by Clair Mooney | 9 Oct, 2019 | Main News Feed
With the support of CITB, FIS has relaunched the flagship Fit-out-Futures programme targeting a more consistent and effective approach to attracting and introducing new starters into the finishes and interiors sector. Changes to the programme enable FIS to extend the successful BuildBack project (which has over the past 18 months given induction training and employment opportunities to over 800 individuals who were previously long-term unemployed), using the principles and learnings to support key target demographics:
- Young people not in education, employment or training
- Unemployed
- Ex-military service leavers
- Full-time learners (particularly those studying for construction and built environment diplomas).
- We are also interested in those people retraining in construction.
There are two key elements to this work. A structured assessment and induction programme for finding and embedding new starters and a clear work-experience framework that supports employers in finding and managing work trials, connecting employers with college learners. The programme is also looking at addressing diversity across the key target groups.
FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee stated, “Fit-out-Futures focuses on the way we attract and induct people, it is built on the principle that if we start people right we will reduce what is now a quite horrific waste of time and resources invested in training. In interrogating where people start and how they flow through our industry, there are clear areas of waste. The fact that, whilst we recognise we have a skills shortage, almost 70% of students currently studying a construction related course in college will never work in the industry is mind-blowing. We also know that if we don’t assess and induct people effectively, we end up wasting time and money training people who have no future in our sector.
We learned a lot through BuildBack and in working with our Approved Training Providers in phase one of Fit-out-Futures, but it became ever clearer that to put a real dent in overcoming our skills shortage we need marginal gain across all groups entering our sector. This project will help to integrate a more consistent induction for new starters to the broadest cross-section of new starters, so they get a better feel for the industry they are joining and have clearer understanding of competency requirements and opportunities. Through Fit-out-Futures we are also interrogating what attracts and turns people off when it comes to the way we introduce them to the finishes and interiors sector, we want to understand where we get it wrong so we want to do it better.
Another key part of the project is how we engage with colleges, we all allowed this vital relationship to slip away and now colleges often feel apart from rather than a part of our sector. We have engrained relationships with FE Colleges and other key training providers into Fit-out Futures to ensure that we understand the issues from all angles”
FIS are now calling for employers, trainers and assessors to get involved. Collaboration and partnership are at the heart of the FIS strategy. FIS is well placed and open to developing key relationships across main contractors, housebuilders, local authorities and agencies providing the basis for excellent reputation across all areas of the industry. In delivering Fit-out Futures Version 2 FIS will manage and deliver all strands and options end to end working with all parties, delivering a seamless experience and making it as easy as possible for employers to take on new entrants and for new entrants to get skilled and employed.
Fit-out-Futures is a critical part of the wider FIS Competency SAKE work, where we continue to work to support our sector in raising levels of competency and attacking skills shortages within the sector.
To find out more about how you can benefit from Fit-out Futures visit our website at:
www.thefis.org/skills-hub/fit-out-futures/ or email us at skills@thefis.org
by Oscar Venus | 9 Oct, 2019 | Main News Feed
To create a level playing field for the declaration and verification of the acoustic performance of products, the Finishes and Interior Sector (FIS) has today at UK Construction Week launched the FIS Acoustic Verification Scheme for Operable walls and Partitions. The scheme will allow designers, architects and contractors to specify products, safe in the knowledge they will provide the acoustics performance claimed, eliminating any misinformation and misleading information.
Created in partnership with the acoustic team at multi-disciplinary consultants Cundall, this new verification scheme takes manufacturers’ test reports and assessments and runs a series of thorough checks to verify the data is accurate and compliant. The scheme has been created to enable best practice and prevent inaccurate or misleading information from undermining the market and responsible manufacturers and suppliers.
Commenting on the launch, Iain McIlwee, FIS CEO said: “The misleading use of data has become an industry concern, as it means clients end up paying for acoustic performance that is not achieved and undermines the credibility of our sector.”
“We are determined to curb this practice, to create not only a level playing field for manufacturers, but peace of mind for clients, specifiers and contractors that the product selected has been properly tested and met the performance claimed. The test framework we have created will provide consistency and will enable the comparison of products and systems on a ‘like for like’ basis.”
The FIS Acoustic Verification Scheme will enable members to verify tests against an agreed criterion and a methodology to present these to market in a consistent and transparent manner.
A robust process has been created that will see manufacturers provide product data in a standardised format, along with test reports and where applicable third-party certificates. Non-English test information must be translated by the original test house to ensure accuracy and traceable evidence on the independence of the test facility has to be supplied. Photographs of the test, where available, along with drawings of the installation of the test sample must be supplied. This information is then provided to Cundall for independent verification in line with the schemes agreed criteria.
FIS is a driving force within the industry, providing unparalleled guidance, events, training and technical support for its members. A unique voice for the sector, FIS is committed to delivering the best knowledge and services for its members, continually reflecting the trends and innovations the industry has to offer.
For manufacturers and suppliers wanting to find out about getting test data verified, email info@thefis.org and request a copy of the FIS Acoustic Verification Scheme Manual.
More information on the click here
by Oscar Venus | 30 Sep, 2019 | Main News Feed
Looking to understand more about the new ISO 19650 BIM standards and certification?
Whether you’re new to BIM, want to learn more about ISO 19650 or are looking at transitioning over from your current PAS 1192-2 certification to the new ISO, this webinar is a great place to get the facts.
When: 16 April, 10:00-11:00 BST
Where: Online
Register: Register here
Join BSI and other BIM professionals to:
- Gain an understanding about the new international standards for BIM
- Ask our experts direct questions on BIM and ISO 19650
- Learn how companies can migrate from PAS1192-2 to ISO 19650 certification
- Gain insight into a typical BIM assessment
- Realize steps to get you started today
by Clair Mooney | 3 Apr, 2019 | Main News Feed
ISG’s turnover jumped from £1.71bn to £2.24 in 2018, a significant jump of more than £500m in one year.
The main factors behind the increase were more work from the public sector; expanding in the small to medium fit-out market and increased work in continental Europe.
Chief executive Paul Cossell welcomed the growth but told Construction News it was not his company’s main focus. “We try not to talk about turnover growth, which has been the sector’s norm. We’re really interested in margin and cash growth”.
“There is no pressure to chase volume or to do anything that brings cash flow in,” he added.
Pre-tax profit for ISG tripled from £9.1m in 2017 to £27.4m for the year ending 31 December 2018, according to its accounts, with the corresponding margin increasing from 0.5 per cent to 1.2 per cent.
Mr Cossell said the margin for 2018 was “okay” and the company expected to do better in 2019. “We will be disappointed if we don’t break the 2 per cent barrier in 2019,” he said.
The company has a margin target of 4 per cent by 2024.
All five of ISG’s operating areas reported increases in revenue for 2018 with four of them also reporting increases in underlying pre-tax profit.
UK construction, the second largest division after UK fit-out, was the only operation to falter. Profit slipped from £6.8m to £5.7m while revenue increased from £480m to £520.2m.
Mr Cossell said 2018 was a transitional year for the UK construction business, which was the last division in ISG to be “modernised”.
Management has been overhauled, with Interserve’s former construction managing director Gordon Kew taking over as chief operating officer and Steven McGee coming in as new MD for the South.
The business has also started to win projects larger than the sub-£100m jobs that ISG was known for, Mr Cossell said.
Over the past year the firm secured four jobs in £200m-£400m range and another £300m-plus job in London is in the pipeline for 2019.
“It’s all for selected clients in targeted sectors,” Mr Cossell added. “It’s not growth for growth’s sake.”
Aside from public sector work won mainly through frameworks, ISG construction is focused on the higher education, hospitality and leisure, office, residential build-to-rent and the industrial market, especially distribution centres and warehouses.
Mr Cossell said the construction business’s order book was “pretty full” and that “2019 will be okay, but 2020 is going to be very good” for the business.
With the construction business overhauled, the ISG group was now capable of delivering up to £3bn of work a year, but Mr Cossell said it would ideally be less than that.
“£2.5bn [annual revenue] feels like the natural level, but that can flex down or up,” he added.
“We would like to think [for 2019] it’ll be around £2.5bn with a 2 per cent margin.”
To manage the growth the company is on a hiring spree and expects to recruit somewhere in the region of 600 to 700 new people this year.
“From a talent acquisition point of view we’ve certainly seen more good people in the marketplace that we think helps us, so we’re receptive to talent that wants to come to a different business,” Mr Cossell said.
Source: Construction News
by Clair Mooney | 29 Mar, 2019 | Main News Feed
FIS is a proud partner of the Inspiring Change Conference and members are encouraged to enter the Inspiring Change Awards which highlight and reward organisations within the sector that have created more inclusive cultures in their workplaces, education, and the community.
The Conference itself will bring together a range of inspirational industry-wide speakers, including politicians, industry stakeholders and representatives from a wide range of sectors.
The conference will take place on Tuesday 21 May 2019 from 10.00-16.30 at No 11 Cavendish Square, London, W1G 0AN.
The event is free to attend and will share client expectations and good practice from within the construction industry and beyond to advance the understanding of the business and societal benefits of developing a culture of fairness, inclusion and respect within the workplace. Attendees will be able to network with 300 like-minded professionals.
For more information about the conference, how to enter the awards and take advantage of award sponsorship opportunities visit the website at: www.inspiringchangeawards.com or email Brionywickenden@ceca.co.uk
