News
Launch of A Client’s Guide: Office Fit-Out and Refurbishment
We are pleased to announce the launch of our latest publication A Client's Guide: Office Fit-Out and Refurbishment. For many clients, creating an office fit-out that suits their business needs, their customers and staff – and having it happen on time, to specification...
Watch the BuildBack Open Day promo!
FIS showcased its flagship BuildBack programme by hosting an open day at Tyne Metropolitan College on 10 April. The event enjoyed full attendance and participation from all partners, employers and trainees including Mary Glindon, MP for North Tyneside. The...
Offsite: Are you ready for the construction revolution?
Adoption of offsite construction is growing, and calls for change - in particular Mark Farmer’s report Modernise or Die - have prompted CITB to publish their research report Faster, Smarter, More Efficient: Building Skills for Offsite Construction. With offsite...
If you thought it was just us; or is everything due to Brexit?
Our American counterparts, The Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry, is also reporting that construction firms on the other side of the pond are getting squeezed by increasing materials and labour costs. The cost of materials used in construction rose markedly...
CPA launch Procurement Tool
The Construction Products Association has now launched its Procurement Guidance Tool, developed to assist procurers implementing the government’s balanced scorecard approach in construction. The Tool signposts procurers to the different types of evidence that...
Off the grid!
Armstrong Ceilings' annual Grid Off challenge took place at Birmingham's NEC on 6 April. Of the 18 finalists, 12 companies were FIS members, with New Forest Ceilings just being pipped to the title by Coyle Suspended Ceilings. Over nine rounds, teams went head-to-head...
A National Statistics Publication for Scotland
The output of the Scottish economy contracted by 0.2% during the fourth quarter of 2016, according to statistics announced on 5 April by Scotland’s Chief Statistician. Change in gross domestic product (GDP) is the main indicator of economic growth in Scotland. The...
Late payment: Small firms deserve to be paid on time
Further to our news article on 1 February 'Duty to Report on Payment Practices and Performance', as of 6 April, large companies and Limited Liability Partnerships will be required to start reporting on their payment practices and performance for their next financial...
An Englishman at the American Drywall EXPO
By Steve Coley, FIS president. As I’m sure you are all aware by now, I, as current President of the FIS, took it upon myself as a martyr to the cause to take a week out of my busy schedule and go to the American drywall and suspended ceilings EXPO (completely funded...