by Clair Mooney | 25 Jan, 2019 | Main News Feed
FIS is working with Build UK on the new industry pre-qualification (PQ) system, which is due for soft launch in March. When it is rolled out later this year, it is anticipated that companies will be audited once a year by a recognised assessment body and this will be accepted by clients and contractors which will not specify a particular assessment body. For full details click here.
As part of ongoing work it would be useful to establish which PQ systems are being used. Please complete the poll below.
[poll id=”6″]
by Clair Mooney | 21 Jan, 2019 | Main News Feed
If you’re an EU citizen, you and your family will be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021. If your application is successful, you’ll get either settled or pre-settled status.
You may be able to stay in the UK without applying – for example, if you’re an Irish citizen or have indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
The EU Settlement Scheme will open fully by 30 March 2019. You may be able to apply now if you meet the criteria. The deadline for applying will be 30 June 2021 (NB: The deadline for applying will be 31 December 2020 if the UK leaves the EU without a deal).
When you choose to apply may depend on your circumstances.
More here: https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
by Clair Mooney | 21 Jan, 2019 | Main News Feed
According to the latest CPA forecast, construction output is forecast to remain broadly flat in 2019 before growth of 1.6% in 2020 (assuming a revised Brexit Withdrawal Agreement that enables the UK to enter an implementation period or a delay to Article 50 to allow a renegotiation with the EU).
by Clair Mooney | 11 Jan, 2019 | Main News Feed
After careful consideration, the shortlist for the FIS Fit-Out Futures Awards has now been confirmed.
The standard of entires into this year’s Awards was extremely high, so congratulations to the individuals who made the shortlist and thank you to everybody who entered. The winners in each category will be announced at the President’s Lunch on 5 February 2019.
A special thanks goes out to our judges who gave their time to look closely at the nominations.
Apprentice of the Year
Danny Beadle – Pexhurst Services
Charlie Hazeltine – Pexhurst Services
John Taylor – Stortford Interiors
Future Leader – sponsored by CCF
Richard Austen – Stortford Interiors
Simon Broggio – Meronden
Outstanding Employee
Ed Kelly – ETAG Fixings
Matthew Sexton – British Gypsum
Matt Taylor – Astins
Chloe Jones – Nevill Long
Lifetime Achievement Award – sponsored by CCF
Ray Deeks – G Cook & Sons
Mick Jacznik – BDL Group
Robert Allen – British Gypsum
by Clair Mooney | 20 Dec, 2018 | Main News Feed
FIS strives to drive up quality, productivity, safety and sustainability by working with its members and this project ticks all these boxes.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are on a mission to reduce Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) in site operatives and have identified that dryliners are particularly prone to MSDs largely due to manually handling 1200mm wide plasterboards; often by their own, and despite efforts to address the issue it persists. Working closely with Astins as the lead contractor, FIS along with Skanska, Knauf and the HSE who are part of a working group looking at how to address this, have produced a report based on a pilot project using a 900mm width plasterboard.
The report compares data from two similar projects one using 900mm boards and one using 1200mm plasterboard – the findings show a 33% reduction in plasterboard waste; significant improvement on productivity especially during second fix (62% improvement), shoulder muscle stress reduced by 30% and relatively equal on overall CO2 emissions as well as an overall cost benefit. This paper discusses the journey and potential benefits of using 900mm boards and concentrates on the practical application of the theories raised during the investigation.
The results are encouraging.To find out more click here.
by Clair Mooney | 20 Dec, 2018 | Main News Feed
On 19 December 2018 the Government published the Immigration White Paper. This sets out the Government’s proposals for the design of a new immigration system. Key elements are:
- A skilled workers route open to all nationalities.
- Lowering of the skills threshold on the skilled workers route to include medium-skilled workers (to RQF 3-5, equivalent to A-Levels), with a retention of the £30K salary threshold, but businesses will be consulted on this – this is in parallel to the ongoing review of the Shortage Occupations List being conducted by the Migration Advisory Committee.
- No cap on numbers on the skilled workers route, meaning that business will be able to hire any suitable qualified migrant.
- The abolition of the resident labour market test.
- A new ‘transitional’ time limited route for temporary short-term workers of all skill levels, including seasonal low-skilled workers, which will allow workers to come to the UK for a maximum of 12 months, with a subsequent 12 month ‘cooling off’ period (again, these will be subject to consultation). However, this route will only be open to workers from a limited number of ‘low risk’ countries. This is set out on p16-17 of the White Paper; and
- An extension to the post-study period for all international students.
Iain McIlwee, FIS chief executive said ‘This new white paper on immigration, if adopted, will create real challenge for construction businesses. It just makes no sense to have arbitrary caps, we need to look at where the need is and salary/employment is only part of the workforce. The brief nod to construction in this document just shows how little our Government understand an industry that embraces around one in ten of the workforce in the UK. We are working through Build UK and the Construction Products Association and with a group of other construction bodies to respond to this document, we will be taking the fight to Westminster in the New Year’.
A link to the full document is available here.
Last chance to fill in the Construction Industry Immigration Survey. Closing date is Friday 21 December. Please spend 5 mins completing, we need this data to underpin concerns we are raising with Government around future immigration policy.
