by Clair Mooney | 25 Oct, 2018 | Main News Feed
FIS launched its #BuildersBrewcampaign at UK Construction Week on 10 October to coincide with World Mental Health day. The campaign is designed to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing in the construction industry.
Recent reports from The Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that between 2010 and 2015, more than 1,400 construction workers in the UK took their own lives, making male construction workers the demographic most at risk of suicide in the UK. Further research shows that mental health issues accounted for a third of the construction industry’s absences and that at any one time around 350,000 workers could be suffering from mental health problems.
The #BuildersBrew campaign encourages people not to bottle-up, but to open-up and talk about issues that are causing, stress, anxiety or depression with colleagues over a mug of tea or coffee. The campaign also reminds us all to be vigilant of the signs in our colleagues and offer support where we can. In the run up to UK Construction Week, a social media campaign was run on Twitter and Instagram platforms asking people to share images of their #BuildersBrew, a photo of themselves with their mug/coffee talking about mental health in all the different environments to visually show the support people have given for mental health. An image gallery was created on the FIS stand at UK Construction Week, which received a lot of attention and support.
In addition, FIS teamed up with the Digital College and UK Construction Week to offer a free course; An Awareness of Mental Wellbeing in the Workplace course at a breakfast briefing at UK Construction Week which was attended by FIS members and partners.
FIS CEO Iain McIlwee was interviewed about this issue by FIX radio at the show which was broadcast live on air at the exhibition and said “raising awareness of mental health and taking positive actions to improve health and wellbeing in construction is imperative. We need to move beyond the stereotypes of the building industry and wake up to the reality that people working in construction are three times more likely to take their own life than those in other professions. Mental health issues impact all of us all at some point in our lives, we often like to think we are bullet proof, but there are times when all of us have our resilience tested and we need help from people around us.
Through #BuildersBrew we are encouraging people to take positive, proactive action to support each other and drive the message home that its acceptable to talk about these issues and imperative that we put an arm around the shoulder of colleagues that may be struggling. Far from being a sign of weakness, talking openly is a sign of strength and something we should be applauding and encouraging.”
Throughout the course of three days FIS and Digital College sold #BuildersBrew travel mugs raising money for the Lighthouse Club charity which specialises in providing financial and emotional support to the construction community and their families. These mugs can still be purchased via www.thefis.org/about-us/builders-brew/
David Stephenson, Founder and MD of Digital College said “it was been great collaborating with FIS on the #BuildersBrew campaign and delivering the mental health awareness course at UK Construction Week. The Introduction to Mental Health and Wellbeing course is an ideal way to raise awareness at all levels in the construction industry, we want to make people aware that it only takes one hour of your time to complete the course online, making learning very easy, accessible and affordable for your organisation”.
The #BuildersBrew campaign is an ongoing initiative and FIS would like people to submit images of themselves with their mugs of tea and coffee to support and post to @fisorg on our Instagram and Twitter platforms.
by Clair Mooney | 25 Oct, 2018 | Main News Feed
CITB has launched its Digital Skills report – the first in a series of three in its Changing Construction, Changing Skills campaign. ‘Unlocking Construction’s Digital Future: A Skills Plan for Industry‘ provides evidence to help inform decision-making by the construction sector and CITB concerning digital skills.
This report found that the scope for what digital could be used to achieve in construction is vast, however industry is far from realising the full scale of the opportunities. It also sets out digital competency scales and spectrums for the industry.
The report also found that:
• Digital construction is understood to mean different things by different people: Many assume digital construction means Building Information Modelling (BIM) but it is wider than that.
• Much tech that is being used is not at the cutting edge of what is available: Drones, smartphones and tablets are increasingly widely used but really innovative tech – if used at all – is generally limited to small pilots or trials.
• Data and its effective collection, communication and management are central to digital transformation.
• Tech-specific skills aren’t the problem – the broader skills and competencies at various levels need to be addressed.
For an overview, please watch this clip.
by Clair Mooney | 15 Oct, 2018 | Main News Feed
FIS announced the winners of its flagship #iBuiltThis2018 awards at a Champagne reception at UK Construction Week on 9 October 2018. This simple competition is designed to promote careers in construction and get young people, the construction industry and the public to participate and show how proud they are of their contribution to the UK built environment in a fun, exciting and light-hearted way. The winners and runners-up were presented with their awards by architect and host of Channel 4’s Amazing Spaces, George Clarke.
The winners were:
• 13 and under age category was Hollie Baynes with her submission the House of Horrors
• 14 to 18 age category was Naomi Hamilton with her entry An Arch
• 19 plus age category was Jamie Hubbard with his entry The Ivy House
Nathan Garnett, Event Director of UK Construction Week said “it is the simplicity of this initiative that makes it so brilliant. Anybody can enter, it embraces all forms of social media and it reminds us of the simple joy in making stuff and at the same time how construction is building our future. There was a great crop of entries across the different age contests from Lego builds to intricate brickwork and relaxation spaces innovatively designed and built. What better place to host this than at UK Construction Week, which is all about showcasing this brilliant industry? I was particularly delighted to see so many of the finalists and winners attend with their friends and family so they got to see some of the innovation and progressive thinking that is driving our sector forwards.”
A key aim is to showcase construction as the exciting and diverse sector it is with its huge breadth of disciplines and career opportunities to help attract new entrants. It allows people of all ages to enter and show their building skills and the projects they have built and in doing so hopes to inspire new entrants into the sector and visually show what amazing work is being produced at all levels.
Iain McIlwee FIS CEO said: “the construction industry employs around 3.1 million people, that equates to one in ten people working in the UK, but instead of a career of first choice we seem all too often to drop down to being a last resort and this absolutely belies the truth. We want people to know that the UK construction industry is a power house for the economy and has something for everyone, a trade, a profession or perhaps a combination of both! We need the craftsmen, the tradesmen, the site workers, the surveyors, the designers, the engineers, the project managers and the digital experts who will help us to disrupt and develop the industry. This industry is evolving fast and we need the people to help us deliver world-class solutions that make the UK the best place in the world to live work and play.”
#iBuiltThis2019 will be launched at the World Skills Live show at the NEC in Birmingham 15-17 November 2018. For more information about #iBuiltThis2019 campaign or if you would like to get involved email: skills@thefis.org or visit www.thefis.org/skills-hub/i-built-this-2018/
by Clair Mooney | 8 Oct, 2018 | Main News Feed
Notification is hereby given of the AGM for the Finishes and Interiors Sector Ltd which will take place on 1 November 2018 at 10.30am. To download the AGM notification click here.
The accounts for year-end 2017 can be found here.
by Clair Mooney | 5 Oct, 2018 | Main News Feed
Prompted by the collapse of Carillion and widespread outrage about its back-stop of 120-day payment terms despite being signed up to the prompt payment code, the move to pay 90% of undisputed invoices from SMEs within five-days, comes as the Government tries to reboot its late payment measures with a call for evidence on the best way to tackle the scourge once and for all. Some of the latest measures being looked at are empowering trade bodies to highlight the best and worst practices in payment behaviour and forcing company boards to have a non-executive director responsible for prompt payment performance.
Small Business Commissioner Paul Uppal will join the Prompt Payment Code’s Compliance Board to try and reassert its relevance to industry.
Further reform to the Code is to be considered including whether the small business commissioner should have a greater role in its administration.
FIS chief executive Iain McIlwee commented; “You can’t argue with the sentiment, but we have proven time and again that there is no sticking plaster to the endemic problem of unfair payment. There are a multitude of ways in which dues are not paid and retentions is front and centre. We fully support the Build UK aim to ban retentions, but the timescales concern us. Cashflow and the resultant contractual wrangling undermine absolutely collaboration and productivity in construction, to truly emerge as a world-class sector we need to move to a 21st Century way to ensure money flows effectively through the supply chain and no business, small or large is put at risk by archaic and unfair practices.”
Cabinet Office Minister for Implementation Oliver Dowden said: “We expect the highest payment standards from both government and big business.
“That is why we will commit to central government aiming to pay 90% of undisputed invoices from small and medium-sized businesses within five days. Small firms can also report poor payment practices via our Mystery Shopper service, which ensures their voices are heard.
“We are listening to businesses and doing more than ever to level the playing field for small businesses to win work in the public sector.”
Federation of Small Businesses, national chairman Mike Cherry said: “Late payment is the biggest challenge affecting small businesses and it is good to see the government getting serious about this issue, especially when it comes to large firms paying their supply chains promptly.
“The voluntary Prompt Payment Code is not working when it allows signatories like Carillion to pay on terms of over 120 days, so we want to see a new tough and transparent compliance regime being proposed.
“It is a positive step that central government will set an example – paying 90% of undisputed invoices from small and medium-sized businesses within five days.”
The Government call for evidence will be open until 29 November and the government is encouraging, businesses, trade associations and other interested parties such as academics to contribute their views to it.
by Clair Mooney | 3 Oct, 2018 | Main News Feed
On Friday 28 September 2018, FIS held its third Scottish Awards Lunch at Trades Hall in Glasgow. Over 160 members and guests attended the event to hear the winners announced and welcome new FIS chief exective to the helm.
FIS President Andrew Smith opened proceedings and raised a toast to the awards, with the compliments of Forza Doors. Guest speaker and compere Chick Young provided the entertainment, ensuring a fantastic time was had by all.
Award Winners
Interior Fit Out (supported by Fit Out Futures)
Gold – Veitchi Interiors for its installation ay Anderson High School in the Shetland Isles. Ryder Architecture also received an award.
Silver – Scotwood Interiors for its project at LifeArc in Edinburgh.
Partial Fit Out (supported by Women in Fit Out)
Gold – Linear Projects for its installation at the Macallan Distillery and Visitor Centre in Moray. Architect Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners also received an award.
Silver – Brian Hendry Interiors for its project at Holy Trinity School in Glasgow.
Suspended Ceilings (sponsored by Nevill Long)
Gold – Brian Hendry Interiors for its installation at Hawkhead Care Home and Day Care Centre in Renfrewshire. Unum Partnership and Page /Park also received an award.
SIlver – Carter Ceilings for its contract at Kelvinbridge Subway Station in Glasgow.
Plasterwork (supported by #BuildersBrew)
Gold – Ryedale Interiors for its project at the SOAR Intu Shopping Centre in Braehead. CD Architects also received an award.
Partitioning (supported by SpecFinish)
Gold – Worksmart Contracts for its project at Edrington Group Head Office in Glasgow. Architect Form Design also received an award.
Silver – Planet Partitioning for its installation at Cirrus Logic in Edinburgh.
Drywall Construction (supported by BuildBack)
Gold – Brian Hendry Interiors for its project at Holy Trinity School in Glasgow. Norr Architects also received an award.
Judges’ Award (sponsored by Minster)
Gold – Veitchi Interiors for its contract at Kelvinhaugh Street Student Accommodation in Glasgow. ICA Architects also received an award.
Silver – Clansman Interiors for its project at Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire.
Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Now Get Qualified)
Winner – Robbie Sproul, a ceiling fixer apprentice at Brian Hendry Interiors.
Our nominated Charity was Street Soccer Scotland and prizes for the Charity Draw were donated by Brian Hendry Interiors, Minster, Scotwood Interiors, British Gypsum and Linear Projects. Generous attendees helped to raise £1,818.
From all the team here at FIS, we would like to say congratulations to all winners. Visit our Facebook page to see all the photos from the Scottish Awards Lunch.
The website image gallery can be found here.
