by Clair Mooney | Jul 21, 2023 | Main News Feed
To help keep tabs on wage rate inflation, FIS launched in 2021 The FIS Wage Rate Index. The aim of this work is to support contract negotiations and to help track the impact of labour shortage on the cost breakdown of projects.
The survey is conducted every six months and FIS is asking all contractor members to take part. Data is published as a price index to allow for regional rate variations and all company specific data is managed in the strictest of confidence. The survey covers core trade roles, labourers, apprentices and construction and site managers.
THE DETAILED RESULTS OF THE SURVEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY TO CONTRBUTORS.
You can complete the survey via the link here. The survey will close on 21 August 2023. If you cannot complete, please share the link with the person in your business who can.
Your support is, as ever, appreciated.
by Clair Mooney | Jul 20, 2023 | Main News Feed
The CPA has produced its response to the Independent Review of the Construction Products Testing Regime by Paul Morrell OBE and Anneliese Day KC. This latest briefing paper outlines how the CPA intends to respond to this report, as well as working with the government moving forward.
The DLUHC-commissioned report sets out recommendations for industry and government alike to improve and strengthen the testing regime for construction products. The uptake of its recommendations will be hugely consequential for safety and improved performance outcomes in construction.
The CPA is asking the government to help address some of the complex challenges facing the construction products industry currently. There are many interrelated issues that we hope can be addressed off the back of this report.
Asks include:
- That government should respond and support the recommendations listed in the Paul Morrell OBE and Anneliese Day KC Independent Review of the Construction Product Testing Regime, including uptake across industry of the Code for Construction Product Information
- That government should work with industry to action its recommendations and create a shared roadmap for practical progress, including what constitutes a ‘safety-critical’ product
- That government move to address and give clarity to the CA Mark issue, ahead of the June 2025 deadline.
by Clair Mooney | Jul 19, 2023 | Building Safety Act, Main News Feed
Following recent changes to the Building Safety Act, FIS has updated its Product Process People Risk Register to support members with compliance.
The FIS PPP Risk Register gives people a structured framework to interrogate project risk based on a assessment of severity and probability of a risk occurring. The standard scoring system helps members to identify any unacceptable high risks and ensure management strategies are put in place to address. The tool also helps a management team to assign risk correctly and contains a range of links to additional tools and information that will help support specific risk management.
FIS CEO Iain McIlwee said: “A large part of our work centres on interrogating and helping members to manage day to day problems they may encounter, risks. This is a moving and evolving space. Our tool helps us to ensure that we are learning lessons and that members are alert to where problems may appear,
Risk is unescapable in any construction project, but at times we can feel so beset by risk that we become indifferent to it. It is vital that as an industry we get better at measuring, managing and mitigating. This simple tool is built on the premise that if you can’t measure it or didn’t think about it, you can’t manage it. It aims to help people to score risks. The underlying principle is that is that we can all learn from our own mistakes, but it is better learn together and avoid learning the hard way wherever possible.”
The FIS PPP Risk Register is available for members to download here
by Clair Mooney | Jul 13, 2023 | Main News Feed
The Cabinet Office is consulting on the secondary legislation required to implement the new public procurement regime set out in the Procurement Bill, including the financial thresholds that will mean contracts need to comply with the regime. The deadline for responses is Friday 28 July.
This is a technical consultation, split into two parts. This first part of the consultation refers predominantly to areas of the Bill which require lists, calculations or further definitions to be used in practice. Questions seek to understand to what extent the draft secondary legislation provisions implement the policy intent as established in the Bill.
The closing date for Part 1 of the consultation is 28 July 2023.
Part 2 of the consultation is expected to launch in July 2023.
by Clair Mooney | Jul 13, 2023 | Main News Feed
The FIS team have been hard at work and achieved some brilliant results across out Technical, Business Development, Skills and Training, and Lobbying efforts. Here’s a short look back at Q2 of 2023
Key technical work
- Update to workmanship on construction site standards – design and installation of drylining systems (the working group for BS8000 Part 8 was chaired by Technical Director)
- Working with Imperial college and the Steel Construction Institute testing the impact of building
- FIS announces updated vetting process aligned to Common Assessment standard
- Surveyed drylining and ceiling market for Autumn report
Business support and guidance
Lobbying and representation
- FIS invited to join the new Home Building Skills Partnership Sector Panel (chaired by Matthew Pratt, CEO Redrow)
- FIS responds to consultation on measuring embodied carbon and carbon leakage
- FIS met with senior members of Build UK and the Bank of England on a roundtable discussion on prospects and forecasts for UK construction (with input from the FIS Q1 State of Trade survey)
- FIS joins the RICS Conflict Avoidance Coalition Steering Group
- FIS responds to Government consultation on payment and retention overhaul
- FIS responds to RICS consultation on Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment
- FIS takes a lead role in the new HSE campaign about the hidden dangers associated with asbestos
Skills and training
Key Events
- Contractors Awards Lunch – record attendance
- Industry Days – Commercial Fit-Out and D&B and Housebuilding
- Scottish regional event
- FIS Technical team active at a number of workshops / events at Clerkenwell Design Week
- FIS supported the Construction Industry’s ‘Inspiring Change’ Conference and Awards
- FIS Technical Director delivered a speech at the Fire Safety Event at the NEC
Download this document Q2 2023
by Clair Mooney | Jul 12, 2023 | Building Safety Act, Main News Feed
Ahead of the next phase of the building safety regime coming into effect from 1 October, Build UK has updated its guide and timeline to reflect the regulations and supporting guidance that have recently been published. Changes in the July 2023 version of the guide, which is supported by the CLC, include:
- Clarifying the definition of a Higher‐Risk Building
- A link to the guidance on Key Building Information (KBI), which can now be submitted as part of the registration process for High‐Rise Residential Buildings
- Updated information on the new building control framework
- New guidance on Planning Gateway One and confirmation that hospitals and care homes are excluded from the requirements
- An updated link to guidance on the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.
To ensure businesses across the supply chain are aware of their responsibilities under the new regime, Build UK is sharing its guide through Building Magazine. In an article published yesterday, Build UK Chief Executive Suzannah Nichol explained: “We believe that helping the whole supply chain to see the bigger picture will make it easier for everyone to understand where they fit in and what their responsibilities are…No one company or organisation can do this alone. We talk a lot about collaboration and this really does need a combined effort from Team Construction.”
