FIS is delighted to announce the promotion of James Parlour into the role of Technical Director. This move recognises James’s exceptional contribution to the business and his pivotal role in shaping technical innovation and operational excellence within the team.

James joined the company five years ago and quickly established himself as a driving force in the technical team. As Head of Technical, he led numerous projects including driving best practice and advocacy for proportionality in contractor organisational capability, our Shine a Light campaign highlighting bad snagging practices, and a volume of new guidance across all core disciplines. His expertise and leadership have been instrumental in delivering high-quality, technical guidance that meets the needs of FIS members and the wider sector.

In his new role as Technical Director, James will be responsible for shaping, guiding, and delivering the association’s technical strategy, ensuring members receive authoritative expertise, guidance, and representation on all industry relevant technical matters.  He will act as the technical voice of FIS – advising members, influencing policy, leading standards development, and strengthening the association’s position as a trusted industry authority.

Speaking of the promotion, FIS President and Specialist Subcontractor Member of FIS, Ian Strangward said:

“As an FIS Specialist Subcontractor member, it’s encouraging to see technical expertise recognised at this level. Technical leadership sits at the heart of our sector’s progress, and this signals that FIS continues to prioritise its commitment to integrity and delivering value to every member and partner we serve.

“James is exceptionally well‑positioned to guide our technical team into its next chapter of growth. His leadership will not only sustain the momentum we’ve built but also open new opportunities for advancement and excellence across the organisation”

James Parlour commented,

“It’s been a joy to contribute to the legacy of positive change that the FIS has led in this industry over the last five years. My own technical development is owed to the inclusive network of support offered by FIS under previous Technical Director Joe Cilia, and to step into his shoes and represent the sector going forward is the great privilege of my career.”

This key development underpins FIS’s efforts to enhance its technical support and resources for the finishes and interiors sector. 

For further information or for any questions please contact us at info@thefis.org or call 0121 707 0077.

BSI have just published PAS 2000:2026 – Construction products – Bringing safe products to market – Code of practice.  PAS 2000 is free to download as it was sponsored by OPSS to align with expected changes to construction product reform. 

PAS 2000:2026 | 28 Feb 2026 | BSI Knowledge

FIS was part of the drafting panel for this standard, and member feedback to the construction product reform Green Paper consultation last year was useful in helping to draft some of the proportionate measures outlined in the standard.

The PAS is intended to provide recommendations and guidance to manufacturers of any construction product placed on the UK market about measures they can adopt to demonstrate that their construction products are safe and fulfil their responsibilities as a manufacturer. It sets out what the manufacturer could reasonably be expected to do to assess the safety of their construction product for its intended use before it is placed on the market. It is applicable to all construction products and not only those covered by EU harmonised or UK designated standards. 

The PAS covers risk assessment of the proposed construction product prior to it being placed on the market, including assessment processes, factory production control, provision of construction product information and the collection and use of market feedback, including safety critical incident reporting and investigation.

Compliance with this standard is voluntary, but suppliers will need to consider the possibility of PAS 2000 being used in specification documents.

This week FIS hosted Interiors Insight: LIVE at the Workspace Design Show in London, two days of packed sessions, lively debate and forward-thinking discussion focused firmly on the future of the finishes and interiors sector.

With standing-room-only audiences across multiple sessions, the event demonstrated both the appetite and urgency for deeper conversations around sustainability, circularity, risk, data and design. What made the programme particularly powerful was not just the calibre of speakers, but the active engagement from the audience, challenging assumptions, sharing experiences and contributing to an open, solutions-focused dialogue.

Most importantly, it was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the work FIS is leading in the sustainability space and to take those conversations beyond our immediate membership to new and influential audiences.

Day One: From Strategy to Specification

The first day opened with a strong message: sustainability is no longer a bolt-on. It is central to competitive advantage.

Making Sustainability Your Superpower

The discussion set the tone for the event, exploring how a values-led approach can embed sustainability into every stage of fit-out. The panel tackled commercial realities head-on, demonstrating how aligning sustainability with business drivers creates opportunity rather than constraint.

The clear takeaway? Sustainability done well strengthens brand, resilience and performance.

Opening the Door to a Circular Future

Sometimes circularity begins with something familiar.

This session used doors as a lens to explore how better design and early decision-making can unlock reuse and reduce waste. The conversation challenged conventional specification approaches and highlighted how lifecycle thinking must begin at concept stage, not at strip-out.

Pods – Furniture or Construction?

 One of the most animated debates of the day examined a growing grey area in modern workplaces: pods.

As their use increases, so too do questions around classification, compliance, fire performance and interaction with active protection systems. The session reinforced the importance of early technical scrutiny and clear responsibility. Not everything that looks simple is low risk.

Measuring the Impact of Fit-Out

If you can’t measure it, you can’t reduce it.

This session moved the conversation from ambition to evidence, examining embodied carbon hotspots and how better data is reshaping design and procurement decisions. The message was clear: data is no longer a reporting exercise, it is a design tool.

Putting Reuse First

Is reuse too complicated? Too expensive? Too time consuming?

This energising discussion dismantled common myths, sharing practical examples of how reuse is moving from aspiration to implementation. When embedded early and supported by process, reuse becomes a commercial and strategic advantage, not a compromise.

Day Two: Turning Insight into Implementation

Day two shifted focus toward scaling solutions and connecting sustainability with innovation, wellbeing and technology.

Taking the Plunge – Lessons from FIS Project Reuse

FIS Project Reuse is not theory, it is live research.

This session shared early learning from the project, highlighting the importance of coordination, stakeholder engagement and standardised processes to make urban mining viable at scale. Reuse works, but consistency and collaboration are critical.

Nature x Design

Workplace design is evolving beyond aesthetics.

Exploring biophilic principles, the panel demonstrated how nature-inspired environments enhance cognitive performance, wellbeing and productivity. Better spaces do more than look good, they help people think, focus and perform better.

Tech That Transforms

Digital tools are no longer optional.

This session examined how technology is improving collaboration, reducing waste and unlocking measurable sustainability gains. Better data leads to better decisions, and better project outcomes.

Navigating the Future: The Triple Bottom Line

The closing session brought structure to the sustainability conversation.

Using Ska Rating principles and the triple bottom line framework, the discussion emphasised the need to balance environmental, social and commercial value. Sustainable interiors require evidence, governance and a shared direction, not just good intentions.

A Sector Ready to Lead

Across both days, one theme was consistent: the finishes and interiors sector is not standing still.

From carbon measurement and circularity to compliance, wellbeing and digital innovation, the conversations were honest, technically robust and grounded in real project experience. The engagement from the audience reinforced the appetite for practical solutions and shared learning.

Interiors Insight: LIVE demonstrated the important role we all play in convening the sector, raising standards and driving sustainable transformation.

The discussions don’t stop here.

We look forward to continuing the conversation, and turning insight into action.

FIS is proud to be supporting Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2026, taking place from 02–06 March, a national celebration recognising the value apprenticeships bring to individuals, businesses, and the wider economy.

Apprenticeships continue to play a critical role across the finishes and interiors sector, helping to develop specialist skills, build workforce resilience, and create meaningful career pathways. They remain one of the most effective ways for employers to nurture talent while ensuring the long-term sustainability of our industry.

Scottish Apprenticeship Week provides an opportunity to showcase the real-world impact apprenticeships are having within our sector, highlighting both employer investment and individual achievement.

Share Your Story

As part of this year’s campaign, FIS is inviting members to help celebrate apprenticeships in action.

We would welcome contributions from members who:

• Currently employ an apprentice, or

• Have employees who have recently completed their apprenticeship

Members can get involved by collaborating with FIS through one of the following:

Case Study
A short written case study (maximum 500 words) featuring your apprentice or recently qualified employee, sharing their experience, development, and career journey.

Video Contribution
A brief video clip of your apprentice or employee discussing their apprenticeship experience and the impact it has had on their role, skills, and progression.

These stories help demonstrate the tangible benefits of apprenticeships, not only for learners but also for employers and the wider finishes and interiors community.

Why Participate?

By sharing your experience, you will help:

• Promote careers in finishes and interiors

• Inspire future apprentices

• Highlight the positive impact of employer investment in skills

• Strengthen industry understanding of apprenticeship pathways

Most importantly, you will be contributing to a collective industry narrative that showcases the professionalism, opportunity, and progression available within our sector.

FIS looks forward to celebrating the achievements of apprentices and employers throughout the week.

The Skills Centre have started to run 4-week Dry Lining courses at Build East, commencing Monday 2nd March.

The programme is designed to provide participants with practical, hands-on training and develop the essential skills required to give them a grounding and start them on the path to becoming a dryliner or alternative trade in the interior fit-out sector.

How you can get involved

We need employers to support an interview and placement programme for these candidates (you will be fully supported throughout in structuring this).

We’re looking for employers who can offer:

• Interviews
• Two‑week work trials
• Job opportunities

In return you will have access to potential recruits, keen to start their career in the sector and with some basic training before they hit the wider market.  Supporting this programme will also help contribute to requirements you have may have to support local employment and social value procurement requirements.

When

Ideal dates for interviews would be during the weeks commencing 16th or 23rd March, although we can work with The Skills Centre to accommodate alternative dates that are more convenient.

 This initiative provides a unique chance for employers to engage directly with emerging talent, support skills development in the sector, connect with the next generation of skilled drylining professionals, and identify candidates ready to join their workforce.

Where

Build East Skills Centre, Bassett Lane, Stratford, London, E9 5EN

Why

If not you, who.  We need to build the workforce our sector needs — together.

Please do get involved and come down and see what we are doing, learn more about the process and hopefully meet your next generation workers.  We hope to be rolling similar out across the UK.  We can also talk to you about funding available to support you in taking the individuals on to achieve a level 2 trade qualification.