Main News Feed Archives - Page 156 of 234

Impact of Covid-19 starts to be revealed as March GDP delivers unprecedented fall in output

by Clair Mooney | 22 May, 2020 | Main News Feed

FIS has teamed up with Barbour ABI to bring members deeper analysis and intelligence on the construction market. This next level of analysis will help members to forecast trends and assist in your business planning.

May’s overview of construction activity

Total contract awards in April were £4.4 billion based on rolling three month average
A30 road development is top project valued at £210 million
Infrastructure contract awards remain above £1 billion

SUMMARY

The impact of Covid-19 starts to be revealed as March GDP delivers unprecedented fall in output of 5.8% contributing to a 2% fall in Q1 GDP.

Download the report here

Phased return welcomed in Scotland – but safety and collaboration is key

by Iain McIlwee | 21 May, 2020 | Main News Feed

The CICV Forum, supported by FIS, has welcomed the first tentative steps announced to get the sector in Scotland back to work – but insists health and safety and collaboration must be at the heart of the phased return. The collective – which includes FIS has been working towards restart with a number of bodies, including the Construction Leadership Forum – commented after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland will begin a process to reopen construction sites from May 28, alongside other measures.

Under the phased return to work, businesses in Scotland will be allowed to resume work on sites, based on a six-point plan which the government has developed with the industry. In her statement today, the First Minister said: “The construction industry will be able to carefully implement steps one and two of its six-step restart plan, which it has developed with us. However, let me be clear, that there must be genuine partnership with trade unions – this can only be done, if it is done safely.”

The six phases are:

Phase zero: Planning. From 28th May (next Thursday)
Phase one: COVID-19 pre-start site prep
Phase two: “Soft start” to site works
Phase three: Steady state operation (only where physical distancing can be maintained)
Phase four: Steady state operation (where physical distancing can be maintained and/or with PPE use)
Phase five: Increasing density/productivity with experience

The overriding focus on safety has been welcomed by the Forum, which has successfully produced a range of industry advice about correct working during course of the crisis. This is supplemented by the FIS’s own H&S Toolkit.

Commenting on the announcement from the First Minister, FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee stated “This will be welcome news to all of our members in Scotland, project restart can begin. We look forward to working with them and colleagues from the CICV Forum in understanding the phases and helping to make the transition through as clear, smooth and safe as possible. In doing this we can learn from lessons in other parts of the UK, certainly the safety first, people first approach sets the right precedent. I very much hope the spirit of collaboration continues – we need to ensure that this carries into the working practices and that the supply chain continues to pull together, works through the productivity and safety challenges and ultimately practices the principles set down in the Conflict Avoidance Pledge. We don’t just want to return we want to use the opportunity to reset the industry and leave some of the negative behaviours and practices behind us, to work together to make the Scottish Construction Industry better than it was before.”

Vaughan Hart, Managing Director of Forum member the Scottish Building Federation, said: “The shutdown in Scotland has been one of the biggest challenges the sector has ever faced and, while we wholeheartedly welcome the return to work, it must be carried out in the proper manner.

“This means that the health and safety of operatives is paramount, and the correct guidance and procedures must be adhered to at every phase of the proposed route map. The Forum has been at the forefront of helping the industry by clarifying advice and this effort will now come into its own.”

The Forum says it now plans to release more guidance to help business owners, contractors and apprentices through each stage of the phased return, including advice for construction sites, domestic work and colleges.

Alan Wilson, Chair of the CICV Forum and Managing Director of SELECT, the electrotechnical trade body for Scotland, said: “This is the news we have been waiting for and it has not come a moment too soon.

“We all understand the reasons why Scotland has been in virtual shutdown since March, and we all need to work together to assist the sector as it faces an uphill struggle to recover.”

Hew Edgar, Head of UK Government Relations and City Strategy, added “One of the most important lessons to come out of the crisis is the value of working together for mutual benefit.

“The Forum, was only created eight weeks ago, and is the perfect example of this principle, having brought together a huge range of organisations and individuals in a concerted effort to protect the industry.

“As we restart the sector, collaboration between everyone involved – clients, architects, surveyors, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers – will be of the utmost importance since many of the issues which beset the industry pre-COVID, such as late payments and retentions, will still need to be addressed.”

Download the Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for decision making – Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis

The Scottish Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, Kevin Stewart MSP, has written to the Chair of Construction Scotland, confirming that the advance preparation of non‐essential construction sites in Scotland can begin from 28 May 2020.

How to make your workplace COVID-secure

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

The UK Government, in consultation with industry, has produced guidance to help ensure workplaces in England are as safe as possible during the coronavirus pandemic. Join a free webinar, hosted by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to find out more about how to make your workplace COVID-secure.

The webinars cover a range of different types of workplace settings which are allowed to be open. Many businesses operate more than one type of workplace, such as an office, factory and fleet of vehicles. You may need to use more than one of the guides/webinars as you think through what you need to do to keep people safe.

Wednesday 27 May, 11am: Factories, plants and warehouses – Guidance for people who run factories, plants and warehouses
Thursday 28 May, 3pm: Vehicles – Guidance for people who work in or from vehicles, including couriers, mobile workers, lorry drivers, on-site transit and work vehicles, field forces and similar.
Monday 1 June, 11am: Construction and other outdoor work – Guidance for people who run outdoor working environments.
Tuesday 2 June, 11am: Offices and contact centres – Guidance for people who run offices, contact centres and similar indoor environments

FIS develop training qualification for drylining in housebuilding

by Oscar Venus | 15 May, 2020 | Drylining, Main News Feed

The Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has today announced a new industry qualification. The Drylining in Housebuilding qualification has been created by National Open College Networks (NOCN) to address the lack of a recognised qualification for the sector specific skill and support a more robust approach to training and measuring competence.

Housebuilding makes up approximately one third of the drylining marketplace with some businesses and individuals focused entirely on this market. The new qualification offers a flexible delivery approach and specific trained outcome to support both employers and individuals to by a step by step approach to demonstrate competence in a vocational setting. It ensures that those companies and individuals investing in training can be supported with funding even if they are not able to offer the full scope of experience required to meet the new English Drylining Apprenticeship Standard.

The FIS supported by industry partners created a working group to identify the skills and agree the level of training required to create a standalone qualification. The working group comprised Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) standards team, NOCN, Home Builders Federation (HBF) along with colleges and training providers.

The project objectives were to:

Develop standardised, formally recognised training that enables the delivery of drylining within housebuilding.
Identify and agree the funding available that will enable the delivery of the training.
Ensure quality of provision of training in the right locations.

The outcome is an Office of the Qualifications Examinations Regulators (OfQual) registered training qualification that can be delivered on housebuilding sites at the point of installation with a formal trained outcome and national recognition. The training can be delivered in-house by a qualified instructor, this can be a suitably qualified employee (e.g. Level 3 Award in Education and Training (PTLLS), which can be achieved in 5 days) or an independent trainer. In order to ensure quality, sites will need the required resources as specified in the NOCN qualification criteria.

NOCN Executive Director of Job Cards and Services, Mark Buckton, said: “NOCN has been delighted to work with FIS on the drylining in housebuilding qualification. At NOCN we know that specialist trades are absolutely vital to the success of the industry and in accomplishing the aims of the nation, like achieving the Government’s housebuilding targets. The drylining in housebuilding qualification fitted perfectly into the new suite of construction training qualifications, where we have totally redesigned each trade’s syllabus and provided greater teaching and learning materials. NOCN is dedicated to ensuring we provide top quality qualifications for both specialist and the larger trades.”

This project clearly highlighted the need for a new qualification for dryliners in the housing sector. This is now complete and ready to deliver. With training providers and colleges working alongside contractors and individuals, together with the support of the FIS, housebuilders and the backing of CITB, it is unanimously agreed the form of qualification and method of delivery will provide a solution that the construction industry needs.

HBF Home Building Skills Partnership Manager, Sara Cartin, said: “The new qualification will help to deliver quality workmanship to industry-agreed standards for home buyers. It is another key part of our skills framework and, combined with the virtual skills cards we are developing, will ensure that training gaps are addressed”.

FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee, said: “It is vital that we move the conversation about skills onto supporting competence within our workforce. As part of this project, we interrogated the current training situation for the housebuilding market and it was clear intervention was needed to support change and help our community meet future skills needs. The key aspect of this is the flexibility that it delivers within a framework.

We often talk of sectors as though they are one harmonious constant, but this is not the case. From business to business and throughout the regions of the UK there are different practical considerations. Within this work we have been mindful of the employer-defined competency requirements. With the support of training providers, housebuilders, and specialist contractors, we have ensured this trained outcome can be adapted to meet specific workplace requirements.

We are grateful to CITB and particularly NOCN for their support in targeting and delivering this new qualification. We are confident that it will be a valuable, new asset to support the measurement and management of competence in the sector”.

The Drylining in Housebuilding Report can be downloaded here.

ENDS

Editor notes

FIS is the representative body for the £10 billion finishes and interiors sector in the UK. The FIS has more than 500 members drawn from contractors, manufacturers and distributers of ceilings, facades, partitions, plastering, drywall and specialist interior fit-out and refurbishment businesses.

FIS exists to support its members, improve safety, minimise risk, enhance productivity and drive innovation in the sector. As well as specialist publications, technical support and expert helplines, FIS is a dynamic network that brings the sector together through a range of events, awards and specialist working groups, all aimed at sharing best practice, setting standards and advising Government, that help its members to improve performance and win work. Members of the FIS are subjected to an audit and vetting process when they join and then again, every three years that underpins the values by which the organisation operates. To drive quality and ensure the future sustainability of the sector, FIS has a dedicated skills and training team and works with a number of Approved Training Providers to attract new people to the sector and deliver a fully qualified and competent workforce.

FIS is dedicated to collaboration in construction and a proud member of BuildUK, the Construction Products Association and the Passive Fire Protection Forum.

The Home Building Skills Partnership (HBSP) was set up by the Home Builders Federation in 2016 (initially funded by CITB) and is a collaboration of home builders and supply chain organisations working together to attract and develop the workforce of the future and in doing so change the culture of the home building sector.
For more information contact: George Swann – FIS Skills and Training Manager
Finishes and Interiors Sector Olton Bridge, 245 Warwick Road Solihull

West Midlands B92 7AH

www.thefis.org
E-mail: georgeswann@thefis.org

Tel: +44 (0)121 707 0077

Mobile: +44 (0)7792 959481

The Drylining in Housebuilding Report can be downloaded from our Skills Hub:

Government gives green light to extend working hours for construction sites

by Clair Mooney | 15 May, 2020 | Main News Feed

The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (Robert Jenrick) issued a written statement yesterday around the need for the construction industry to adapt its normal practices.

To enable this he has requested that, with immediate effect, local planning authorities should take a swift and positive approach to requests from developers and site operators for greater flexibility around construction site working hours. This is to ensure that, where appropriate, planning conditions are not a barrier to allowing developers the flexibility necessary to facilitate the safe operation of construction sites during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to proceed at pace with work otherwise delayed as a result of COVID-19.

A Q&A to support this approach is available here.

The full script of the announcement is available here.

Comments invited on Specifiers Guide to Ceilings and Acoustic Absorbers

by Clair Mooney | 14 May, 2020 | Main News Feed

FIS is seeking comments on its final draft of the Specifiers Guide to Ceilings and Acoustic Absorbers.

This Specifiers Guide has been produced to assist the selection and specification of a suspended ceiling and acoustic absorbers by providing a structured approach to help specify products.

It is not a definitive list of standards, regulations or product types. Importantly it is not a replacement for professional consultation on critical performance requirements or discussions with manufacturers on specific product use.

Once published, this guide will be freely available to specifiers and designers to access on the FIS website.

Comments should be returned by 5 June using this comments sheet. A copy of the draft guide is available here.