The Department for Education’s new minister for skills and apprenticeships, Robert Halfon, will unveil details on the structure of its proposed apprenticeship levy on Friday 12 August. Details of the levy were first expected to be published in June, but this was pushed back following the Brexit vote.

As a result of the Government’s delay in issuing further information regarding the operation of the apprenticeship levy, Build UK intends to support the CBI’s call for a one year delay in the levy’s introduction. The levy is currently scheduled to take effect in April 2017, giving companies insufficient time to plan for the new arrangements.

With the introduction of the levy, changes to apprenticeships through trailblazers, and the Government’s recently published Skills Plan, Build UK will be working with the new ministers and CITB to ensure that “the outcome of construction training and qualifications delivered by or on behalf of the industry meets the needs of employers and that sufficient employment and apprenticeship opportunities are available to maintain a skilled and professional workforce”.

If FIS members have any comments on Build UK’s position, please contact FIS by Monday 15 August 2016.

From October 2016, the UK BIM Alliance will take up the mantle of Level 2 leadership. The Alliance will provide the umbrella network for the Communities, Regions and aligned industry organisations to achieve the widespread adoption and implementation of BIM Level 2 by 2020 – “business as usual”.

The Alliance will support the communities by co-ordinating collateral and knowledge whilst the communities continue to support industry in the digital transformation of the built environment sector. With the Task Group moving on to focus on Level 3 development under the Digital Built Britain initiative, The Alliance will continue the push into industry to lead the BIM Level 2 agenda.