To support the new Interior Systems Installer Apprenticeship Standard, with its pathways for Drylining and Ceiling Fixing and Partitions and to grow support for the existing framework in Wales and the Scottish Modern Apprenticeship, FIS is encouraging members to sign a new Interior Systems Installer Apprenticeship Pledge.

The sector is being hard hit by a skills shortage, with a recent survey highlighting that over 60% of FIS Members are now impacted.  Problems are expected to worsen over the summer and, with new data from the ONS suggesting that the net migration of labour could be worse than many feared, a collective effort from the sector is essential.  In Q1 2019, the finishes and interiors sector was reliant on EU workers for 40% of its workforce – the latest ONS data, indicates that, by the end of Q1 2021, the number of EU construction workers available has fallen by a worrying 46%.

“The sector has relied on a flow of new skilled workers from the EU, but the new immigration rules have well and truly turned this tap off.  Before you factor in those EU workers that have left and may or may not come back, we need to fill the void left by those that would, in the past have come.  This means doubling our numbers for domestic training programmes.  For every 5% of EU Workers that do not return, this number doubles again!  We need to adjust our approach now and ensure that we are doing all we can to attract and train a new army of workers.  The Pledge is very much a rally call to our sector – we need to work together on this one.”

Commenting on the work so far, Damian Treanor of Errigal stated:  “We need to get acknowledgement that Drylining is fully recognised as a professional trade within our industry.  It is time for all contractors within the finishes and interiors sector to take a united approach in the recruiting, training and development of our young people to secure a stable growth for the future.

No matter what size of business, if you are developing your culture with a view to a long term approach we would encourage all to consider taking the pledge.

Like others, we have established a successful 2 year apprenticeship with an additional 2 years CPD programme to further develop skills and knowledge. The Drywall trade is at the forefront of all internal works within the industry and we need all major clients and contractors to recognise the importance of a collective training approach for the future of the trade.”

So far the initiative is off to an encouraging start with signed Pledges received from Errigal Contracts, Measom, Tapper Interiors, Veitchi Group, ATJ Group, Horbury Group, CG Reynolds, SCL Interiors and Platt and Reilly.  Already this collectively amounts to a commitment of over 150 new apprenticeships per year over the next 5 years.

The pledge is based on a focus on culture, commitment, collaboration and quality.  As part of its own commitment to the Pledge, FIS is working to build a network of Approved Providers, develop resources to support consistent delivery and working closely with individual employers to help align support, funding and structure their apprenticeship programmes.  FIS is also working to support recruitment through the FIS BuildBack programme and through the Government’s Kickstart scheme.  The work is being led by a dedicated Employers Group which is helping to support a collaborative and focussed approach.

Early adopter, Andrew Measom who has played an active role in the employers group leading this work added “Apprenticeships are essential in addressing the labour and skills gap in our industry.  They are a productive and effective way to bring in and grow young talent and develop a motivated, skilled, and qualified workforce. If a fixer has come through the apprenticeship, we can be confident they have been trained to a consistent standard”.

FIS Skills and Training Lead George Swann said, “by taking on an apprentice your organisation is investing in its own future, its own succession plan. There are numerous well documented benefits to investing in apprenticeships including a positive impact on productivity.  There is now no age limit for an apprentice and at this time there are a number of attractive financial incentives for employers.  If you need more information give us a call, FIS can help with recruitment, selection and finding a reliable Training Provider”.

• A copy of the FIS Interior Systems Installer Apprenticeship Pledge can be downloaded here (to speak to one of our team about signing call 0121 707 0077 or email info@thefis.org)
• More information on FIS support available to support apprentices here
• More information on using BuildBack and Kickstart to support your recruitment

The Cabinet Office has published the independent review of public sector frameworks undertaken by Professor David Mosey, which sets out 24 recommendations for a new ‘Gold Standard’ designed to ‘improve the outcomes delivered by framework strategies procurement, contracting and management and to avoid the pitfalls of bureaucratic and inconsistent practices’. By helping clients and suppliers to create and implement Gold Standard action plans under current frameworks, it is hoped that Government and industry can achieve the objectives of the Construction Playbook to deliver projects ‘faster, better and greener’.

Recommendation 20 promotes the use of the Common Assessment Standard to ‘reduce procurement costs by consistent and proportionate assessment of [suppliers’] economic and financial standing’. The Common Assessment Standard is being rolled out across the industry with a growing list of organisations using it for their PQ requirements, and members of the supply chain can obtain certification from any one of three Recognised Assessment Bodies ‐ Achilles, CHAS or Constructionline.

There is little doubt that with escalating costs forcing us to look ever more carefully at productivity, initiatives like the Golden Thread and BIM and basic customer requirements for us to communicate better, share information in a more structured way and streamline processes that the wave of new digital solutions hitting us are part of the solution, but they can feel part of the problem!

The good news is that help is out there.  Following on from developing the Digital Spine in 2021 (a tool to help explain and contextualise technology), FIS have launched a new impartial digital construction helpline and mentoring service in partnership with Digital Construction Skills.  Beyond the advice, guidance and developing case studies we are also looking at opportunities to identify funding to support investment.  Beyond R&D Tax Credits (which can be an excellent way to recoup investment), we have identified two options that may be worth consideration for FIS Members.

The CITB Skills and Training Fund

Get £10 – £25k for digital Skills training including laser scanner, BIM, AutoCAD, 3D mapping and modelling, robotic total station or drones training.

 The criteria for the CITB medium sized Skills and Training Fund has changed. Through this fund, construction companies with between 100 and 250 employees can apply for between £10,000 and £25,000 (depending on their size).  Note: CITB have removed the criteria that the training must be new, therefore allowing businesses to repeat things they have done before or use the funding for skills related training.

The Help to Grow Digital scheme to support smaller businesses in adopting digital technologies is now open for applications.

Under the scheme, eligible businesses can receive discounts of up to £5,000 off the retail price of approved digital accounting and CRM software from leading technology suppliers. This software will assist them in effectively managing finances and building customer relationships, and help them to scale up.

Businesses can also access practical support and advice on how to choose the right digital technologies to boost their growth and productivity through a new online platform.

A toolkit to promote the scheme is available here.

Commenting on these funds, Saffron Grant FIS Digital Champion stated:

“This is another example of the support out there for SMEs to take that giant leap into the digital space that in many cases is only a small step!  Through the FIS free digital helpline we can help to talk you through the options and help you identify how you can make use of funding of this type.  The digital revolution is happening in construction, but it comes with a lot of noise and misinformation.  The work we are doing with FIS is about helping to tap into the right support and to find your digital path.”

More support via the FIS Digital Toolkit