With the Milburn report highlighting that “too many young people now leave full‐time education with little or no direct exposure to working environments”, one of the best ways to help the next generation take that first step from the world of education into the world of work is by getting involved in Open Doors. 2027 will see a new, more flexible format to enable events to take place throughout next March, providing more opportunities for sites and workplaces to take part and showcase what our industry has to offer.

Open Doors has a proven track record, with 81% of visitors in 2026 stating they would be more likely to consider a career in construction and a number of them going onto secure a role within the industry. In addition to recruitment, the benefits of getting involved include developing relationships with local schools and colleges and sourcing candidates for work experience and placements.

Events for Open Doors 2027 can be listed on the Open Doors website from Monday 5 October, and further information can be found in Build UK’s latest Open Doors update.

The Government has published its latest progress report on implementing the recommendations from the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. It confirms that another nine of the 58 recommendations have been completed, making 28 in total, with all of them expected to be implemented by the end of 2029 including those that require legislation.

The latest progress report, delivered by new Building Safety Minister Baroness Blake of Leeds CBE, highlights that the Building Advisory Committee and Fire Safety Working Group are now both fully operational and that £13 million has been made available to UK higher education institutions to help develop the next generation of fire engineering professionals. The Interim Chief Construction Adviser, Thouria Istephan, has also published a final report ahead of the end of her 12‐month term, setting out how she has supported building safety reform and the development of the permanent Chief Construction and Scientific Adviser role.

With a number of the Inquiry’s recommendations focused on reforming building control, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has written to all local authorities highlighting plans to strengthen local building control services, which include new funding to address workforce shortages and reforms to how local authorities charge for building control work.

The skills shortage in the Finishes and Interiors Sector isn’t going away and addressing it will take a more joined-up, practical approach across our industry. That’s exactly what we’re working to deliver.

FIS has partnered with The Skills Centre to run a series of Skills Bootcamps designed to produce job-ready individuals who are trained, motivated, and ready to start work immediately.

Each candidate completes an intensive four-week programme, developed with industry input, combining hands-on training with the core practical skills required for dry lining and interior fit-out roles.

How you can get involved

We’re now looking for employers to support the next stage by helping these candidates transition into the workplace. You’ll be fully supported in structuring your involvement.

We’re seeking employers who can offer:

• Interviews
• Two-week work placements
• Job opportunities

What you’ll gain

• Early access to motivated, entry-level talent with relevant training
• A direct pipeline into your workforce
• Support in meeting social value and local employment commitments

When

You can visit and get involved during the following dates:

• 12 – 16 October at the Build East Skills Centre – Bassett Lane, Stratford, London, E9 5EN

This is a great opportunity to see the training in action, understand the process, and meet potential future employees.

We’re aiming to roll this model out more widely across the UK but its success depends on industry engagement.

If not you, who?

We need to build the workforce our sector needs – together.

If you’re interested in attending, or would like to learn more, please contact Marie at FIS marieflinter@thefis.org

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has published a new remediation toolkit to support better quality remediation applications at Gateway Two.

The toolkit highlights common issues seen in remediation applications and sets out practical steps for applicants to follow before submitting an application to make sure all the required information is included.

You can access the toolkit here.

An Industry Task and Finish Group convened by CLC Building Safety Group, Portfolio 4: Building Occupation and industry technical experts BIM in Asset Management are pleased to announce the publication of their guidance regarding the Occupied Sector’s expectations for accurate, trustworthy and complete packages of building information on completion of all projects that are deemed construction work or building work.

The Guidance relates to delivery of all building related information on completion of all projects, regardless of size or complexity, ie: whether regarding a large new build development, a refurb/retrofit or small replacement project. It relates to all types of building, both commercial and residential.

In excess of 100 representatives (including FIS) contributed to the document, reaching consensus on some detailed recommendations to provide guidance and assistance, in particular to Construction Clients and their supply chain in order to be able to deliver the quality of information now needed on conclusion of any project, by those operating buildings for their, perhaps 50 years + operational life.

The guidance will help owners and their suppliers to operate buildings with greater safety and more efficiently and effectively. Users of the guide are anticipated to include for example  [Principal] Accountable Persons, Building Control officers, Managing Agents, Building and Facility Managers and of course Residents. Accurate and complete building information is, in itself, regarded as a valuable asset to financiers, insurers and regulators. Lack of good building information is now being seen as a potential negative influence in value and could hinder future transactions.

It provides those who will be the recipients of the information clear guidance on specifying what they will need and what they should and should not accept; and sets out expectations on those providing the information to inform and support their client in achieving an appropriate hand-over of quality assured and trustworthy building information before concluding any project.

Public Consultation opened on 2 September 2026 and will close midday 16 October 2026.

The widest possible commentary is requested from stakeholders involved in design, construction and the occupied phases of a buildings’ lifecycle. In order to provide your views and take part in this consultation please go to: https://www.bim-in-am.com/as-built/.

Chair of the T&F Group Anthony Taylor stated

“This a significant contribution to getting the right information to the right person at the right time  – effectively setting out expectations across the built environment to deliver accurate and trustworthy information to those who operate the buildings at the end of each and every project. We believe this will also support the accuracy needed for collation of accessible and accurate electronic information. The work will continue to determine ‘How’ can information of the appropriate quality and content be collated, and by whom” He added “ if anyone wishes to offer their expertise and insight to phase two of this work – please notify us via the consultation process and ensure you provide a contact email for us to respond”.

From 1 October 2026, liability for right to work checks will be extended to include sub‐contractors, agency workers, and casual and temporary workers, and the Government has published guidance setting out what employers need to do to be provided with a ‘statutory excuse’ against extended liability if found to be employing someone illegally.

Under the new guidance, employers must have the following in place for workers who they are not in a direct contractual relationship with

• Contractual terms and conditions – Before work commences, there must be a written statement in place incorporating a number of specific terms and conditions, which include requiring the other party to carry out prescribed right to work checks on any individual employed and prohibiting further sub-contracting of the work without prior written consent.
• Substitution controls – Where a contract permits substitution, processes must be in place to ensure that a prescribed right to work check is carried out on any substitute before work takes place.
• Identity verification – There must be proportionate systems to ensure that the individual carrying out the work is the same individual on whom a right to work check has been conducted, which may include workplace passes, facial recognition technology or biometric systems.

There are a number of options available for ensuring individuals are legally entitled to work in the UK, and employers conducting right to work checks in accordance with the guidance will receive a statutory excuse, which protects them from liability in the event that they are later found to be employing someone illegally. Without a statutory excuse, employers face significant penalties, which could be up to a maximum of £60,000 per worker.