by Clair Mooney | 19 Oct, 2022 | Contractual and Legal, Lens Blog, Main News Feed
FIS Consultant Len Bunton continues with the theme of getting paid, and what options are open to FIS members. These monthly Blogs are designed to help FIS Members avoid common traps and build on our focus on collective experience.
One of the things you need to do is to make sure your invoice goes to the right person in the organisations who you are working for on a project, so establish that from the outset before work commences on site. In fact, I would encourage you to have this in the minutes in the Pre-Start Meeting Minutes, so there is absolutely no disagreement on this.
There has been an interesting survey recently which looked at why invoices are often rejected as follows…
by Clair Mooney | 13 Oct, 2022 | Main News Feed
The Small Business Commissioner has issued a self‐declaration form to signatories of the Prompt Payment Code, which are required to show they pay 95% of invoices to SMEs within 30 days and 95% of other invoices in 60 days.
Signatories will have until 9 November 2022 to return their self-declaration forms to certify they are still compliant with the Code.
Build UK’s payment performance table provides information on over 100 of the industry’s largest companies.
by Clair Mooney | 13 Oct, 2022 | Main News Feed
The Joint Code of Practice for Fire Prevention on Construction Sites, published by CIP Books, has been updated and made freely available to download. The 10th Edition of the code applies to all activities during design, procurement and construction to help projects design out risks and adopt safe working practices. Often used as a condition of construction insurance, the scope of the code applies to projects with an original contract value of £2.5 million or above, including smaller value contracts on these projects.
by Clair Mooney | 13 Oct, 2022 | Main News Feed
The new generation of Pagabo’s refit and refurbishment framework, will replace the current framework, which expires in February.
The new generation will run for four years from April 2023 and provide a compliant and collaborative route to market for public sector clients to procure refurbishment works valued at £50,000 and above.
SMEs are encouraged to apply for positions on the five value based lots
With a total value of £1bn and to meet the demand for Pagabo’s growing base of national clients across all major business sectors, the framework will be split into five value-based lots as follows:
- Lot 1 – £50k to £500k
- Lot 2 – £500k to £1m
- Lot 3 – £1m to £5m
- Lot 4 – £5m to £15m
- Lot 5 – £15m+
Under these lots, up to nine contractors will be allocated to regional sub lots, comprising six core and three reserve suppliers.
A number of these places are reserved for SMEs to ensure fair access for organisations of any size, to provide choice for clients, and to ensure the generation of maximum positive social impact for communities.
Client organisations will be able to both direct award and further compete their requirements
Suppliers on the core list will be eligible for direct appointments and further competitions, and those on the reserve list will only be eligible for direct appointments. However, they will be included in further competitions should not enough from the core list respond to a further competition expression of interest.
Red Kite Learning Trust (RKLT) will be the contracting authority for the new agreement, continuing its role from the current iteration of the framework.
Maintaining social value and adhering to the Construction Playbook with the refit and refurbishment framework
Jason Stapley, managing director at Pagabo, said:
“The performance of the original Refit and Refurbishment Framework shows that there is a definite requirement for this type of procurement solution, and after lots of work we are now pleased to be inviting suppliers to submit tenders.
“As this is a second-generation framework, we have liaised with the contracting authority, existing client organisations and potential suppliers to gain feedback on the current version. This has allowed us to examine what has worked well, and where through changes more organisations can benefit from use of the framework – along with any changes to keep our processes at the forefront of the procurement golden standard and adherence to the Construction Playbook.
“As always, social value remains at the centre of our actions. Both client organisations that use this – and our other frameworks – and the appointed contractors will have access to a free version of Loop’s social value software for all Pagabo procured projects. This access will allow them to report on and demonstrate the social value being generated by the project and their actions.”
by Clair Mooney | 6 Oct, 2022 | Main News Feed
At its AGM on 6 October, FIS announced its newly elected Board Directors, along with its new President.
Philip Brown, Director of contractor member Meronden, has been on the FIS Board of Directors for five years and will now start his two-year Presidency, following his appointment by his fellow directors.
Philip has more than 45 years’ experience in the construction industry. He started out as an apprentice before going on to project manage numerous interior works, gaining indepth knowledge and experience within the industry before joining Meronden Ltd in 1997 as director.
At his first address to members, Philip said:
“I am a living and breathing contractor – none of this is academic to me, the work that FIS is doing, our vision of the future has to be grounded in the reality of today and we need FIS has to be reactive and flexible, to be there, not just with helpful insight into the future, but to be focussed on helping us to navigate there, to take the next step.”
Also joining the Board from 6 October as executive directors are, Will Hart of Taylor Hart and Kate Hawkins of Stanmore, both contractor members of FIS, and Nigel Watkins of Rockfon, Alan Brown of Forza Doors and Jonathan Cherry of British Gypsum, all supplier members of FIS.
Iain McIlwee, FIS Chief Executive welcomed new Board members and said:
“We’re delighted to announce these appointments to continue the strong leadership at FIS and take FIS on to its next chapter of growth and success.”
He also thanked outgoing President, Helen Tapper for her phenomenal leadership and dedication to the industry. Helen will remain on the Board as Immediate Past President.
Full details on the FIS Board is available at https://www.thefis.org/about-us/board/
by Clair Mooney | 5 Oct, 2022 | Main News Feed
FIS is delighted to announce the appointment of Beena Nana as Head of Skills and Training. In her first three months Beena will be concentrating on the FIS BuildBack programme which ends this year, before taking over from Skills and Training Lead George Swan who retires in March.
Beena has extensive experience in the skills and training arena. She is particularly well versed in SME liaison and apprenticeship, having worked for the Department of Education for many years.
In her new role, Beena will continue to develop the company’s skills strategy including integrating the ground-breaking work FIS is doing on Competency Passports and Frameworks into FIS sector recruitment activity.
Working with industry stakeholders such as CITB and DWP, Beena will lead the company’s efforts to attract new entrants to the sector, qualify the workforce, develop competency plans and support members with their training needs.
Beena commented:
“I am truly excited with my appointment, working in an organisation where I have the opportunity to make a real difference to the sector. Having worked in a similar role, I’m looking forward to working with our members and on the exciting projects ahead of us.”
FIS CEO Iain McIlwee said:
“Beena brings a wealth of experience and some new ways of thinking to the FIS team. Without doubt the shortages in our workforce and the new and more onerous requirements to demonstrate and manage competency are the biggest systemic challenge we face as a sector. Whether you believe recruiting more people, working more productively or evolving to new ways of working are the answer, and the truth is likely to be a combination of the three, the answer is in training and development. We have an ambitious and progressive plan in place to support our community in terms of the recruitment of new people and development of competency plans – Beena will be working with our members to take this to the next level.”
