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CITB funds Academy for Construction People’s pilot apprentice programme

by Clair Mooney | 20 Nov, 2020 | Main News Feed

The Academy for Construction people, based in Glasgow, has secured funding from CITB to offer a Specialist Applied-Skills Programme at VQ 2 level (/SCQF Level 5 over the next 18 months. This is a Pilot Training Scheme for 24 trainees in the following occupations; Interior Systems / Dryliner Fixer and Passive Fire Protection. The Academy also supports Programmes for Asbestos Removal and Demolition operatives.

The Academy has the backing of the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP www.asfp.org.uk) and the Finishes and Interior Sector (FIS) www.thefis.org who will work with the Academy to monitor the training standards.

The Passive Fire SAP training will commence in the Training Centre in Nisbet Street, Glasgow on 18 January 2021. Interior Systems/Dry liner Fixer trainees commence training in February/March. The Academy has worked with industry specialists to ensure the integration of training and assessment to meet the requirements of the two qualifications.

Both training programmes will therefore share key technical information so that trainees in each discipline can demonstrate that they understand the need to work collaboratively on site to produce quality work to the required safety standards. Several companies have pledged support for this predominately on-the-job 18-month training programme for both new young entrants and upskilling for existing operatives. On the job assessment is carried out by appropriately trained assessors with proven track records in their trade. All assessment is subject to external verification and mentoring support is given to the trainees on site. The SAP programmes also have the support from the Scottish Specialist Contractors Training Group.

On completion of the 18-month programme, all operatives will have achieved a VQ Level 2/SCQF Level 5 in their area of expertise.

Ian Hughes, CITB Partnerships Director Scotland, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to work with the Academy for Construction People, and look forward to seeing the new Pilot Training Scheme come to fruition in the coming months. At such a crucial time, it provides an excellent opportunity to involve more young people in the sector, while still protecting the existing workforce through chances to upskill.”

ASFP Head of Training Phil Brownhill: “The provision of a formal training and educational route to becoming a competent installer of passive fire protection systems is something that ASFP has consistently supported. We applaud the efforts of the Academy, Avesta Group and ASFP members in Scotland.”

FIS Skills and Training Lead George Swann said, “This is a great opportunity for finishes and interiors sector employer to get their work force qualified. The Academy for Construction People are commended for the work they have done in securing this funding that will directly benefit the sector. As an FIS Approved Training Provider, we fully support this offer and have confidence in the quality of the training provided by the Academy for Construction People.”

Ian Main Chairman of the Academy Steering Group said “This is really good news for the Academy and the Specialist Contracting sector in Scotland and North England.”

Changes to COVID Guidance on Showrooms in England

by Iain McIlwee | 20 Nov, 2020 | Main News Feed

The Government has added further guidance on the closure of non‐essential businesses. The list now includes showrooms for products used in homes, including bathrooms, kitchens and glazing, which should be closed to the public, including where they are located as distinct sections within hardware stores and builders’ merchants. Delivery and click and collect services may continue to be offered. Each business should assess whether they are required to close having considered the regulations as well as the guidance, and Build UK has made the point that changing guidance midway through a lockdown is unhelpful and will have a major impact on businesses and their supply chains.

The updated guidance does not affect construction sites, manufacturers, storage and distribution facilities, or builders’ merchants without showrooms. Tradespeople may also continue to work in people’s homes following the the Safer Working guidance.

You can access the FIS COVID-19 hub here

Level 4 Lockdown in Scotland tightens for tradespeople entering homes

by Iain McIlwee | 20 Nov, 2020 | Main News Feed

Following a discussion with Sharon Miller of Scottish Government, she has advised that Scottish Government has issued further guidance for Level 4 restrictions on construction work in homes. The guidance states:

Tradespeople should only go into a house in a level 4 area to carry out or deliver essential work or services, for example:
to carry out utility (electricity, gas, water, telephone, broadband) safety checks, repairs, maintenance and installations

to carry out repairs and maintenance that would otherwise threaten the household’s health and safety
to deliver goods or shopping
to deliver, install or repair key household furniture and appliances such as washing machines, fridges and cookers
to support a home move, for example furniture removal

When working in someone’s house tradespeople should stay 2 metres apart from the people who live there, wear a face covering and follow good hand and respiratory hygiene.

Visit the FIS COVID-19 hub for the latest updates and information

New rules on furlough and notice periods

by Clair Mooney | 19 Nov, 2020 | Main News Feed

Following the publication last week of HMRC’s guidance on the extended furlough scheme which stated that the government was reviewing its stance on furlough being claimed during notice periods, this section of the guidance has now been updated.

Citation has outlined the key points from this update:

With effect from 1 December, employers will not be able to claim furlough pay for any period where the employee was serving either a contractual or statutory notice period.
Although the new guidance appears in the ‘If you’ve made your employees redundant’ section – the rule seems to apply regardless of how the notice has come about as it specifically includes resignations and retirements.
If an employer has claimed in advance and the employee subsequently starts a notice period on a day covered by the claim, the employer will have to adjust their claim.
It will be irrelevant whether notice of termination was given before 1 December. The critical issue is whether the employee is serving notice, not when that notice was served.

For example, if an employer gives an employee 4 weeks-notice starting on 23 November and ending on 18 December, furlough pay can be claimed for the notice days falling within November but no furlough claim can be made from 1 December for the days when the employee was serving the remainder of their notice period.

Guidance to help business owners manage workspace social distancing

by Clair Mooney | 19 Nov, 2020 | Main News Feed

A new guide that helps business owners understand the needs of its workforce and help plan safe working spaces that enable social distancing and help companies work effectively during the COVID-19 pandemic has been published today.

Entitled “How Business Owners Can Use Partitioning and Ironmongery to Help Manage Social Distancing” it has been created by two of Britain’s leading construction interior trade organisations – the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) and the Finishes and Interior Sector (FIS).

The guide, which calls for changes to the style and layout of traditional open plan offices and other workspaces as a result of the pandemic, provides practical guidance to help business owners understand key considerations they need to make when adapting their workplaces. It aims to provide advice as to how to create the correct solution, addressing the issue of DIY screens that all too often fail to perform properly and can have unforeseen consequences with lighting, ventilation and even escape routes.

The GAI and FIS call the process re-cellularisation – the opposite to creating open plan spaces – and is intended to provide cellular space where social distancing can be provided, where teams can collaborate, and where individuals can find safe concentrated spaces when they are in the office.

“Within less than a year, Covid-19 has impacted every aspect of our lives. We’ve already seen big changes to the way that buildings operate, such as one way systems, and workplaces will need to continue to be responsive as new Government advice is released,” said Douglas Masterson, Technical Manager at the GAI. “Businesses need to protect staff, adhere to social distancing and maintain high standards of hygiene without compromising safety and security.

“This guide will be useful to employers who are looking for proactive solutions. It will help them to identify where measures should be implemented and the types of products that can deliver a safe and secure working environment.”

Cellularisation, as explained in the guide, is the creation of spaces using partitioning, raises several questions which include:

What are my needs?
What else should I consider?
How do I select a partition system?
What are my ironmongery requirements and can I introduce a touch free or antimicrobial solution?
Will I need to control the doors through hold open devices or door automation?
Is there a part that access control and electronic locking can play?
How do I organise the installation?

Performance considerations, including fire resistance of the partitioning and doors, reducing sound transmission and privacy, also must be considered along with the need for increased ventilation which has a substantial impact on reducing viral infections between occupants.

The guide also shows ways in which new partitions can look by using solid, glazed, part glazed and double glazed elevations, and adding blinds or manifestation which can reinforce a corporate identity or add images of outdoor landscapes to the space.

Joe Cilia, Technical Director at FIS, added, “We wanted to produce an accessible and useful guide that can be used by any business to understand how to approach the issue. The flow chart that we produced with the GAI is easy to follow and ensures that any unknown unknowns are dealt with.”

The guide discusses all aspects of partitioning and how employers can sub-divide working space to protect staff, including using the right ironmongery and how to reduce infection via touch points.

The guide can be downloaded from www.thefis.org or www.gai.org.uk/IndustryUpdates

Help shape the Construction Levy

by Clair Mooney | 19 Nov, 2020 | Main News Feed

This year, after speaking to the Prescribed Organisations and some employers, CITB decided that it was inappropriate to run the Consensus process when the external environment was so unstable and uncertain. Their expectation is that, although some COVID-related uncertainty will remain, the external environment will be sufficiently stable to run the Consensus process next year. The final decision will be taken by the CITB Board in February 2021 and before doing so they will seek views from the Prescribed Organisations, which are made up of several trade federations, as well as analysing other economic and industry insights to inform their recommendations to the Board.

In the meantime, CITB has been setting up the Levy Strategy Committee of employers and experts to recommend new Levy Proposals and support a longer term review of the Levy. The committee met for the first time in November, but there is one vacancy for an independent member that isn’t employed by a Levy-registered employer. If you have extensive experience of the industry and you work in an organisation that isn’t a CITB registered employer, please consider joining