News
Alternative arrangements for Essential Skills Wales qualifications in 2021
Qualifications in Wales have announced alternative assessment arrangements for Essential Skills Wales qualifications. Centres will be able to provide a Centre Determined Grade for learners who are unable to access the adapted methods of assessments due to the impact...
Hire an apprentice and receive an incentive payment of up to £3,000
Apprentices can support your plans for the future. To help support employers who hire an apprentice, additional incentive payments for taking on an apprentice have been extended to 31 March 2021. This includes hiring redundant apprentices. George Swann, FIS Skills and...
CLC submits industry-wide response ahead of the Budget
The Construction Leadership Council has submitted an industry wide response ahead the Chancellor’s Budget Statement on 3 March 2021. The submission outlined how the construction sector could most effectively support the UK’s recovery in line with the Government’s key...
Government plans to press ahead with Domestic Reverse Charge
In a letter received today, the Government has set out that it remains committed to introducing the VAT domestic reverse charge for building and construction on the 1 March 2021. The letter from the Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury states:...
Technology Impact on the Means and Methods of Wall and Ceiling Construction
This excellent report (published by the Foundation of the Wall and Ceiling Industry and made available to FIS Members via the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry -AWCI) explores how construction technology is impacting the means and methods of wall and...
Build UK members improve payment terms again
The latest results published under the Duty to Report on Payment Practices and Performance show that the payment performance of Build UK members has continued to improve over the last six months despite the significant challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic....
VAT deferral
Companies that deferred VAT between 20 March and 30 June 2020 can either make payment in full by 31 March 2021 or opt in to the VAT deferral payment scheme when it launches shortly. The new scheme will allow companies to repay their VAT in up to 11 interest‐free...
Vocational Qualification offer from North West Skills Academy
North West Skills Academy, an FIS Approved Training Provider Member, has secured funding to support FIS members that are looking to get the existing workforce qualified. This is a unique opportunity to show investment in employees and beat the ‘starting gun’ that will...
Growing concerns for mental health
We are receiving reports regarding the mental health of colleagues during this lockdown and are often asked to provide information to assist employer members, here is some of the information available. The FIS Approved Training Provider members offer discounts, and a...