We are delighted to announce the launch of a new service for FIS members in 2022.  FIS have partnered with Digital Construction Skills (DCS) to give you free access to the Digital Construction Helpline. This service is FREE TO FIS MEMBERS.  There are no forms to fill in, simply book a 15, 30 or 60 minute call with a digital construction specialist who can help you:

• Get started on your digital journey
• Address a specific problem or challenge you are facing in your business
• Identify the funding and support available to help you on your digital journey
• Narrow down the technologies which could most benefit your business
• Select the right digital tools based on your needs, budget and specific circumstances.
• Identify skills gaps which are holding back digital progress in your business

This service is aimed at business owners, directors or senior managers with responsibility for business improvement or digital change in your company.  The DCS digital construction specialists have recent, real-world experience on the front line of the construction industry and are specialists in the technical and commercial aspects of digital construction including digitalising information flow as well as physical elements such as 3D models and reality capture – they are supported by CITB funding.  This service is ideal for you if any of the following apply to you:

• You haven’t yet explored how digital tools can help you, but know there is room for improvement in your business
• You have identified where you could improve your processes or activities using digital solutions and are ready to get started
• You have already started selecting or implementing digital tools but have hit challenges or simply stalled
• You would like to increase your profitability, grow your business or tender for bigger jobs
• You would like to access other funding and support available which can help you with digital enablement

Here’s what others have said about the support they have received:

“Digital Construction Skills helped us access funding to help us train our staff in a new digital platform we are rolling out across our business.” – Andy Dalrymple, Managing Director, Mackenzie Construction

“Within our first session with Digital Construction Skills, we identified the types of digital tools which could help us save time and money and ruled out the ones that weren’t relevant to us.” – Keith Burrell, CEO, Procladd (Scotland) Ltd

Commenting on the new service FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee stated:

“It is great to partner with DCS to support the work of our Digital Construction Working Group. This is an area we know we are lagging a bit relative to other parts of the economy and where massive opportunity is mirrored by often impenetrable language.  Our starting point is looking at the tools we can use to help improve productivity, but also helping to improve relationships, information exchange and deliver against the requirements of the Golden Thread.  As well as the introduction of the new helpline and mentoring service, the programme this year will see a number regular workshops, built on successful integration of technology within businesses in our community.   These workshops and structured feedback through the helpline will help us to sections of our Digital Spine concept and ensure we are supporting transformation in our sector, but more importantly to help individual businesses to make the right decisions about embracing digital technology in their business.”

The helpline can be accessed via 0121 707 0077.

You can secure your space on the next interactive online workshop (focussed on Cost Management Software) here.

You can access the FIS Digital Spine here.

 

The CLC Site Operating Procedures have been republished to provide up to date guidance for sites in response to the Omicron variant. The Site Operating Procedures ‐ Version 9 incorporates the following key changes:

• A revised introduction to recognise that working with COVID‐19 is now ‘business as usual’ for the industry
• Appropriate language to reflect the current situation on site, for example ‘managing’ rather than ‘restricting’ numbers of workers
• Removing out of date references to when to go to work, shielding etc.

The Build UK COVID‐19 flowchart also continues to be updated in line with the latest rules on self‐isolation. Anyone who is asymptomatic and receives a positive lateral flow test in England is now no longer required to take a PCR test, guidance for the rest of the UK is available through the FIS COVID-19 Hub.

Download the CLC Site Operating Procedures here

Paul Cossell, Vice Chair of ISG, has been elected as the new Build UK Chair. Paul has served as a Director on the Build UK Board since September 2020 and replaces Andy Steele, who stepped down in November 2021.

Commenting on his appointment, Paul said:

“It is a privilege to be the new Chair of Build UK. I believe passionately in the value of a powerful voice representing our industry at the highest levels. Throughout the pandemic, as we tackle the multi‐generational challenge of building greener, better and faster and the associated need to attract the brightest and best talent into our industry, Build UK has proved to be a dynamic force for transformational change.”

One of the biggest lessons 2021 taught us is just how important HR and Health & Safety compliance is for keeping your business and your people safe.

To help start 2022 on the right track, FIS Associate Member and HR and employment law specialists Citation, have pulled together their essential HR and Health & Safety pointers to help you get a handle on your business’ compliance from the very start.

DOWNLOAD: https://tinyurl.com/fis22checklist 

Learn some essential points from both an HR and Health & Safety perspective to help get a handle on the foundations of compliance, including:

• • Important updates to documentation such as contracts and handbooks
• • Reminders about recruitment, performance reviews, training and onboarding
• • Reviewing and updating risk assessments, plus other assessments such as fire risk and legionella
• • Essential testing and training, particularly if procedures have since changed.

Your FIS member benefit
If you’d like to chat about how Citation can help with the HR and Health & Safety side of your business, just give them a call on 0345 844 1111, or fill in their call-back form and they’ll get right back to you. Quote ‘The Finishes and Interiors Sector’ when enquiring to access your member benefit.

The prompt payment threshold for suppliers bidding for Government contracts above £5 million per annum will be increased again from 1 April 2022. In accordance with updated Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 08/21, suppliers will be required to show that they pay 90% of invoices within 60 days and have an action plan in place to achieve the required standard of 95% in future, otherwise they risk being prevented from bidding. Currently a company can still pass if they pay 85% of invoices within 60 days and submit an action plan, and the Cabinet Office is continuing to take a phased approach with the threshold being “ratcheted up over time until it reaches 95%”.