FIS president Steve Coley attended the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry’s Annual Convention 26-30 March 2017.
Steve represented FIS at the American association’s event and brought us the latest news, products and systems direct from the convention and Intex Exhibition.
Visiting the Intex exhibition, Steve is checking out the latest technology: plasterboard routing and cutting system:
Here is the latest in estimating software:
Steve demonstrates the new Hilti PD-C. The device captures and saves measurement data directly onto digital photographs taken with a camera integrated into the laser range meter.
Here, Steve demonstrates a Hilti Precision Layout Tool (PLT). The BIM drawing is entered, lasers track around the room and the prism detector sends the information back to the pad to allow the track to be set-out correctly.
This is a CGI of how the Americans deliver plasterboard to buildings up to eight storeys high!
The FIS skills team will be showcasing its flagship BuildBack programme at Tyne Metropolitan College’s open day on 10 April. This will provide an opportunity to celebrate the success of the first pilot scheme which has taken place in Newcastle.
The demand for a place on the BuildBack programme has been excellent with more than 30 people applying for the initial 10 places. Trainee selection has now started for the second pilot and the skills team will be looking to extend the scheme to other fit-out skills and to other areas of the country.
Working in collaboration with CITB and in partnership with Tyne Metropolitan College, Jobcentre Plus and Dry Lining & Plastering Training Forum (DLPTF), the programme is designed to provide opportunities for job seekers who are serious about developing a career in drylining. Trainees complete a two-week Specialist Upskilling Programme (SUP) in drylining at Tyne Metropolitan College to develop the skills and competencies required, followed by two weeks’ work placement on-site with a local employer. All trainees will be offered at least one job interview and those who secure full-time employment with an employer will have their fees paid for ongoing training to NVQ Level 2 in drylining. In addition, each trainee will receive free personal protective equipment (PPE) from Encon Group and obtain their CSCS card.
Paul Glover, BuildBack project manager said “Now that the SUP and work experience elements of the BuildBack programme have been completed for the first cohort, I was delighted to hear that one member of the team has already been offered a job with the employer he was placed with. This shows that the BuildBack programme works and I’m now looking forward to hearing how the rest of the of the trainees proceed during the interview stage.”
FIS president Steve Coley and MP for North Tyneside, Mary Glindon, will be attending the BuildBack open day. Along with representatives from our partnerships and local employers, they will experience first-hand the trainees putting their drylining training into practice.
To download the BuildBack brochures and watch the progress videos, click here.
Smart gloves embedded with tiny sensors have been developed by Nottingham Trent University to help protect workers from exposure to vibration. The technology will warn wearers to stop work when a dangerous level of exposure to vibrations is about to be experienced.
Workers most at risk are those who regularly use power tools such as concrete breakers, sanders, grinders, hammer drills and chainsaws. According to the HSE, more than 10,000 claims have been made for vibration white finger and carpal tunnel syndrome over the last decade.
The smart gloves look just like a traditional pair of worker’s gloves and can be washed without any damage to the technology. The vibration sensors are only two millimetres long and are encapsulated and embedded into the yarns which are knitted into the gloves.
Government has issued a consultation proposing to introduce a VAT reverse charge in construction. This will affect many firms within FIS membership and we should respond as soon as possible; it is likely that legislation will be enacted quickly due to the Government’s classification as serious fraud.
We have a short window to influence what will be introduced – the consultation opened on 20 March and will close on 9 June.
It is essential that anyone and everyone who is involved with the accounting for contracts and has any knowledge of VAT, reads the proposals and sends FIS their views and responds to the consultation. We need your views and ideas about which proposals will work and which will be difficult and costly to operate.
This proposal is unlikely to go away simply because we say we do not like it. If it is unworkable, we must make suggestions to make it more workable.
Please follow this link to the government consultation document and also email your comments to FIS: info@thefis.org
As part of a major crackdown by the Competition and Markets Authority, whistleblowers are being offered up to £100,000 for exposing price-fixing in construction.
The reward is being highlighted as the CMA launches its first-ever advertising campaign to stamp out cartel activity.
It applies to all industries, but recent research by the CMA highlighted construction as most at risk to anti-competitive behaviour. The research revealed that 44% of businesses who had been in contact with others in their industry, were in contact in relation to a transaction and approaching one in 10 openly reported that they had discussed prices. This rose to 22% for the construction sector.
Construction also exhibited the strongest signs of anti-competitive behaviour with over two-fifths of businesses feeling they had been disadvantaged through the non-compliant behaviour of competitors.
Businesses found to have been involved in illegal cartels can be fined up to 10% of their annual turnover, while individuals can face up to five years in prison and directors can be disqualified from holding director positions for up to 10 years. These can be reduced or eliminated altogether where a business or individual reports their involvement in a cartel and co-operates fully with the CMA’s investigation.
To report a cartel, email: cartelshotline@cma.gsi.gov.uk or telephone 0800 085 1664 / 020 3738 6888.
