News
KickStart funding deadline approaching
Businesses have until midday on Friday 17 December to apply for funding through the Kickstart Scheme. The scheme, which is running until March 2022, provides funding to create new jobs for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term...
Changes to the Prompt Payment Code
The Prompt Payment Code has confirmed that compliance with the new requirement to pay 95% of invoices from businesses with fewer than 50 employees within 30 days is being enforced from a signatory’s next full reporting period. For companies with a financial year...
Updated COVID Advice for the Construction Sector
The Government has introduced a number of temporary COVID‐19 measures from 30 November in response to the emergence of the Omicron variant in the UK: Close contacts of suspected Omicron cases will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and legally required to self‐isolate...
A tighter definition of “Placed on the Market” is good news
New guidance issued by the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy means manufacturers and distributers can breath a bit of a sigh of release, but problems and a lack of clarity still prevail. New tighter guidance issued in November clearly states: "An...
£45 million package to train staff and help Welsh SMEs grow
A £45 million package of funding that will help small businesses across Wales to grow and support thousands of people to train to work in key sectors is being made available by the Welsh Government, Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething has announced. As part of the...
Deadline approaching for apprentice incentive payment
The deadline for employers to apply for the incentive payment for new apprentices hired between April and September 2021 is fast approaching. Eligible employers must apply for their incentive payment by 30 November 2021. how to apply video including a walk through of...
FIS Statement: Shortages in the finishes and interiors sector, the what, why, when and how?
Latest update 30th March The year started with concerns around labour, which endure, but it is the material shortages of 2021 are starting to give way to energy related concerns linked to the escalation of tragic events in Ukraine. Key areas impacting FIS members are...
Help to Grow Digital aims to help businesses adopt new digital technologies
Help to Grow: Digital (HtGD) is a UK-wide government-backed scheme that aims to help SMEs choose, buy and adopt digital technologies that will help them grow their business. The initiative will be launched in December 2021 and could help up to 100,000 businesses adopt...
FIS representing sector at Virtual Careers Fair in December
FIS is representing the finishes and interiors sector at the The virtual Apprenticeships: Earn while you learn careers fair. The event will allow young people from across the UK to find out more about apprenticeships within different sectors across the UK. It will...