by Oscar Venus | 23 Jan, 2025 | Main News Feed, Skills
National Apprenticeship Week will take place between 10 – 16 February 2025 and the theme for this year has been unveiled as Skills for Life, reflecting on how apprenticeships can help individuals to develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career, and businesses to develop a talented workforce that is equipped with future-ready skills.
FIS is proud to show its support this campaign that highlights the boundless possibilities that can stem from apprenticeships. We are committed to promoting the week and assisting all FIS members in their efforts to do the same. This year’s theme, “Skills for Life,” is a perfect opportunity to showcase the exceptional work done by our sector in training the next generation.
The week will focus on the benefits apprenticeships can have on individuals, businesses, and local communities. We are calling on employers, training providers, individuals and communities to get involved by encouraging everyone to consider how apprenticeships can help to provide #SkillsForLife.
From virtual career fairs, myth busting talks, graduation ceremonies through to factory tours, the week has something for everyone. You will hear personal stories from apprentices and employers about their own journeys and experiences and why apprenticeships provide #SkillsForLife. We are keen to celebrate the diversity and value that apprenticeships bring to employers, apprentices and communities across England.
To support National Apprenticeship Week 2025 individuals, employers, training providers and communities can get involved by encouraging everyone to consider how apprenticeships can help build #SkillsforLife. A toolkit is available to support the apprenticeship community with planning their activity for the week.
You can keep up to date with National Apprenticeship Week updates by following Apprenticeships on LinkedIn and use the hashtags #NAW2025 and #SkillsForLife on social media activity.
To find out more about apprenticeships, visit: www.apprenticeships.gov.uk.
by Clair Mooney | 9 Jan, 2025 | Ceilings, Skills
FIS is working with the National Construction College (NCC) Bircham Newton to deliver the Interior Systems Installer Apprenticeship – Ceilings pathway.
Interior System Installer (Ceilings and Partitions) Apprenticeship
The Interior Systems Apprenticeship (Ceilings and Partitions) has been developed by employers and approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE). The Ceiling and Partitions pathway incorporates different ceiling and partition systems within a building.
Programme outline:
- Start date: February 2025 – (dates are flexible)
- 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
National Construction College are also able to offer:
- Meet (virtual or face to face) with members to discuss and shape the programme in greater detail
- Set up a Webinar where NCC can share a virtual tour of Bircham and its facilities and answer any questions
- Facilitate a site tour of Bircham in person to any members and/or potential apprentices
If you are interested in taking on apprentices in this subject, or would like to find out more, please get in touch with marieflinter@thefis.org
To find out more about the standard and what the training entails click here.
by Clair Mooney | 9 Dec, 2024 | Building Safety Act, Employment, Skills
The Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG) has announced a comprehensive restructure to enhance competence and safety standards across the built environment. Established in response to the Grenfell Tower Fire and subsequent Hackitt Review, ICSG has now transitioned to become a formal working group of the Industry Competence Committee (ICC) under the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), signalling a strategic shift towards more rigorous industry-wide competence frameworks.
“The new relationship between the ICC and the ICSG is key to transforming the competence of the industry. ICC aims to set expectations for industry and challenge it. The ICSG is where industry can collaborate to meet those challenges. The ICSG also provides the ICC with a clear picture of what industry is doing, feeds back on what challenges industry is facing, and which levers can be pulled to improve competence. We are able to work together on developing solutions and aim to provide clear messages and guidance for the industry and the public about competence,” commented Hanna Clarke, Co-Chair of the ICSG and Digital and Policy Manager at the Construction Products Association.
ICC and the ICSG relationship
ICSG purpose
ICSG was set up to enable culture change in relation to competence across the built environment. It does this by providing the UK built environment industry access to appropriate competencies, so they may safely contribute to the creation and use of built environments and can demonstrate their competence to others.
ICSG structure
The Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG), formerly known as the Competence Steering Group, is Co-Chaired by Hanna Clarke and Gill Hancock, Head of Technical Content at the Association for Project Management.
Under its new chairs, the ICSG has restructured. This will better cover the built environment’s disciplines and support existing work across the industry.
The new structure includes sector-led groups, key topic groups, and working groups. They currently bring together contributions from over 60 professional and trade bodies and 1500 individuals in the built environment, with membership of the sector led groups still growing.
These groups will produce competence frameworks mapped to the BS 8670 series. They will also create guidance and implementation programs to enable culture change in relation to competence across the built environment. Another key role of these groups is to provide forums for industry feedback relating to the understanding of legislation and barriers to its implementation.
ICSG is working with the BSI to create a communications hub. It will be a central repository of all ICSG’s work for the industry to access. More information on this and the competence frameworks will come in Spring 2025.
ICSG’s focus is to keep people safe through competent practices and ethical behaviours throughout the built environment. Central to this is enabling collaboration and ongoing sharing of best practice, learning, and resources to support continuous improvement in industry competence. ICSG closely collaborates with the BSI and its committee CPB/1 – Competence in the Built Environment, contributing to many of the standards that are in development. It also has a strong relationship with the Construction Leadership Council, both with their contributing to the work on competence and in the aim to join up the competence work with the other industry initiatives that the CLC is leading on.
“The ICSG has end to end coverage from construction products to demolition and disposal, including in occupation. By collaborating with both industry and the Building Safety Regulator we believe we can enable real culture change, in relation to competence, across the built environment,” said Gill.
If you are interested in helping shape competence frameworks and guidance within your sector or want to find out more about the ICSG, please contact the relevant sector group lead (see appendix 1).
Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive at FIS, said: “This is the next stage in what is undoubtedly the biggest collaborative effort I have witnessed in construction, apart from the COVID response. It has been both rewarding and encouraging to be involved and take a lead on behalf of specialist trades through the Super Sector work. We have learned so much from this process, and I applaud the visionaries who have led it. Great work has been done within the various disciplines, and the next stage is very much about bringing it together and ensuring that it is peer-reviewed effectively and with empathy by the wider supply chain. This will ensure that as we implement it, it is coordinated, proportionate, and ultimately supports a better construction process.
“We look forward to the next stage of collaborative working and supporting the next iteration of this essential work.”
by Clair Mooney | 5 Dec, 2024 | Skills
FIS and Worshipful Company of Plaisterers have announced the winners of the sector Training Awards at its gala lunch held at Plaisterers’ Hall in London today.
In front of a packed audience at Plaisterers’ Hall, the winners of the 2024 Training Awards were announced and presented by Guest Speaker and TV personality Mark Millar.
The Awards are a collaboration between FIS and The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers to recognise outstanding apprentices and students, and individuals and organisations that have made a lasting contribution to training and development in plastering and interior trades. Also recognised were the Rising Stars of our sector and a Lifetime contribution to skills and training development.
James Minett, Master of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers, said “The Company is absolutely delighted to once again host these prestigious awards in our magnificent Hall. We are very pleased to have once again teamed up with FIS to recognise the achievements of many within plastering and the finishes and interiors sector”.
Commenting on the awards, FIS President Ian Strangward said: “I congratulate all the amazing people shortlisted today. It is a good choice to join this rewarding sector and well done on your achievements to date”
The 2024 award winners are:
Our thanks go to our awards and event sponsors British Gypsum, Saint-Gobain Formula, The Plaisterers Charity and CITB.
by Oscar Venus | 29 Nov, 2024 | Membership, Skills
FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee participated in a roundtable this week with Skills England looking at the New Government’s approach to skills, training and education as it applies to construction. Skills England is a new arms-length body established by Government with the intent to bring together key partners to meet the skills needs of the next decade.
Iain joined a select group of representatives from the Department for Education, Skill England and across construction.
The three key topics covered were:
- Current and future skills gaps – building on the current understanding of skills needs
- Training routes and talent pipeline
- Policy solutions (i.e. What can the government/ employers/ training providers do to address the current and future skills needs?)
Iain highlighted the fundamental challenges employers, particularly SMEs, face when required to invest in skills and the shortcomings of funding in line with the expectation of the level of investment required to make an individual work ready and productive. The failure of the education system to ensure that people leave school with an appreciation of the opportunities available in construction and the demonstrable failure on the current apprenticeship system that means the average UK apprentice is now over 25 and effectively studying for a degree.
All of the points Iain made were drawn from a Policy Position paper that has been agreed with the FIS Skills Board. This has not been published widely as FIS is seeking to collaborate with other specialist organisations to turn it into a cross sector manifesto. If you are interested in seeing a copy and commenting on this working draft, please email Beena Nana: beenanana@thefis.org.
For more information about the FIS kills Board, click here. We are always looking to grow the Skills Board and support for our work in this arena. If you are interested in finding out more, you are welcome to attend the next online meeting scheduled for the 10th December 2024. To receive your invite, please email Beena Nana: beenanana@thefis.org.
by Oscar Venus | 29 Nov, 2024 | Events, Skills
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is pleased to be hosting its next Skills and Training Conference in Wales on January 23.
Following the success of CITB’s Skills and Training Conferences in Manchester and Scotland in 2024, this one-day event in Cardiff is the latest step in a revitalised engagement programme for employers and training providers from CITB’s Customer Engagement team. CITB’s executive team will be there to meet employers, training providers and other industry stakeholders.
The conference will share key information and updates, discuss challenges, and outline how the construction industry can work towards narrowing the skills gap.
Construction companies and employers can find out more about hot topics like the Building Safety Act and Social Value, while receiving one-to-one support on accessing CITB funding and services, including the new Employer Network initiative.
Training providers, meanwhile, will have the opportunity to hear about the industry’s major opportunities and meet construction companies and industry trade federations.
Julia Stevens, Engagement Director Wales, CITB, said:
“We’re extremely excited to announce that the CITB Skills and Training Conference is heading to Cardiff in January. It’s an excellent opportunity for construction companies to find out more about the training and funding available, and to discuss how we can collectively address the skills gap.
“We’re also looking to engage more training providers in this important conversation, strengthening our network and creating a more robust future for everyone involved.”
The Skills and Training Conference Wales will be held at voco St. David’s Hotel, Cardiff on Thursday, 23 January 2025.
