by Clair Mooney | Mar 30, 2023 | Skills
Having interrogated the CITB Construction Skills Network data it’s estimated 266,000 people are employed in the construction occupations of the finishes and interiors sector. To sustain this there’s an Annual Recruitment Requirement of approximately 6052 people per year to 2027. As there are approximately 10,000 organisations working in the sector that’s 1.65 people per organisation, or if every FIS member took on one new entrant per year that would meet one tenth of the estimated requirement. The recent FIS Skills Pulse Survey shows 45.5% of respondents are currently experiencing labour shortages and do not feel there will be any improvement in recruitment for the next 12 months.
It’s certainly no longer feasible to think other bigger organisations with more resource will train enough people to go round. People poaching, the act of tempting or accepting newly qualified individuals away from the organisation that supported the training for a pound or so more, is rife within the finishes and interiors sector. Evidence shows people poaching contributes to a decline in the quality of workmanship as these individuals although qualified often do have the full range of experience needed by the sector and without the ‘safety net’ of the people who trained, coached and mentored them mistakes are inevitable.
Apprenticeships are the employers preferred training and qualification option for new entrants. As an indication here are the figures for two occupations in the sector 2022 to 2023, due to the duration of the training programmes successful achievements are not shown:
| Nation |
Route |
Registration Numbers |
| England |
Interior Systems Installer |
220 |
| Plasterer |
900 |
| Scotland |
Interior Systems |
81 |
| Plastering |
65 |
| Wales |
Interior Systems |
28 |
| Plastering |
121 |
| |
Total |
1415 |
This is approximately 80% of the estimated Annual Recruitment Rate for these two occupations reinforcing the drive needed by employers to ensure there will be enough competent people to complete work coming up through to 2027. If you have never taken on a apprentice there is a raft of free support available from recruitment to funding and the rewards for an organisation can be unlimited. To help decision making have a read of the FIS Apprentice – Guidance for Employers available to download here You will likely be surprised at the options and what is there, free of charge, to help employers.
The current business environment is making it more challenging to invest in the training and qualifications needed to ensure a future workforce for the sector, but if organisations don’t step up now what is it going to be like in the years ahead. Everyone knows investing in training can bring competitive advantages, helping businesses to retain and attract more workers and to ensure they have an upskilled workforce to win new work is a focus for FIS. With increased legislative demands for proof of competence at every occupational level the FIS Sector Guide to Competency Management Plans: https://www.thefis.org/skills-hub/competency/ can help organisations avoid falling foul of the law.
If you are still undecided and would like to talk through taking on a new entrant, general recruitment or upskilling your workforce give FIS a call on 0121 707 0077.
by Clair Mooney | Mar 30, 2023 | Health and Safety, Skills
To help improve standards, CITB in consultation with the industry, has been developing two new online fire safety courses to help improve awareness of fire safety in the workplace. Specifically developed for people working in the construction industry the course aim to provide detailed information on how to keep safe at work.
Fire Safety Awareness in Construction and the Built Environment – is available now as a FREE eCourse:
- Suitable for workers of all levels and occupations
- Basic fire safety awareness in construction and the built environment
You can find out more here.
Fire Safety in Buildings – available in the summer:
- Course created in collaboration with Working Group 2 and Build UK and FIS
- Higher level than first course, providing industry a greater level of knowledge of fire safety in buildings, following the construction stage
- Focuses on key topics such as how legislation and regulations have changed since the Grenfell tragedy
by Clair Mooney | Mar 23, 2023 | Main News Feed, Skills
CITB’s latest Construction Skills Network report highlights that 224,900 workers will be required over the next five years to meet the demands of the construction industry. To help employers tackle the skills shortage of workers across the industry, and to address rising costs, CITB has made changes to its grants from April 2023.
The CITB Grants Scheme is available to all CITB-registered employers and provides financial support for employers who offer construction-specific training to their workforce. Below is an overview of the changes:
- Grant rates doubled for short courses. Employers can now receive up to £240 grant when an individual successfully completes a short course from 1st April 2023.
- Grant rates have been increased to support individuals impacted by the withdrawal of the Industry Accreditation card. Grant rates for specific supervision and management qualifications have increased to £1,250 and £1,500 for achievements from 1st April 2023.
- The grant application deadline has been extended to 52 weeks for all grant types.
You can find out more information on the CITB website at www.citb.co.uk/levy-grants-and-funding/grants-and-funding/what-s-new-in-the-grants-scheme
by Clair Mooney | Mar 17, 2023 | Skills
This week Awarding body NOCN has confirmed that the Installation of Fire Resistant Walls and Linings Qualification will now be available as a Vocational Qualification within the Interior Systems Installers family of qualifications.
This qualification was previously included in the Passive Fire Protection vocational qualification and following a review involving discussions with FIS members and the FIS Skills Board, the organisation has worked with the Association of Specialist Fire Protection and CITB (who are responsible for Occupational Standards in the Construction Industry) to instigate this restructure. The qualification is now an option within the interior system family of qualifications and can be endorsed on the CSCS card, thus helping those working in Dry Lining prove competence in the Installation of fire resistant walls and linings.
The Awarding organisation NOCN has committed to administering the qualification which will be available via NOCN accredited centres: https://trainingcentre-search.nocn.org/ later this year. When the qualification is fully available FIS Approved Training Providers will be advised and members should be able to acquire this qualification with an FIS member discount. In addition CITB will pay the vocational qualification achievement grant of £600 to organisations in scope for the construction industry levy.
Speaking about the these changes, FIS Skills and Training Lead, George Swann stated:
“We appreciate that the qualification landscape can be quite confusing and it is vital that we apply the logic of the way people work to the way that the qualifications are structured. As new competency requirements come in to force aligned to the Building Safety Act, this qualification option will support FIS Members in demonstrating competence in a more onerous compliance environment.”
For information on new competency requirements in the Building Regulations and implementing a Competency Management Plan, click here
by Clair Mooney | Mar 8, 2023 | Skills
Employers can now receive expert advice and support from sector specific networks, as part of the Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) employer network pilot. As well as the local training networks, selected sectors will also be supported making it even easier to find and fund appropriate construction training.
The CITB pilot launched its local training networks in August 2022 with an initial £800,000 investment. With a focus on connecting employers to established and experienced delivery partners, the aim is to help employers recognise their training priorities and the best routes to achieving them. This transformative way of working provides a huge opportunity for employers to not only voice their training requirements, but also play a fundamental role in deciding how funds are used in their local area.
The 12-month local initiative is available to 3,800 levy-registered construction businesses and offered across five locations in England, Scotland, and Wales. One business already reaping the rewards is Aspect Group Services Ltd. The East Anglian business provides various services across roofing, scaffolding, property refurbishment and development, and was informed about the employer network pilot through the Norfolk Construction Training Group (NCTG).
Katie Laws-Chapman, Aspect Group Services Office Manager, said: “Initially we were hesitant, as we were accustomed to claiming training back from CITB through the usual process. However, through discussions with our contacts at NCTG, we were assured the process would be simple and we would have greater benefits due to the wide scope the employer network covered. As we are a mix of site-based operatives and office-based staff, we were able to request support for a wider variety of courses than previously possible. It was very beneficial to be able to combine both sets of training requirements for our staff through the employer network.”
FIS is working with CITB to involve the Fit Out and Interiors Sector Training Group (FISTG). If you need any information advice or guidance on claiming funds for training please contact Marie Flinter on 07799 903103 or email marieflinter@thefis.org or book a skills and funding clinic here.
by Clair Mooney | Feb 23, 2023 | Skills
To support construction workers to transition from an Industry Accreditation (IA) card to a qualification, CITB is increasing the grant for specific supervision NVQ Diplomas/SVQs to £1,250 and specific management NVQ Diplomas/SVQs to £1,500 for achievements from 1 April 2023 as listed below
| Supervision |
Management |
| Level 3/SCQF Level 6 in Built Environment Design |
Level 6/SCQF Level 10 in Construction Site Management |
| Level 3/SCQF Level 6 in Construction Contracting Operations – [any subcategory] |
Level 6/SCQF Level 9 in Built Environment Design Management |
| Level 3/SCQF Level 6 in Site Inspection |
Level 6/SCQF Level 9 in Construction Contracting Operations Management – [any subcategory] |
| Level 3 in Surveying, Property and Maintenance |
Level 6 in Senior Site Inspection |
| Level 4/SCQF Level 7 in Construction Site Supervision |
Level 7/SCQF Level 11 in Construction Senior Management |
| Level 3/SCQF Level 6 in Built Environment Design |
Level 6/SCQF Level 10 in Construction Site Management |
CITB registered organisations have been able to claim £600 for each trade vocational qualification (VQ’s) completed for PAYE and LOSC people. Organisations can claim this regardless to whether they meet the construction industry levy threshold and pay the levy, you just need your CITB registration number.
There is an additional £400 for Rainscreen Cladding VQs achieved from 1 April 2022, on top of the usual £600, giving a total grant value of £1,000. There’s £300 for each achievement of a plant related Level 2 VQ unit, up to a maximum of three per individual. The plant VQ unit achievements are also included in the cap of four Level 2 achievements per individual e.g., Interior Systems VQ’s for Dryliner can include, Fixer plus Boarder plus Finisher plus Fire resistant wall installer making four level 2 ahievements.
The Construction Skills Certificate Scheme (CSCS) has announced its plan to move all Industry Accreditation (IA) cardholders to a recognised qualification. You can find more information on the withdrawal of Industry Accreditation by visiting the CSCS website here.
If you need any help to secure funds for the training you provide for employees have a look at the FIS web site: Skills and Funding or give Marie Flinter a call on 0121 707 0077 or email marieflinter@thefis.org
