by Clair Mooney | Feb 21, 2018 | Main News Feed
NBS Research is carrying out this research on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). It is about how you use guidance to help you understand and comply with the Building Regulations, and in particular how you use the Approved Documents.
The survey can be found here – please complete by 6 March 2018.
If you would like more information on Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Buildings Regulations and her Interim Report it can be found here.
by Nicky Smith | Feb 15, 2018 | Insurance, Main News Feed
In the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire, anecdotal evidence emerged of fire insurance companies revising terms for professional indemnity and other forms of insurance.
As part of the Construction Products Association’s work for the Industry Response Group (IRG), CPA is joining with BuildUK and CIC to survey a cross-section of the industry to understand the extent of this problem for organisations operating in areas deemed high risk. The CPA would like to encourage the FIS membership to participate and disseminate to any deemed able to contribute to the results.
To participate in the short survey click here. The survey will close on 9 March 2018, all responses are anonymous.
by Nicky Smith | Feb 14, 2018 | Main News Feed
CITB has announced the following dates for the free Employer Advisory Forums which will be taking place at various locations across England, Scotland and Wales. The Forums are an opportunity to hear regional updates and have your voice heard on what is important to your business.
At the events, CITB will provide an update on the Grants Scheme reform and the CITB Training Directory & Register along with details on how your business can access CITB funding. CITB will also share their continued vision and what the changes will mean for the Industry.
Book your free ticket here
Dates and locations:
6 March – Cambridge, Castle Donnington, St Austell, Swansea
7 March – Norwich, Solihull, Yeovil
8 March – Gloucester, Ipswich, North Wales
13 March – Bolton, Cardiff, Reading
14 March – Swindon
15 March – Bristol
19 March – Penrith
20 March – Maidstone
21 March – Crawley, London Fitzrovia, Wakefield
22 March – Chester Le Street, Exeter
27 March – Dundee, Saint Helens
28 March – Glasgow, Southampton
29 March – Inverness
12 April – Basingstoke
16 April – Poole
18 April – Central London
by Nicky Smith | Feb 8, 2018 | Main News Feed
FIS Skills is rolling out its flagship BuildBack programme in Birmingham and all employers based in the Midlands are invited to attend the assessment day on Friday 16 February 2018. The event will take place at Birmingham South and City College at the Bordesley Green campus, which specialises in construction.
BuildBack is being delivered in collaboration with Birmingham City Council; as one of the FIS Skills partners, this is a prime opportunity for your business to prove fulfilment of your Section 106 contractual obligations. In addition, you will be able to take on semi-skilled dryliners for a two-week period, providing wage-free assistance on your projects.
The assessment day will be an opportunity to look around the college facilities, talk to college staff, meet the BuildBack trainees and other employers and partners supporting the BuildBack programme.
Such is the confidence in the programme that Steve Coley, the immediate past-president of FIS, will be in attendance at the assessment day and has already agreed to provide work experience for two trainees at his company, Lakeside Ceilings and Partitions.
What is the BuildBack Programme?
BuildBack is designed to provide opportunities for job seekers who are serious about developing a career in drylining. Trainees complete a two-week Specialist Upskilling Programme (SUP) in drylining at Birmingham South and City College to develop the skills and competencies required for installing drylining. Then follows a two-week work placement on-site with a local employer. All trainees will be offered at least one job interview and those who secure full-time employment with an employer will have their fees paid for ongoing training to NVQ Level 2 in drylining. All trainees will receive free personal protective equipment (PPE) and have their CSCS card paid for.
For further information on BuildBack and all partners involved, visit the Skills Hub.
Helen Yeulet, FIS Skills Delivery Director, said: “From an employer’s perspective, this offers new labour that is semi-skilled and keen to progress a career in drylining at minimum cost to them. We are keen for employers to take advantage of this scheme that will handle the recruitment, the training elements and ensure that they have fully skilled labour within six months.”
Local employers can register their interest in the BuildBack programme and attend the Assessment Day by emailing: skills@thefis.org
by Nicky Smith | Feb 8, 2018 | CSCS, Main News Feed
As the CSCS priorities for 2018 continue the drive towards qualifying the workforce, the next step towards a fully qualified workforce is perhaps the most challenging. Industry Accreditation (IA), also known as Grandfather Rights, allowed workers to obtain CSCS cards on the strength of an employers’ recommendation rather than the achievement of a recognised qualification.
To meet the requirements of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) the CSCS will develop plans to move all IA cardholders to a recognised qualification.
Achieving this within the necessary timescales will require extensive industry consultation prior to implementation. In the meantime, existing cardholders can renew their cards in accordance with the scheme rules.
The withdrawal of IA will be the final step towards achieving the CLC’s requirement of ensuring nationally recognised qualifications are in place for all occupations.
CSCS closed IA to new applicants in 2010 but those already holding a card are currently able to renew on the same basis.
You can use the card finder to check what qualifications you need for your occupation in order to apply for a CSCS card. Alternatively, you can call the CSCS Contact Centre on 0344 994 4777.
by Nicky Smith | Feb 7, 2018 | Main News Feed
On Tuesday 6 February 2018, FIS held the President’s Lunch at Plaisterers’ Hall in London. Over 300 members and guests attended the lunch where the new FIS President, Andrew Smith, addressed the audience: “Compliance and competence are going to be increasingly important in the coming years and FIS has invested in a skills team to help deliver a competent workforce for the sector – and to help FIS members get full value from the Levy. This programme is called Fit-Out Futures and the President’s Lunch provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate some of the successes to date; the Fit-Out Futures Awards.”
Before lunch was served, the first three category winners were announced:
Outstanding Employee – John Ramsey, a Project Supervisor at Brian Hendry Interiors
Future Leader – Stephen Reynolds, a ceilings category manager at SIG
Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by CCF) – Sean Dooner, an apprentice dryliner at MPG Contracts. The runner-up was Conor Bartram, an Apprentice Trainee Site Manager at Pexhurst Services.
Representatives from the charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) were in attendance to collect £2,635 raised in the prize draw. The first prize, sponsored by Etex Building Performance, was a round of Golf for four at Castle Combe Golf Club in Wiltshire. The winner was Steve Smith. Second prize was a Cartwright and Butler hamper donated by Minster, won by Helen Tapper. The third prize was a Champagne gift box donated by Horbury Group, won by James Evans. SIG donated two tickets (including pre-show hospitality) for any show at the Genting Arena; the winner was Lydia Sharples. Finally, Donseed Ltd donated a bottle of Champagne for the winner of the Business Card draw – Andy Mahoney from Taylor Hart.
Comedian Ian Stone provided the after-lunch entertainment. A stand-up comedian, broadcaster and writer, Ian is famous for appearing as a guest on shows such as the comedy panel show Mock the Week. He is also a regular guest on BBC Radio 5’s Fighting Talk.
David Frise, CEO of FIS, returned to the stage to present the final award of the day, the ‘Lifetime Achievement‘. Recently retired after 20 years service with Taylor Hart, the trophy went to Phil Taylor. Photos from the day have been uploaded to our Facebook page; the winners’ videos will be available on the FIS YouTube Channel very soon.
Congratulations to all the winners, we look forward to awarding more ‘Fit-Out Futures’ in 2019!
