by Clair Mooney | 11 Aug, 2022 | Main News Feed
As the deadline for transition from CE to UKCA marking approaches, and in response to continuous industry pressure over capacity and capability, there has been an announcement from the Government regarding some provisions that have been agreed to simplify UKCA marking for products in England, Scotland and Wales.
The full guidance from the Government can be found here, but the principal changes of interest as they relate to construction products are summarised below.
Spares – The UK will continue to accept spares onto the GB market to repair, replace and maintain products to the same conformity requirements in place at the time the original product or system was placed on the GB market.
- Businesses will need documentary evidence to demonstrate the intended use of a product as a spare part.
- This applies to products in stock as spares before the deadline. FIS is seeking further clarity on whether any nuance exists for construction products after the deadline.
Imported Goods – Existing CE marked stock imported into GB under contract before the end of 2022 will not need re-testing and re-marking.
- Products imported into GB for further manufacture or processing, will not be considered as placed on the market.
- FIS is seeking further clarity on the definition of “further manufacture or processing”.
Re-Testing Costs – Manufacturers whose products are tested under AVCP System 3 by an EU notified body before 31 December 2022 can use this evidence to obtain a UKCA mark without having to retest through a UK approved body.
- All new testing after this date must be done through a UK approved body.
Reduce Re-Testing Costs – The UK will allow certificates provided by non-UK conformity assessment bodies (CABs) issued before the end of this year to be used as a basis for UKCA marking certification.
- The goods must still bear the UKCA marking, and will need to undergo conformity assessment with a UK Approved Body at the expiry of the certificate or after 5 years (whichever is sooner).
There is no clarification at this time if the EU intends to mirror any of these simplification measures, so it is assumed that there are no relaxations on the use of EU notified bodies and/or CE marking goods that are being sent to the EU.
Please take some time to review how this will impact your businesses and let us know what outstanding questions or inconsistencies remain so that we can feed these back to Government.
FIS has created how-to guidance for its members which can be Conformity Marking – how-to guidance.
by Clair Mooney | 9 Aug, 2022 | Main News Feed
The Recovery Loan Scheme, which originally launched in April 2021 to help businesses recovering from the pandemic, has been extended to 2024.
The maximum loan size remains at up to £2m, and the principle behind the extended scheme remains unchanged: the government will underwrite 70% of lender liabilities, at the individual borrower level, in return for a lender fee. Lenders must ensure that the benefits of the government guarantee are passed through to businesses.
Full details of the scheme are available on GOV.UK.
by Clair Mooney | 8 Aug, 2022 | Main News Feed
The Gypsum Products Development Association (GPDA) who represent the Gypsum based building materials industry have issued an update on the use and limitations of drywall specifications and standard details which can be accessed here.
by Clair Mooney | 5 Aug, 2022 | Main News Feed
Now that Making Tax Digital for VAT has started to bed in, we can expect to see HMRC starting to impose penalties for failures to comply with the detail of the legislation; so now is the time to make sure you have checked your process. More information on how to avoid penalties for Making Tax Digital for VAT is available here.
by Clair Mooney | 4 Aug, 2022 | Main News Feed
The New Hospital Programme (NHP) is hosting an Industry Day on Tuesday 20 September to outline how businesses across the supply chain can play a role in the biggest hospital building programme in a generation. With a target to develop 48 hospitals by 2030, the NHP will set out how it is building better, faster and greener ahead of the forthcoming procurement launch of the NHP’s Framework Alliance. Places are limited and members can register their interest to attend either in‐person at the Vox Conference Venue in Birmingham (B40 1PU) or online.
The NHP has previously published the NHP Supplier Guide outlining what it requires from its supply chain, along with the first NHP commercial pipeline which provides visibility of current and future contract opportunities up to 2024.
by Jane Knight | 28 Jul, 2022 | Main News Feed
With the sector needing to recruit more than 5,000 new entrants each year to maintain output and keep up with the forecasted growth of the construction industry the need for employers and those joining the industry to understand the different routes of entry is more important than ever. FIS is producing Skills Fact Sheets to provide information, advice and guidance on the various ways young people get introduced to the construction industry and the finishes and interiors sector, including Apprenticeships, Traineeships, T-Levels and Degrees. Whilst not all employers can take on an apprentice, most can offer work experience or provide support to schools, colleges or universities to help inspire the next generation to choose construction.
Attract T-Level students through work placement
There are a number of progression options open to sixth form students. These include skilled employment, an apprenticeship and/or university education. If you would like to offer an Industrial Placement for T-Level students, you can register at Employers Next Steps or call 08000 150 600 (choose option 4). There is T Levels and industry placement support for employers available for employers that explains the process and expectations.
T-Levels are courses which follow GCSEs and are equivalent to 3 A levels. These 2-year courses are for 16 to 19 year olds, sixth form students, and have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work, further training or study. T-Levels offer students a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement of at least 45 days. Most of the learning will take place in the classroom which makes them different from an Apprenticeship. The industrial placement can take place as a block, day release or a mix of these. There are currently two Construction T-Levels:
- Design, surveying and planning for construction the course offers a core knowledge of how the construction industry works, the principles of design and the role of technology and sustainability. Students then have the chance to specialise in either Building services design, Civil engineering, Hazardous materials analysis or surveying.
- Onsite construction learners have the option to cover at least one trade from a choice of bricklaying, carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating or plastering.
There’s CSCS Card for Industry Placement: https://www.cscs.uk.com/card-type/industry-placement-card/ specially for T-Level and Traineeship students.
Traineeships are for people not in employment, contact your local college and ask what Traineeships they are delivering and how your organisation can support by offering a work placement. There is a Traineeship for Dryliners.
Become a STEM Ambassador
FIS is working with the Construct STEM Ambassador network to produce presentation packages bespoke to finishes and interiors occupations. FIS is hosting a one hour webinar on Wednesday 07 September 2022 starting at 12:00 on how to become a Construction STEM Ambassador for more details and to register please here. This webinar is intended to help members understand what they can do to build the pipeline of skills and support new entrants to find their first opportunity in construction and hopefully in the sector. The commitment as an Ambassador is deliver at two events per year.
Harness the skills of HM Forces leavers
HM Forces Service Leavers are considered a strong recruitment source of willing capable people. FIS are partnered with the charity Building Heroes and this organisation is an FIS member. Established in 2014, Building Heroes is a gateway service supporting military families. This organisation provides training and employment support to service leavers who are looking for a new career in construction by training individuals with a broad range of trade skills and then connecting them with a network of employers. Building Heroes recruitment provides a personalised service that matches the right candidate to the right job. Embedded in their training is a Drylining option, aligned to the FIS BuildBack programme. The organisation is currently looking to place individuals who have completed this programme (a two weeks of introduction) with Fit-out employers. For further information including details of their introduction fees please contact Rachel Fianko rachelf@buildingheroes.org.uk
In addition, the Regular Forces Employment Association (RFEA) also provide support to Service leavers, reservists, veterans and their families to enable them to access new careers and training opportunities. Through their links with the Careers Transition Partnership, employers can access a high quality, no cost recruitment service. Candidates are highly motivated and experienced ex-military personnel, ready to bring their considerable skills and abilities to your organisation. Find out more
Utilise Job Centre Plus
The Department for Work and Pensions can arrange work placements through Job Centre Plus. This service together with a variety of employer support for recruitment is available free of charge for more details see here.
FIS is here to help and has a section on our website dedicated to collating advice, ideas and support to help your recruitment efforts – you can access information on recruiting school leavers, ex-offenders, service leavers, career switchers, offering work placements and how to focus on greater diversity here. If you want to talk about what more you can do and the support available for your own efforts to recruit, FIS have a dedicated team to help.
