by Oscar Venus | 8 Aug, 2025 | Skills
FIS are working with NCC Bircham Newton to deliver the Interior Systems Installer Apprenticeship – Ceilings pathway and Drylining pathway to be delivered at the CITB National Construction College.
With a proposed start date of 3 November 2025, the application deadline would need to be no later than the 22 September 2025.
Information for employers:
Programme outline:
- Start date: 2025 (TBC)
- 24-month programme
- 9 x 2-week immersive training blocks delivery by industry experts
- Workplace coaching sessions every 10 weeks support you and the apprentice to implement their new skills and knowledge
- 3-month end point assessment window includes a knowledge test and practical observation and questioning
Full details of the standard can be found here: Interior systems installer / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.
- If you have an apprentice already can you get them to apply here: CITB apprenticeship application form – CITB (complete mandatory boxes only no need for personal statements etc.)
- If you are currently recruiting an apprentice, please remember the Maths and English requirements are:
- GCSE 3-9 (old D-A)
- Functional Skills L1 or L2.
About the CITB National Construction College:
We’ve been delivering apprenticeship and commercial training programmes for almost 60 years. Our programmes are designed and delivered by industry experts. We will train over a thousand apprentices across our sites in 2024-25, and over 11,000 commercial learners.
Our apprenticeship programmes are high performing:
- 86% retention rate
- qualification achievement rates above the sector average
- 98% End Point Assessment pass rate
- 94% of apprentices stay in the sector
- 84% of apprentices secure promotion
Practical experience led by industry experts is integral to our learning approach. We have extensive land reflecting a real-life construction site and ample indoor space enabling learners to engage in hands-on practice every step of their apprenticeship journey.
Our employers and learners comment positively on our block training delivery: we immerse apprentices in a construction environment to quickly and efficient develop new knowledge and skills. Apprentices return to your workplace focussed and ready to put their new knowledge and skills into practice.
Our apprenticeship programmes are residential with great wrap around support for the learner:
- Individual ensuite rooms
- New restaurant
- Wide range of activities at our Social Hub
- State of the art Gym
- Welfare Team onsite until 11:30pm providing group and individual support
- 24-hour security
- Transfers from Kings Lynn train station to make travel arrangements as easy as possible
What to expect from us:
- Help to decide if an apprentice is right for your business, signposting you to other options where it isn’t
- Support, advice, and encouragement, every step of the apprenticeship journey
- Dedicated account management, completing any necessary paperwork and helping you access government and CITB funding for apprenticeships
- Industry expert trainers, delivering immersive training to help apprentices gain new skills quickly and efficiently
- Visits every 10 weeks from our Apprenticeship Development Coaches (ADC) to help you and your apprentice put their new skills into practice in the workplace
- Wrap around welfare support, enabling apprentices to thrive and remain focussed and committed to their apprenticeship
For employers in England, apprenticeships are fully funded:
- Non-apprenticeship levy paying companies under £3m PAYE: If the learner is under 22 years old, the apprenticeship will be fully funded with no cost to your company (over 22 the cost for the training will be £700)
- Apprenticeship levy paying companies over £3m PAYE: Your government apprenticeship levy funds will be used to pay for the apprenticeship in full
- This funding covers the cost of training and end point assessments
CITB Registered Companies can claim the following CITB grant (per apprentice):
An additional £2,000 is payable for individuals undertaking the Interior Systems Installer apprenticeship:
- £1,000 paid with first quarterly attendance payment (13 weeks)
- £1,000 paid with the final quarterly attendance payment
If you are interested, please get in touch with Marie Flinter (marieflinter@thefis.org ) or Beena Nana (beenanana@thefis.org)
by Oscar Venus | 17 Jul, 2025 | Skills
FIS is pleased to highlight the CITB Employer Networks, a funded initiative designed to make it simpler for construction employers to access the training and support they need, now and for the future.
What are Employer Networks?
Employer Networks bring local employers together to identify training needs, shape funding priorities, and ensure effective delivery. Funded by CITB, they take the headache out of applying for support, with no paperwork required from employers, the Networks handle it all.
Why get involved?
-
Simplified access to training & funding – whether it’s trade skills, net zero, digital skills, or mentoring.
-
Local empowerment – employers directly inform CITB of their real-world training needs.
-
Future-focused – helping close skills gaps in emerging and critical areas.
Proven Results
Since its pilot in July 2022, the Employer Networks initiative has already supported more employers to access training and receive meaningful support.
If you’d like to learn more about how the CITB Employer Networks can help your business, contact Marie Flinter at: marieflinter@thefis.org
by Oscar Venus | 17 Jul, 2025 | Skills
FIS is supporting Open Doors 2026 and the Countdown has begun. The Week, organised by BuildUK, provides a unique opportunity for young people and those looking for a change of career to go behind the scenes of our industry and see the wide range of roles available. Open Doors events will be hosted at sites across the UK from Monday 23 – Saturday 28 March! Can you make your site available and use it to engage and showcase the amazing opportunities that construction can offer?
The new Construction Skills Mission Board, which has been established by Government to tackle the industry’s skills shortages, is aiming to recruit an additional 100,000 construction workers a year by 2029, and Open Doors is one of the most effective ways to showcase the sector and what it has to offer.
After a record 7,000 visitors this year, we are looking to build on that success in 2026 and we need your support to do it! You can all inspire the next generation to choose a career in construction by opening your sites, offices, manufacturing facilities and training centres, and more information can be found in the latest Open Doors update.
by Oscar Venus | 11 Jul, 2025 | Skills
Recently, FIS STEM Ambassadors had a virtual catch-up via Teams with GoConstruct (CITB) to explore ways of inspiring the next generation to consider careers in construction.
Topics Covered:
- How to find an activity on the STEM portal
- How to create an event
- How to add STEM Ambassador status to your profile
Did you know? GoConstruct provides a range of materials and resources to support events that promote careers in construction – perfect for your school visits or community engagement.
Changes to the STEM portal are on the horizon. Another catch-up will be arranged soon to walk you through the updates.
Regular Coffee Chats (Teams meetings) will be hosted by GoConstruct for all registered STEM Ambassadors – a great chance to share ideas and experiences.
Want to Get Involved?
If you’re interested in becoming a STEM Ambassador and representing FIS to help inspire young people to join our sector, please contact:
Marie Flinter – marieflinter@thefis.org
Upcoming Enrolment Webinars:
Thursday 17 July | 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Tuesday 19 August | 1:00 – 2:00 PM
These sessions will guide you through the registration and help you get started.
by Clair Mooney | 7 Jul, 2025 | Skills
FIS has partnered with Construction People Solutions (CPS) to deliver specialist e-learning developed by construction experts, with many courses eligible for CITB grant funding.
The new Modern Site Culture course – available to FIS members for just £10 – focuses on improving safety, inclusivity, and communication on site. It’s fully grant-eligible, with a £60 CITB grant per attendee, delivered via the first e-learning platform to integrate CITB grants.
FIS is working closely with CPS to develop targeted, occupation-specific training – such as a new Manual Handling for Drylining cours – designed to address the real-life risks of this physically demanding task. In conjunction, FIS is actively lobbying CITB to grant-fund this manual handling e-learning and other relevant courses.
FIS members can access Modern Site Culture with a 50% discount using code MSC2025 at checkout.
Learn more and sign up here: Construction People
by Clair Mooney | 1 Jul, 2025 | Drylining, Skills
FIS has been working with members and colleagues from across the sector to develop the competency frameworks for Drylining and Plastering, which are now available for a 30-day online review and feedback period (30 June to 29 July 2025). This work is being carried out through Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG) Programee, a cross-sector working group, focussing on the development of competence frameworks for the built environment, raising standards. Set up in 2018 as the Competence Steering Group, several competence frameworks have been delivered. With the establishment of the Building Safety Regulator, a structure is in place to allow a focus on broader industry representation, engagement and alignment across multiple competence programmes.
We would encourage members to provide feedback and comments, as these frameworks define the Skills, Knowledge, Experience, and Behaviours essential for the trade. These frameworks will support the development of qualifcations and demonstration of competence in the sector.
Link to the consultations can be found here:
Drylining – citb.welcomesyourfeedback.net/s/AJ25_2DL
Fibrous Plastering – citb.welcomesyourfeedback.net/s/AJ25_3FB
There are also webinars, which CITB will host to go through the frameworks and how they have been developed, links to these can be found below:
Fibrous Plastering 15 July 2025, 2pm – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1423415206199?aff=oddtdtcreator
Drylining webinar 16 July 2025, 2pm https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1431668612359?aff=oddtdtcreator
For more information on the Competence Frameworks click here
