by Clair Mooney | 6 Jul, 2018 | Main News Feed
In the first quarter of 2018 FIS and Stortford Interiors began working together to design a unique initiative, to support Stortford’s ongoing vision for increased skills success, social values, future sustainability and new entrant growth and to create a template that could be adopted by other FIS members in the future.
The board of directors at Stortford Interiors overwhelmingly approved the proposal. The move from proposal to live project development was swift and to support the vision, a new pipeline designed to attract the next generation of talent to the company was created.
Project Futures – The New Flagship Initiative
Project Futures’ primary objective is to engage, educate, empower and enable every new entrant, ensuring their place in a company where investment in all employees is continuous, advocates real progression and provides rewarding career opportunities.
A bespoke apprenticeship route was identified as the most sustainable vehicle for the development of new entrants to the business. Over the next three years Stortford Interiors will recruit and train 30 apprentices in drylining and carpentry. Project Futures’ wider component parts will see the implementation of a new digital skills matrix system across all Stortford Interiors sites and furthermore identify and respond to all future skills requirements company wide.
The objectives of Project Futures align perfectly with Stortford Interiors’ commitment to Section 106 obligations*. Including the continuous identification of its future operational skills and labour needs, coupled with its commitment to qualifying, upskilling and ensuring the continuous professional development of its existing workforce.
Project Futures is jointly managed by FIS Sector Skills Engagement Manager Amanda Scott and Stortford Interiors Operations Director Paul Leach, with a dedicated support team positioned at the head office and all Stortford Interiors sites.
Amanda Scott comments ‘For Stortford Interiors it’s all about the people. People are its most valuable asset and Project Futures strikes at the heart of Stortford Interiors’ core values. Stortford Interiors think collaboratively, forwardly and differently, it’s an inspiring and committed SME company response to the UK skills crisis’.
Paul Leach added, ‘We are proud of the people we employ, and this extends to the next generation of talent entering our company through Project Futures’.
Jim Nania remarks ‘Stortford Interiors and FIS have worked hard to ensure that our flagship programme ‘Project Futures’ is the best it can be, by paying fairly and reflectively to reduce apprenticeship poverty, giving great benefits, structured learning, mentoring and development, all this helps provide a valuable and exciting first role in our core business’.
Jim’s inspirational leadership continues to drive the Stortford Interiors skills agenda. When asked, why he is such a passionate advocate of Project Futures, for Jim the answer is simple ‘there is, undoubtedly, a skills gap in our markets, therefore this is a sensible, practical and exciting route to bring in new talent to the company, enabling young people to climb on the career ladder early and gain fantastic commercial experience’.
As the voice of the fit-out sector, representing the sector, FIS recognises the importance of in banishing misconceptions, to champion the profile of apprenticeships mapped to a contemporary working environment. Amanda Scott acknowledges, ‘attitudes still need to change across the country, to acknowledge just how valuable apprenticeships are to the future success of the sector, industry and whole UK economy. But at Stortford Interiors, they are already one-step ahead of the game’.
For further updates on Project Futures, please contact Paul Leach paul.leach@stortford-interiors.com or Amanda Scott amandascott@thefis.org
* Section 106 obligations – ensure that developments complement and benefit the local labour market and economy by raising skills and enabling local people to compete for the jobs generated.
by Nicky Smith | 3 Jul, 2018 | Main News Feed
The Plaisterers’ Training Awards will be presented at a prestigious ceremony and luncheon on 20 November 2018 at Plaisterers’ Hall in London. There are three categories in which FIS members can enter; the closing date is 24 August 2018. The event provides a good opportunity for companies to show off their commitment to training and the quality of their staff. All entries will receive a nomination certificate, with the top three being invited to attend the awards along with a guest.
Categories available for FIS members to enter are as follows:
The British Gypsum Trophy
– recognises excellence in the delivery of training in drylining and is open to all Independent Training Providers including contractors
The Formula Snelling Cup
– recognises excellence in the delivery of training in Fibrous and Heritage Plastering. It has been realised that the majority of training in Fibrous and Heritage is carried out by the contractor members themselves so the qualifying criteria have been extended
The Apprentice of the Year award
– open to any plastering apprentice in the UK
Don’t miss your opportunity to celebrate excellence in plastering training and the chance to showcase the training achievements of your company.
If you are interested in entering and want to know more, please contact signaturevents@outlook.com Telephone enquiries can be made to Avril Blanchot on 01568 708163.
You can also download the Nomination and/or application forms here.
by Clair Mooney | 3 Jul, 2018 | Main News Feed
In the July edition of SpecFinish, we take a look at the key points from the Hackitt Review and how the FIS PPP initiative can provide evidence of competency.
The skills feature provides an overview of our Further Education to Employment programme, which FIS is delivering within its ‘Fit-Out Futures’ initiative. This aims to bring in 1,500 new entrants into the setor every year by 2020.
The Legal hot topic discusses payment notices. Read these articles and more online here or the PDF version here.
by Clair Mooney | 1 Jul, 2018 | Main News Feed
Iain McIlwee has been appointed as the new chief executive of FIS, the trade body which represents the fit-out sector.
Iain will be responsible for the development and implementation of the Association’s long and short-term strategies to the benefit of members and industry, maintaining high profile representation and lobbying with key stakeholders both outside and within the membership.
He began his career as an engineering analyst, before moving on to the world of trade bodies in 1996. He has been chief executive officer of the British Woodworking Federation since 2011, where he implemented strategies that saw membership grow by 40% and retention levels soar to an all-time high. During his tenure, BWF launched the award-winning Fire Door Safety Week, an awareness campaign focussed on the legacy of neglect in the maintenance of fire doors. Iain is currently serving his second year as Vice Chairman of the Construction Products Association.
FIS President Andrew Smith said: `Iain really impressed our interview panel, and we were unanimous in our decision that he seemed an excellent fit to pick up the mantle from our previous chief executive David Frise, and drive FIS to new heights. He is a clear and confident communicator, has a wealth of trade body experience, and a proven track record in building membership communities – exactly what we were looking for. The FIS Board, staff team and I very much look forward to working with him over the coming years.’
Speaking about his new role Iain said: ‘It is an exciting time to be joining FIS. The construction industry is changing and not before time. The impact of Grenfell echoes through the sector and we need to take note, ensure that the hard lessons are learned and never repeated. The collapse of Carillion is also leading us to look at the contractual nature of the construction process. We have the Industrial Strategy and the Sector Deal for Construction emerging and creating opportunities and a radically reformed CITB to support a focus on skills and competence. As a sector we need to find better ways to collaborate to improve quality, safety and productivity, we need to balance on and off-site activity and truly embrace the digital revolution. I am looking forward to working with the FIS Board and team to ensure that the membership is well placed to benefit from all of these opportunities and to see the fit-out sector leading this change agenda.’
by Clair Mooney | 28 Jun, 2018 | Main News Feed
RICS is updating the SKA rating for offices scheme to ensure it reflects current best practice as well as incentivises clients and industry to improve standards in interior fit-out and refurbishment projects. Currently, the following workshops, themes and dates are available. To attend, RSVP with the workshop(s) you wish to attend by emailing dsaunders@rics.org
Workshop 1: Materials & Waste
Date: Monday 2 July
Time: 2-5pm
Location: Overbury plc, 77 Newman Street, London W1T 3EW
Workshop 2: Materials, Waste & Circular Design/Economy
Date: Wednesday 11 July
Time: 2-5pm
Location: Derwent London, 25 Savile Row London W1S 2ER
Workshop 3: Water, Wellbeing & Ecology
Date: Thursday 19 July
Time: 2-5pm
Location: Derwent London, 25 Savile Row London W1S 2ER
Workshop 4: Project Delivery & Transport
Date: Wednesday 25 July
Time: 2-5pm
Location: Overbury plc, 77 Newman Street, London W1T 3EW
Workshop 5: Energy & Pollution
Date: Tuesday 31 July
Time: 2-5pm
Location: Derwent London, 25 Savile Row London W1S 2ER
Workshop 6: all issues in scheme
Date: Wednesday 19 September
Time: 10.30-2.00pm
Location: Overbury plc, The Zenith Building, 26 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 1AB
Workshop 7: all issues in scheme
Date: September
Time: 11-2.30pm
Location: RICS, Birmingham
by Clair Mooney | 26 Jun, 2018 | Main News Feed
Peter Caplehorn, CPA Deputy Chief Executive and Policy Director, will host a Skype conference call with members on Wednesday 25 July from 11am-12pm to discuss the impact of the Hackitt Review’s recommendations on the work of marketing and communications professionals within our industry. The Review highlighted, for example, the need for greater clarity in marketing language and labelling, particularly in relation to how products have been tested and certified for use and performance. If you are interested please contact mary.economidou@constructionproducts.org.uk
