by Clair Mooney | 23 Mar, 2023 | Main News Feed, Skills
CITB’s latest Construction Skills Network report highlights that 224,900 workers will be required over the next five years to meet the demands of the construction industry. To help employers tackle the skills shortage of workers across the industry, and to address rising costs, CITB has made changes to its grants from April 2023.
The CITB Grants Scheme is available to all CITB-registered employers and provides financial support for employers who offer construction-specific training to their workforce. Below is an overview of the changes:
- Grant rates doubled for short courses. Employers can now receive up to £240 grant when an individual successfully completes a short course from 1st April 2023.
- Grant rates have been increased to support individuals impacted by the withdrawal of the Industry Accreditation card. Grant rates for specific supervision and management qualifications have increased to £1,250 and £1,500 for achievements from 1st April 2023.
- The grant application deadline has been extended to 52 weeks for all grant types.
You can find out more information on the CITB website at www.citb.co.uk/levy-grants-and-funding/grants-and-funding/what-s-new-in-the-grants-scheme
by Iain McIlwee | 17 Mar, 2023 | Main News Feed
The Competition and Markets Authority announced that they have launched a market study focused on housebuilding in England, Scotland and Wales. Alongside this, they have also launched a separate project on consumer rights in rented homes. The CMA’s market study into housebuilding will focus on four areas: Housing qualities, land management, local authority oversight, and innovation.
The CMA’s consumer enforcement work in housing will focus on: the end-to-end experience from a tenant’s perspective and identifying the consumer protection issues that may arise. The full announcement with further details can be found here.
FIS Members will note that all meetings start with a clear statement:
Members are reminded they agree to conform to FIS policy to comply with the Competition Act 1998. The meeting is convened and held in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association of FIS and the regulations made by the Association. The Association has in place procedures to ensure compliance with all relevant competition laws and the meeting is subject to those procedures.
New guidance was published for all members through BuildUK in 2022 to help support compliance through your business.
You can download the latest guidance on complying with UK Competition Law here
by Clair Mooney | 16 Mar, 2023 | Main News Feed
With his 4 E’s and a Growth Agenda, there was some welcome news in the Budget, not least that the UK is unlikely to enter recession this year. It is also great to finally see key trades in our sector, such as Plastering, Drylining and Carpentry and Joinery finally getting recognised as Shortage Occupations (we have been round the houses on this for the best part of three years now!). The support for investment, ongoing energy support and fuel duty announcements are also welcome, but the hard landing of Help to Buy is, perhaps, a little short sighted as it will almost certainly keep the brakes on for much needed building of homes. It will be interesting to see how much activity the investment zones generate and support investment in property across the UK.
As ever, Prof Noble Francis of the CPA has done an amazing job in summarising the key points for FIS Members. Members can access this here.
by Clair Mooney | 16 Mar, 2023 | Main News Feed
FIS has launched a revised Client Guide to Office Fit-Out and Refurbishment to promote best practice in the fit-out process and to take account of new working practices post-pandemic, the Building Safety Act and advances in sustainability.
First published in 2017, this updated guide is aimed at clients, contractors and architects involved in fit-out projects in a changing world. For clients, creating or adapting an office fit-out that can suit businesses in an environment where hybrid working has become the norm can prove daunting. The publication will guide them through the process from the initial decision as to whether to refurbiush an existing office or relocate and fit-out new premises, through to post-occupancy evaluation. It explains step-by-step the process, along with outlining the professional help available to help ensure a successful outcome.
The revised guide reflects the driving forces behind changes to office space design. In the first instance, it considers the responsibilities of a client and other implications of the Building Safety Act such as the interaction with ‘higher risk buildings’ (as defined in the legislation), and how to consider the impact in the early stages of planning a fit-out. It also reflects the evolution and rapid maturation of best practices and methods of measurement relating to sustainability.
Furthermore, the guide will take account of the digitisation of construction information combined with the increasing adoption of video conferencing technology and other post pandemic implications to ways of working that can mean significant changes to the way offices are designed.
Commenting on the launch of the this updated guide, FIS CEO Iain McIlwee said:
“The guide to office fit-out and refurbishment was developed in 2017 by FIS but since then we have seen many changes in the market including the passing of the Building Safety Act which places new emphasis on safety and digitisation of construction data to fulfil the golden thread of information.
“The updated and revised guide will consider these significant changes whilst at the same time assist clients with the task of fitting out or refurbishing their offices and to promote best practice in the fit-out process.”
The guide is freely available from the FIS website at https://www.thefis.org/membership-hub/publications/client-guide-to-fit-out/
by Iain McIlwee | 14 Mar, 2023 | Labour, Main News Feed
The Construction Leadership Council has published its report of shortage occupations in construction and its updated guidance to help construction businesses access the Points Based Immigration System.
In February 2023, the CLC submitted stakeholder evidence to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), detailing shortage occupations that could be considered for inclusion on the Shortage Occupation List of the UK’s Points Based Immigration System, as well as potential roles to be added to the Skilled Worker route.
The CLC’s Movement of People Working Group compiled a comprehensive report, detailing its recommendations, an evidence base, the actions industry is taking to increase the domestic workforce as well as other ideas to help tackle skills shortages.
The CLC recommended the following occupations for inclusion on the Shortage Occupation List:
- Plasterers, Dry Liners and Ceiling Fixers
- Carpenters and Joiners
- General Labourers
- Bricklayers and Masons
- Ground Workers
- Piling Rig Operatives
- Plant Operatives
- Retrofit Co-ordinators
- Road Construction Operatives
- Roofers, Roof Tilers and Slaters
- Scaffolders, Stagers and Riggers
- Steel Erectors
- Thermal Insulators
The MAC is expected to report on construction shortages in due course.
Commenting, Co-Chair of the CLC and Group Chairman and CEO of MACE, Mark Reynolds said:
“The CLC is committed to building our domestic construction workforce and championing construction as one of the best career choices for new entrants but the fact is we are still currently facing chronic shortages. A dynamic immigration system allows us to bridge gaps in workforce need and meet the people requirement for the sector’s pipeline of work. That’s why we are calling for the inclusion of these occupations in the shortage occupation list, to help make it a little easier to access the right people, at the right time’.
FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee added:
“Data from our recent Skills Pulse Survey underpins that 40% of businesses are still experiencing shortages in skilled labour and this is likely to worsen as volumes pick up constraining potential growth. The training sector is rapidly scaling up, but doesn’t provide a quick fix. We are grateful to colleagues from across the construction sector for pulling together and pooling our resources to help make this detailed submission to Government and the MAC and focussing on how we can add a bit of flexibility to the system”.
Access the full report here.
Access the CLC’s revised 2023 Immigration Guidance ‘Movement of People – What you should know’ here.
by Clair Mooney | 10 Mar, 2023 | Main News Feed
