News
When can we expect a return to the Office/Workplace
As lockdown starts to ease, we look at what the guidance is for non-site-based work in the sector. Whilst the overall National effort and the flexibility shown by individuals has been nothing short of amazing, concerns are being raised that it is difficult to do many...
National Skills Fund – fully funded Level 3 qualifications for over 24’s
From April 2021, any adult aged 24 and over who wants to achieve their first full level 3 qualification, which is equivalent to a technical certificate or diploma, will be able to access almost 400 fully funded courses. The qualification list will be updated each...
New economic report will help Forum assist with green recovery in Scotland
The CICV Forum (supported by FIS) has published an in-depth report aimed at helping public bodies make decisions on where public funding in construction gives the highest economic returns to help support a green recovery. The report, carried out by Fraser of Allander...
Lockdown Easing and Workplace COVID‐19 Testing
The Prime Minister has confirmed the Government’s four‐step plan for a ‘cautious’ route out of lockdown in England. The current restrictions will be gradually relaxed, beginning with schools and colleges reopening from 8 March, and four specific tests will need to be...
HS&E test price increase
On 1 April 2021 CITB will be increasing the price of the Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test products by £1. This price increase was delayed by a year due to COVID-19. It will ensure that CITB can continue to invest in the test, so that it remains up to...
2021 is a CITB Consensus Year
A proposed offer to industry stating what priorities CITB has identified in order to train and qualify the construction industry and how CITB levy will be collected for the next three years, 2022 to 2025, will be distributed in April 2021. This is not a vote to retain...
How to manage expired CSCS cards in a Lockdown
Update 22.1.2021 HS&E Tests There have been updates to the provision of HS&E Testing across all three nations. Testing remains in place in England and has resumed again in Wales, but in Scotland, updated government guidance has meant Pearson VUE have ceased...
Recovery continued but cost pressures intensified in Q4
The Q4 Construction Trade Survey signals a continued, but tentative, recovery for the construction industry following the disruptions to activity from Covid-19 between March and May. SME building contractors and chartered surveyors recorded an increase in workloads...
FIS Writes to Chancellor urging for an Extension to VAT Deferral and Flexibility in Apprentice Funding
Finishes and Interiors Sector CEO, Iain McIlwee, has written to the chancellor ahead of budget supporting the CLC submission and seeking additional support to manage Reverse Charge VAT implementation and flexibility in Apprenticeship funding. The full text of the...