not count in the new 10 pot. As Poole pointed out, the cap was first imposed owing to concern that the amount of money not being spent by levy payers wouldn’t be enough if the government allowed small employers to have as many starts as they wanted. But, in the past year starts have dropped dramatically across England because of the pandemic and the overall apprenticeships budget is expected to be underspent this year.
ESFA also announced that the reservation period for employers who do not pay the apprenticeship levy is being extended from three to six months from 1 April 2021. This means that these employers will be able to reserve funds up to six months before an apprenticeship is planned to start.
Have a look at the FIS Apprentice – Guidance for Employers for details of support available for taking on an apprentice. If you would like any further information, don’t hesitate to contact us on 0121 707 0077 or email info@thefis.org
by Clair Mooney | 18 Mar, 2021 | Skills
Hiring an apprentice is a productive and effective way to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. Incentive payments are available to employers, but differ across each home nation.
Wales
The Employer Incentive Scheme in Wales will now run until 30 September 2021. Businesses can claim up to £4,000 (increased from £3,000) for each new apprentice they hire under the age of 25 (for at least 30 hours per week) and to £2,000 for under 30 hours. For workers aged 25 and over, businesses can access £2,000 for each new apprentice they hire on a 30 hour+ and a £1,000 incentive for apprentices working less than 30 hours. Payments are restricted to 10 learners per business and dedicated funding is also available to recruit disabled people and for workers who lost a previous apprenticeship position because of COVID-19.
Scotland
The grant will provide:
- £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
England and Northern Ireland
Employers will receive £3,000 for new employees of any age who start their apprenticeship from 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021. The incentive payment is in addition to the £1,000 employers already receive for hiring an apprentice, aged 16 to 18 years old or under 25 with an education, health and care plan or who has been in the care of their local authority.
Visit the Skills Hub for more information on taking on an apprentice and qualifying your workforce.
by Clair Mooney | 12 Mar, 2021 | Skills
Following discussions with FIS Working Groups a request to change qualifications was submitted to the Standard Setting Body (SSB) for Construction. In order to meet regulatory requirements the SSB must show they have consulted on these proposed changes as widely as possible across all four home nations. All of the changes proposed by FIS Working Groups are in a bid to keep people safe and are:
- Change the National Occupational Standards, Recommended Qualification Structure for Interior Systems level 2 by the addition of COSVR355 v3 Erect fire resisting walls and wall linings. This will provide a fire protection qualification outcome for dryliners.
- Add a new National Occupational Standard for service, maintain and repair of operable partition wall systems, as an option. It has been reported there have been accidents and near misses during these operations, the inclusion of this standard will provide a qualification route for individuals employed in this area. For a copy of the proposed draft standard please contact George Swann on 07553 874838 or email georgeswann@thefis.org
- In response to the Grenfell inquiry and the work on competence, insert under ‘methods of work’ as a requirement of knowledge ‘how fire spreads through a building, how to impede it and protect people and the structure’ to COSVR125, 126, 127, 129, 130, 133, 618, 620, 769, 770 all contained I the Recommended Qualification Structure Interior Systems level 2. By doing this the statement will cascade into all qualification outcomes (academic, trained and competence) derived from these standards thereby giving operatives the required knowledge.
If you agree with these changes please copy and paste the following message and email it to Standards.qualifications@citb.co.uk with the subject header of Interior Systems NOS Changes:
Hello
This message is to show support for the changes requested via FIS Working Groups.
[Insert your normal signature block]
If you disagree with these changes please explain the reason for your disagreement by email using the address above.
If you have any concerns or need additional information or to discuss the above, please don’t hesitate to contact George Swann on 07553 874838 or email georgeswann@thefis.org
