FIS members first to achieve BSI BIM Kitemark

FIS members first to achieve BSI BIM Kitemark

BSI, the Business Standards Institution, this week launched a new Kitemark for BIM (Building Information Modelling), helping construction businesses around the world prove their capabilities in delivering projects at the design and construction phase.

Amongst the first organisations worldwide to achieve the Kitemark for PAS 1192-2 are FIS members Balfour Beatty Plc, Skanska UK Plc and voestapline Metsec Plc. They were recognised at BSI’s Kitemark BIM Design & Construction launch on Tuesday 6 December.

Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI: November

Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI: November

A summary of the data revealed that the construction rebound continued in November, but cost inflation was strongest for five-and-a-half years. Other key findings were that business activity rose at the fastest rate since March; Commercial work picked up for the first time in six months and suppliers continued to pass on higher imported raw material costs.

JTC Newsline

JTC Newsline

December’s edition of the Joint Taxation Committee’s Newsline provides an overview of the Autumn Statement which was announced on 23 November.

The Newsline is available to read here.

Consultation for the International Construction Measurement Standards

Consultation for the International Construction Measurement Standards

This week, the International Construction Measurement Standards Coalition (ICMSC) launched a public consultation for the International Construction Measurement Standards (ICMS). The standard seeks to improve consistency and reduce risk in the global construction industry.

Anyone can respond to the ICMS consultation, but in particular, quantity surveyors, cost consultants, civil engineers, architects and all construction professionals who work on cost calculation in construction and infrastructure projects in the public and private global sectors are encouraged to take part.

The ICMS Coalition is a rapidly growing partnership of more than 40 professional and not-for-profit organisations from around the world, including CIOB, RICS, RIBA, ICE and IET. They are committed to producing and supporting one shared standard for construction measurement. Together, they aim to develop and implement international standards for benchmarking, measuring and reporting construction project cost.

To view the consultation paper, click here.

CITB launches Levy Online

CITB launches Levy Online

CITB has recently launched Levy Online, a service that allows inscope registered companies to complete their 2016 (and previous years) levy return online, rather than having to complete a paper copy.

Initially, CITB will be rolling out the system to a small number of selected employers and supporting them through the input process. This will be followed by a planned and phased roll out to 200 employers a day, with a target of having all users online by the end of November. This rollout will help CITB to maintain a manageable number of concurrent users.

FIS members are encouraged to sign up to use it in the future by visiting their website: www.citb.co.uk/levy-grant/complete-levy/

Any company wishing to register will need to email the following information to levygrant.online@citb.co.uk:

Employer registration number
Company name
Your name
Email address
Telephone number

Public Consultation for Standard Assessment Procedure

Public Consultation for Standard Assessment Procedure

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has opened a public consultation on proposals to amend the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP). The assessment is used for many purposes, including compliance with Building Regulations, and to produce Energy Performance Certificates. This consultation sets out twenty areas of the methodology which are under review and seeks views on proposed changes. If FIS members have any comments, please contact us by 13 January 2017 and we will submit on your behalf.