Steve Coley, Immediate Past President of FIS is supporting the BuildBack Programme by providing work experience to four of the drylining trainees currently attending the two-week Specialist Upskilling Programme at South & City College, Birmingham. The trainees will start their work experience at Lakeside Ceilings and Partitions on 26 March. Listen to Steve’s testimonial below as to why he is supporting the FIS initiative:
FIS is addressing the acute shortage of skilled drylining operatives in the fit-out sector by working with partners such as CITB, Jobcentreplus, Local Authority Councils and Colleges in delivering the FIS BuildBack Programme. We need employers to get on board with Steve Coley and back the FIS initiative by providing two weeks’ work experience; there will be no cost for your company as candidates will have a valid CSCS card, PPE kit and a basic toolkit.
We are currently running the BuildBack Programme in Birmingham and Lewisham with trainees attending their two-week Specialist Upskilling Programme at South & City College Birmingham and Lewisham Southwark College. If you’re a contractor with current projects in the Midlands then we need you! The BuildBack trainees will be available from 26 March and will be site-ready to provide wage-free assistance on your projects.
Getting involved in BuildBack and taking on trainees for work experience is a prime opportunity for you to prove some aspects of fulfilment of Section 106 contractual obligations. Other benefits include:
Meet and personally select candidates you want to offer two weeks’ work experience to, ensuring they are the best fit for your team
Candidates will have already received two weeks’ basic training in drylining
Candidates will be site-ready and will effectively add value to your business from day one
Candidates will have a valid CSCS card, PPE kit and a basic toolkit
Jobcentreplus will support candidates for the duration of their training and on-site work experience, meaning no overhead costs for your business
Boost your workforce and future-proof your business by training drylining operatives who will add value to your bottom line
Receive full funding for NVQ Level 2 qualification in drylining through on-site assessment and training (OSAT)
Further information on the BuildBack programme can be found in the Skills Hub here. Employers should register their interest by emailing: skills@thefis.org
FIS members should be aware that there is currently a substantial call waiting time when telephoning the CSCS call centre run by CITB.
We have heard reports of callers being left on hold for over an hour and/or being disconnected from the call when trying to renew or obtain new Construction Skills Certification Scheme cards.
Are you currently experiencing problems in trying to contact CSCS?
Yes - by telephone (100%, 5 Votes)
Yes - by email (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 5
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A CSCS spokesperson said: “We apologise for the increased length of time it has taken to answer calls and are working with CITB to introduce a number of measures to bring call wait times back to acceptable levels. In the meantime, we ask our customers to bear with us. Our busiest times are between 12pm to 2pm, and 4pm to 6pm. Cardholders who call outside of these times will have a shorter wait on the phones.”
If you have a general question relating to CSCS you can use the new webchat service on the CSCS website; simply wait for the Web Chatbox to appear on the CSCS website, submit your question and a member of the team will assist you.
If your question relates to an ongoing application, you will have to contact the CSCS team by calling 0344 994 4777 or emailing customerservices@cscs.co.uk
For those inquiring about replacing their CRO cards, please visit www.cscs.uk.com/cro. This webpage will explain all you need to know about replacing your CRO card.
Alternatively, for anyone wanting to know what card they can apply for, please use the Card Finder tool on the CSCS website: www.cscs.uk.com/cardfinder
Could members who are experiencing any problems please let FIS know by emailing info@thefis.org
FIS is addressing the acute shortage of skilled drylining operatives in the fit-out sector by working with partners such as CITB, Jobcentreplus, Local Authority Councils and Colleges in delivering the FIS BuildBack Programme. We need employers to back the FIS initiative by providing two weeks’ work experience; there will be no cost for your company as candidates will have a valid CSCS card, PPE kit and a basic toolkit.
We are currently running the BuildBack Programme in Birmingham and Lewisham with trainees attending their two-week Specialist Upskilling Programme at South & City College Birmingham and Lewisham Southwark College. If you’re a contractor with current projects in the Midlands then we need you!The BuildBack trainees will be available from 3 April and will be site-ready to provide wage-free assistance on your projects.
Getting involved in BuildBack and taking on trainees for work experience is a prime opportunity for you to prove some aspects of fulfilment of Section 106 contractual obligations. Other benefits include:
Meet and personally select candidates you want to offer two weeks’ work experience to, ensuring they are the best fit for your team
Candidates will have already received two weeks’ basic training in drylining
Candidates will be site-ready and will effectively add value to your business from day one
Candidates will have a valid CSCS card, PPE kit and a basic toolkit
Jobcentreplus will support candidates for the duration of their training and on-site work experience, meaning no overhead costs for your business
Boost your workforce and future-proof your business by training drylining operatives who will add value to your bottom line
Receive full funding for NVQ Level 2 qualification in drylining through on-site assessment and training (OSAT)
Further information on the BuildBack programme can be found in the Skills Hub here. Employers should register their interest by emailing: skills@thefis.org
On 28 February 2018 at the BIM Show Live in Newcastle, the new government-supported Winfield Rock Report was launched. The report, Overcoming the Legal and Contractual Barriers of BIM is co-authored by May Winfield and Sarah Rock and considers the position on levels, standards, standard form contracts, BIM-specific documents and the legal community generally.
The two-day BIM Show Live was supported by the UK BIM Alliance, which is responsible for ensuring that the UK meets the targets set out in the Government’s 2020 Construction Strategy.
February data pointed to a continuation of the subdued growth conditions reported across the UK construction sector at the beginning of 2018. Total business activity increased only marginally during the latest survey period, while new work decreased for the second month running.
Anecdotal evidence suggested that fragile business confidence and ongoing political uncertainty remained key factors holding back client demand. At the same time, strong input cost pressures were reported in February, with higher raw material prices, fuel bills and staff wages reported by survey respondents.
Survey respondents cited fragile client confidence, a headwind from political uncertainty and a continued lack of tender opportunities to replace completed work on infrastructure projects.
Construction companies indicated that business confidence moderated since January and was at one of the lowest levels seen in the past five years. Some firms noted that resilient UK economic conditions had supported optimism. However, there were also reports that Brexit-related uncertainty continued to influence decision making and act as a drag on the demand outlook.
Duncan Brock, Director of Customer Relationships at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, said: “The sector was feeling as flat as a pancake in February with falls in new orders for the second month in a row and with just a marginal rise in overall activity, as ongoing political and economic uncertainty shouldered the blame. Cost pressures continued to creep up and bear down on purchasing activity as raw materials became even more expensive and in shorter supply, and vendor performance degraded again impacting on the completion of projects. A talent shortage also gave staff the power to demand higher wages, adding to the overall cost burdens for business.”
In the March edition of SpecFinish, Helen Yeulet, FIS Skills Delivery Director looks at the need for specialist contractors to demonstrate competence in the sector and how the CSCS card has an essential role to play.
Technical Director Joe Cilia meets up with interior and architectural photographer Marek Sikora to ask “what makes a good picture?” Marek provides some useful pointers for fit-out contractors.
Simon Lewis, a partner in the Construction and Engineering team at Womble Bond Dickinson, considers the implications for the supply chain following Carillion’s demise.
Read more in the March edition of SpecFinish online via the Publications section of the website or the PDF version here.
In the March edition of SpecFinish, Helen Yeulet, FIS Skills Delivery Director looks at the need for specialist contractors to demonstrate competence in the sector and how the CSCS card has an essential role to play.