by Clair Mooney | 24 Oct, 2025 | Main News Feed
In response to the Government’s consultation on tackling late payment and retention in the construction sector, FIS has submitted its formal response on the package of proposed legislative measures to address late, long and disputed business to business payments.
A copy of our collective response is available here.
Commenting on the response, FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee stated:
“For decades, FIS has fought tirelessly to expose and dismantle the broken payment and retention practices that plague the construction sector. Drawing on powerful evidence from the Reading Report and direct member testimony, FIS response paints a stark picture: specialist contractors are routinely forced to finance projects upfront, endure months without payment, confronted by routine undervaluation and weaponisation of cash flow issues and suffer devastating losses when retention monies vanish due to insolvency. The current system is adversarial, opaque, and punishes the very businesses that build our spaces. It undermines investment and impairs modernissation.
FIS supports bold reform—mandatory 60-day payment terms, statutory interest on late payments, and the abolition or protection of retention funds.
The message is clear: enough is enough. Reform is not optional—it is essential to protect livelihoods, restore trust, and unlock the full potential of UK construction.”
The consultation acknowledged that late payment costs the UK economy almost £11 billion per year and closes down 38 UK businesses every day. The proposed package of measures are claimed to be the most significant attempt to address late, long and disputed business to business (B2B) payments in over 25 years. They aim to improve cash flow through supply chains and support small businesses with payment disputes. There are also specific proposals referring to the use of retention clauses within construction contracts.
The consultation outcome will be published within 12 weeks of the close of the consultation, or an explanation will be published if this is not possible.
by Oscar Venus | 24 Oct, 2025 | Main News Feed
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has announced that EU-REACH registration fees will rise by 19.5% from 5 November 2025, in line with cumulative inflation rates from 2021 to 2023. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will continue to be exempt from these fee increases.
In addition, from 5 February 2027, ECHA will introduce a new advance SME verification process. Under the new system, companies claiming SME fee reductions must apply for official recognition at least two months before submitting their registration. ECHA’s verification decisions will remain valid for three years.
FIS members are advised to review their REACH compliance processes ahead of these deadlines to ensure smooth transition and avoid potential registration delays.
See full details here
by Oscar Venus | 24 Oct, 2025 | Labour, Skills
The Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has joined a coalition of leading construction and built environment organisations in signing an open letter to the Prime Minister, urging the Government to suspend proposed apprenticeship reforms that risk undermining skills, competence, and safety standards across the sector.
The letter, coordinated by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), expresses serious concern over plans by Skills England to shorten apprenticeship durations to as little as eight months and introduce new assessment methods that could weaken quality assurance and consistency. Industry leaders warn that these reforms could dismantle established routes to competence, erode employer confidence, and threaten the delivery of safe, high-quality construction at a time when the UK faces an ambitious target of building 1.5 million new homes.
FIS Head of Skills Beena Nana, said:
“These reforms represent a race to the bottom at a time when our sector is working harder than ever to build competence, professionalism, and trust. Apprenticeships must be driven by industry – not diluted by process. If we are serious about quality, safety, and long-term productivity, we cannot afford to weaken the very foundation of skills development.”
The coalition is calling for the Government to:
- Suspend the implementation of the proposed apprenticeship reforms.
- Re-establish meaningful collaboration with industry trailblazer groups to ensure apprenticeship standards reflect real workplace competence.
- Align training and assessment approaches with the Building Safety Act and the work of the Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG).
FIS continues to work closely with partners across construction to promote robust training and qualification pathways that ensure every individual entering the sector is equipped with the right skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviours to build safely and competently.
Read the full letter to the Prime Minsiter here
by Clair Mooney | 24 Oct, 2025 | Contractual and Legal, Main News Feed
FIS has proudly become the first trade association in the UK to be awarded Gold Status by the Conflict Avoidance Coalition (CAC), marking a significant milestone in the organisation’s journey in encouraging a more collaborative and responsible approach to contracting.
The Gold Status recognises FIS’s outstanding commitment to promoting early intervention, fairer contractual practices, and the adoption of the Conflict Avoidance Pledge across its membership and wider industry networks. This accolade reflects years of proactive leadership, advocacy, and practical support for dispute avoidance mechanisms that reduce the financial and emotional toll of adversarial conflict in construction.
Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive of FIS, commented:
“This recognition is not just a badge—it’s a reflection of our values and the culture we are building across the finishes and interiors sector. Conflict avoidance is about protecting relationships, improving project outcomes, and ultimately driving profitability by reducing unnecessary legal costs. Our Responsible No campaign is all about leading by example and through this we will continue to champion collaborative working and early resolution.”
The Conflict Avoidance Coalition, supported by leading industry bodies including RICS, ICE, and CIArb, aims to transform the way disputes are managed in construction and engineering. By awarding Gold Status, the Coalition acknowledges FIS’s role in embedding the principles of the Conflict Avoidance Process (CAP) and encouraging widespread adoption of the Conflict Avoidance Clause in contracts.
Len Bunton, President of the Conflict Avoidance Coalition added:
“It is very encouraging to see that FIS has been awarded Gold Status Partner by the Conflict Avoidance Coalition. I have been working with Iain McIlwee the CEO of FIS, for a number of years, on various matters and FIS has grasped the nettle in embedding CAP into its philosophes and in encouraging so many member companies to sign the Pledge. We now need other trade organisations to join this campaign of collaboration and Best Practice to prevent issues on projects escalating into costly and time-consuming construction disputes”.
FIS continues to work closely with its members, offering simplified contracts, contract reviews, guidance, training, and resources to support the implementation of conflict avoidance strategies. This includes promoting the use of standardised contracts, early intervention techniques, and opportunities to work in a clearer and more collaborative way throughout the supply chain.
For more information about FIS and its work with the Conflict Avoidance Coalition, visit www.thefis.org/no
by Clair Mooney | 23 Oct, 2025 | Skills
FIS has continued the expansion of its e-learning offering with the introduction of three new training courses. Tailored to meet the evolving needs of those working in the sector industry, these courses are a valuable resource for those working in the sector to enhance their skills and knowledge.
These development of these new courses reflect FIS’s commitment to fostering professional growth and supporting the continuous development of its members and the wider community.
Estimating
The first course is Estimating training which has been developed to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of the contractual and commercial factors that influence the estimating process within the interiors sector. Whether you’re new to the industry or transitioning into an estimating role, this course will equip you with the essential knowledge needed to support accurate, compliant, and commercially sound estimates.
https://www.thefis.org/skills-hub/training-offers-for-members/fis-training-modules/estimating-training-module/
Specifying Partitioning
The second course focuses on Specifying Partitioning and has been created to highlight and guide learners through some of the key criteria that should be considered when writing a specification for partitions. The course is aimed at Architects, Designers, Acousticians, Specialist partitioning companies, Building managers/end users and all others associated with partitioning specification.
https://www.thefis.org/skills-hub/training-offers-for-members/fis-training-modules/specifying-partitioning/
Drylining Inspection Methods
Our third course is part of our wider campaign to help drive out improper snagging practices of plaster finishes which often results in contractors suffering from delayed and incomplete payments. This course is aimed to educate those carrying out inspections on best practice and the use of correct lighting and range when doing so. It follows current guidance within BS EN 13914-2 which recommends that a plaster finish should be viewed with natural light from either the centre of the room or a two-metre minimum distance.
All courses are freely available to FIS members, and CPD certificates will be issued on completion.
Speaking on the launch of these courses at the AGM on 16 October, FIS President Ian Strangward said:
“FIS is focussed on building skills and competence and key to this is the development of e-learning to support our members and the wider community. Since we launched our e-learning platform in 2024 we have developed seven new courses. The bank of knowledge which FIS has built is impressive, and the transition of this content into e-learning puts guidance into people’s heads. Hundreds of people have accessed our courses so far and we will continue to develop more courses targeting vital interventions, job titles and knowledge gaps””
Click here for more information on how to register on these courses
by Oscar Venus | 23 Oct, 2025 | Employment, Labour, Skills
Significant changes to visa sponsorship were announced on 14 October 2025 which will impact on upcoming Skilled Worker visa applications. Please see below for a summary of the changes:
Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) Increase – Effective 16 December 2025
The Immigration Skills Charge will increase by 32% from 16 December 2025. This means an increase for small and charitable companies of £364 a year to £480, and for medium and large companies an increase from £1,000 a year to £1,320.
The additional costs of future hires and extensions can be avoided by assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship before 16 December 2025.
Sponsors should check now that they have an available allocation of Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship and consider their sponsorship plans in light of these increases.
English Language Requirement Increase – Effective 8 January 2026
From 8 January 2026, the required English language level for Skilled Worker visa applicants will rise from B1 to B2 under the CEFR scale. We advise that applicants intending to join the Skilled Worker route submit their applications before 8 January 2026 to avoid being impacted by this change. Please note that current Skilled Worker visa holders will not be affected and will not be required to take a new test.
Visa processing Delays and Holiday Travel
Visa processing times have lengthened significantly due to a surge in applications following earlier rule changes in July 2025. UKVI is currently experiencing a substantial backlog, and we are seeing many standard applications take the full 8 weeks or longer to receive a decision.
If applicants need to travel over the Christmas period, we strongly advise using the Priority Service (£500 additional fee) to receive a decision within 5 working days of submission or biometric enrolment (depending on application type).
UKVI anticipates another spike in applications due to the upcoming ISC and English language changes, which may further impact processing times.
Sponsor Management Reporting and Compliance
UKVI is increasingly focusing on compliance checks relating to changes in salary and using intelligence provided by HMRC. Sponsors are being warned to ensure that all payments, including periods of unpaid leave, maternity leave, or other absences, are properly reported on the Sponsor Management System. Failure to do so may trigger a compliance audit, as UKVI is targeting sponsors who delay payments for months and then make large lump-sum payments.
Additionally, the right-to-work checks are expected to move entirely digital in the future, reducing or eliminating in-person verification. Employers should be prepared for these changes and ensure their processes and staff training are updated accordingly.
If you require advice on how these changes may affect your business or have any upcoming applications to process, please contact us – we are here to help.
by Clair Mooney | 23 Oct, 2025 | Skills
The Industry Task and Finish Group on the management of competence in organisations (ITFG) has launched its short consultation on its draft guidance Managing Competence in the Built Environment: A Guide. Feedback is welcomed until 10 November 2025.
The ITFG was pulled together in June 2025, to collaborate on guidance that will support organisations across the sector to manage competence of individuals, engaging with the Industry Competence Committee (ICC). The resulting output is a consensus document that follows the principles in the recently published ICC Consultation document. While the ICC principles document is pitched at a high level of ‘what’ is expected of organisations in this area, the ITFG document follows these principles and seeks to help organisations understand in detail ‘how’ to put in place approaches and processes to meet the ICC principles.
The broad representation in the ITFG aims to ensure that the wide-ranging needs of all types and size of organisations are met. More information about the terms of reference of the ITFG and who are collaborating in the ITFG can be found here
The consultation seeks to ensure that the document will provide practical guidance to implement the ICC high-level principles. Feedback is sought on whether the approach included provides useful guidance and tools to that end, or whether there is anything else that should be considered. The anonymous survey will take on average 8 minutes.
The ITFG and the ICC will present both guidance documents at a webinar on 30th October 10-11am. It is open to anyone interested in organisational management of competence. You can register for the webinar here
Following the consultation period, we will review the feedback with our technical Steering Group, collaborate with the ICC to ensure both guidance documents remain aligned, before getting final sign off from the full ITFG. Once published through members’ channels, the guidance will be an open-source document, accessible to all.
The ITFG draft guidance – Managing Competence in the Built Environment: A Guide – can be found here
The ITFG consultation survey, and all documents, can be found here
Webinar registration: please find the link here
by Oscar Venus | 21 Oct, 2025 | Main News Feed
If your business operates in the low and mid-rise housing sector, this is an important opportunity to make your voice heard.
In response to concerns raised by members, the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has commissioned the University of Reading and Barbour ABI to carry out research into how current supply chain management practices are affecting investment, productivity, and mental health across the sector.
The study will explore how procurement, contracting, and delivery methods impact productivity and skills development within the supply chain – vital insights to inform government as it works towards delivering 1.5 million new homes.
As part of this work, we are asking businesses to complete a short anonymous survey covering:
The survey is open until 5pm, Monday 3 November 2025.
Take the questionnaire
Please complete the survey yourself or share it with the most relevant person in your organisation. We also encourage you to pass it on to other specialist contractors – the more responses we gather, the stronger and more valuable the research will be.
If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
by Clair Mooney | 17 Oct, 2025 | Main News Feed
Thanks to all who supported the FIS Conference yesterday in London. It was a really interesting day with insights from leaders and professionals across the fit-out, finishes, and interiors supply chain. It was a great opportunity to look (collectively as a supply chain) at some of the key opportunities and challenges that we face and how collaboration really is key for driving change for the better.
At our AGM that followed, FIS President Ian Strangward, Managing Director of contractor member Architectural Wallsz, announced the results of the 2025 Board Elections.
Joining the Board from 16 October as executive directors are: Jim Brennan of Nova Plasterboard Systems and Richard Grimes of Grimes Finishings, both contractor members of FIS, and Liz McDermott of QuickFix Profiles a supplier member of FIS.
We want to thank all those that took the time to stand for election, your support of FIS is hugely appreciated. We have a strong team and Board of directors who will ensure that FIS continues to be member led and is making a difference for individual members and the sector as a whole.
The day culminated in a drinks reception, generously supported by Nevill Long, to celebrate 10 years of FIS. Thanks to everyone who joined us.
Thanks to our event sponsors, Gypsum Products Association, Nevill Long and SpecFinish Magazine.
The official minutes of the AGM are available to FIS members to download here.
