by Oscar Venus | 16 Oct, 2025 | Main News Feed
It’s World Menopause Day this Saturday 18 October which aims to raise awareness of the menopause and the support available for women going through it. Employees of menopausal age are the fastest growing workplace demographic in the UK, and Build UK’s template Menopause Policy, produced by Citation, can be used by members to help provide an inclusive and supportive working environment for employees experiencing menopausal symptoms and their colleagues.
Members can get involved this #WorldMenopauseDay by reviewing their policy and the support they provide, as well as sharing information on social media.
by Oscar Venus | 16 Oct, 2025 | Main News Feed
FIS was proud to attend the official opening of The Skills Centre Essex in Horndon Industrial Estate, Brentwood, on Friday 10 October, a significant milestone in strengthening skills development across the construction sector.
The new Essex facility marks the 10th Skills Centre in the UK and will deliver high-quality, employer-led construction training, including Level 1 pre-employment programmes designed to equip local people with the practical skills needed to start a career in the industry.
Representing FIS at the opening, Chief Executive Iain McIlwee joined Measom Dryline and Councillor Louise McKinlay to celebrate the launch and show support for initiatives that help attract new entrants and raise competence across the finishes and interiors sector.
FIS continues to work closely with training providers and employers to ensure that skills programmes reflect the real needs of the sector and help build a sustainable pipeline of talent for the future.
by Oscar Venus | 16 Oct, 2025 | Payments
From 6 April 2026, HMRC’s new Making Tax Digital for Income Tax service will come into effect, marking a major change in how self-employed individuals, including many working within the finishes and interiors sector, manage their tax.
The move is part of HMRC’s plan to modernise the tax system and reduce errors. It will be phased in over the next three years, starting with those earning over £50,000.
- Under the new system, self-employed individuals will be required to:
- Use HMRC-recognised software to record income and expenses
- Submit quarterly updates to HMRC, helping to estimate tax bills throughout the year
- Pay a single annual tax bill by 31 January
Those affected will need to check their eligibility and register in advance, as HMRC will not automatically enrol individuals in the new system.
FIS encourages members and sole traders within the sector to prepare early and review the HMRC guidance and FAQs to understand how the changes may affect them.
by Oscar Venus | 16 Oct, 2025 | Labour, Skills
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published the first stage of its review of the Temporary Shortage List (TSL), which sets out occupations that may qualify for a Skilled Worker Visa under the recent changes to the UK’s Points-Based Immigration System.
With the threshold for Skilled Worker Visas now raised to RQF Level 6, the TSL provides a critical route for occupations at RQF Levels 3–5 to remain eligible, many of which are vital to the finishes and interiors sector.
The MAC’s initial list identifies 82 occupations considered potentially crucial to delivering the UK’s 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy. These include key trades relevant to our community such as plasterers, painters and decorators, floorers, wall tilers, and construction supervisors. The list will be refined following an industry-wide call for evidence, and FIS will continue to work with the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) and Build UK to ensure the sector’s needs are represented.
The MAC has also proposed that occupations on the TSL be reviewed every three years and that no salary discounts be applied against the standard Skilled Worker Visa threshold. The Stage 2 report, including final recommendations, is expected in July 2026, with final decisions to follow from the Home Secretary.
Build UK’s flowchart providing an overview of the process of employing a worker from outside the UK is being regularly updated in line with changes to the immigration system, together with our detailed guidance on How to Get a Sponsor Licence and How to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa.
FIS will keep members updated and contribute evidence on behalf of the sector to ensure the critical skills needed across the finishes and interiors community are recognised within immigration policy.
by Oscar Venus | 10 Oct, 2025 | Main News Feed
The Industry Competence Committee (ICC) has published new draft guidance, Setting Expectations on Competence Management, now open for consultation via the HSE Citizen Space from 25 September to 6 November 2025.
This guidance outlines the ICC’s expectations for how organisations should manage and demonstrate competence within their workforce, setting out clear principles and common elements to support consistent best practice across the built environment.
The document builds on feedback from earlier consultations and aims to help organisations develop practical and effective competence management systems. Following this consultation, the ICC plans to publish further case studies and examples to support industry implementation.
Beena Nana, Head of Skills at FIS, commented:
“Finally we are starting to see more explicit guidance coming out from the Regulator that will support firms in implementing competency requirements and ensuring that they can demonstrate Organisational Capability. FIS has had input into the process so far, but we encourage members to have a read through and let us know if there are any concerns or confusion. This is important guidance — it will be how we are judged moving forwards if things go wrong.”
FIS is encouraging all members to review the draft and share their feedback.
Access the document and consultation here
by Clair Mooney | 10 Oct, 2025 | Main News Feed
In response to the Government’s consultation on tackling late payment and retentions in the construction sector, FIS has prepared its formal response on the package of proposed legislative measures to address late, long and disputed business to business payments.
Members can access a copy of the formal response here. If you have any feedback, please email iainmcilwee@thefis.org by 20 October 2025 to ensure your views are represented before the consultation closes on 23 October 2025.
Background
This consultation recognises that late payment impacts 1.5 billion businesses and ultimately 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.
The consultation proposes the following package of legislative measures:
| Policy |
Description |
| 1. Audit committees and board-level scrutiny of large company payment practices |
In September 2024, the government reaffirmed commitments to legislate on audit committees and other board level responsibilities to improve payment practices. The government believes further positive change could be achieved by increasing discussion and scrutiny of large companies’ payment practices at board level.We would welcome views on how government could best achieve this in the future with proportionate regulatory burden. For example:
A. Ensuring audit committees or company boards, where companies have them, provide commentary and make recommendations regarding payment performance to company directors before the data is submitted to government and included in the director’s report. This would include data provided as part of the Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations 2017, and any interest on late payment liabilities.
B. Ensuring the Small Business Commissioner writes to audit committees and company boards, where companies have them, when i) undertaking payment performance reporting assurance and ii) when investigating any other matter relating to a companies’ payment practices.
We would welcome views on these ideas, including the likely positive effects, costs, or any unintended negative consequences. We would also welcome other additional ideas to encourage greater discussion of payment practices at board level.
|
| 2. Maximum payment terms |
The policy will amend The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, removing the exemption that allows businesses to agree to payment terms longer than 60 days if considered not ‘grossly unfair’. This will effectively limit payment terms between UK businesses to 60 days. Subject to further consultation, this policy may subsequently reduce this limit from 60 days to 45 days after 5 years. |
| 3. A deadline for disputing invoices |
The policy will amend The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, introducing a 30-day invoice verification period. Businesses who wish to raise a dispute will need to do so within 30 days of receiving an invoice, otherwise they will be liable to pay the invoice in full within the agreed payment terms, alongside any statutory interest or debt recovery costs if the invoice is paid late. |
| 4. Mandatory statutory interest |
The policy will amend The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, making the statutory interest rate payable on late payments mandatory. This will remove the ability to negotiate compensation rates lower than the statutory rate. This will increase existing financial incentives to pay invoices on time. |
| 5. Additional reporting on statutory interest |
The policy will amend The Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations 2017 to include additional reporting requirements around statutory interest liabilities. This will further increase transparency around poor B2B payment behaviour and informs other policies that aim to improve the utilisation and payment of statutory interest. |
| 6. Financial penalties for persistent late payers |
The policy will introduce new legislation, which gives the SBC powers to issue financial to businesses who persistently pay their suppliers late. The policy will use payment behaviour data submitted by businesses under The Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations (2017) to identify and issue financial penalties to persistently late-paying businesses, with penalties based on businesses’ unpaid statutory interest liability. |
| 7. Additional powers for the SBC, including assurance of payment reporting data |
The policy will amend The Enterprise Act 2016 to give additional powers to the SBC. The additional powers would improve the SBC’s ability to conduct investigations into poor B2B payment behaviour (beyond its current complaints scheme), allow it to provide legally binding arbitration in disputes, and impose financial penalties or make arbitration awards after an investigation or arbitration process.The policy will also enable the SBC to investigate the accuracy of the payment reporting data that large businesses provide under The Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations 2017. This will improve the quality of reporting data and support the reporting regulations original objectives of improving transparency around B2B payment behaviour. |
| 8. Use of retention clauses in construction contracts |
The policy will amend Part 2 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act (1996), to either prohibit the use of retentions or to introduce requirements to protect retention funds deducted and withheld from insolvency and late or non-payment. |
by Clair Mooney | 8 Oct, 2025 | Awards, Skills
We’re delighted to announce the shortlist for this year’s Training Awards.
Celebrating excellence and achievement in plastering and interior trades, these awards acknowledge the accomplishments of apprentices and students who have exceeded expectations, training delivery by colleges and training providers, mentors and others who have supported sector training, including a lifetime contribution to training award.
Apprentice of the Year – Plastering Shortlist
- Damian Hayes from Thomas & Wilsons
- George Stamp from Locker & Riley (Fibrous Plastering)
- Jake Waite of Wannop
Apprentice / Student of the Year – Interior Trades Shortlist
- Dawson Dellar of ACS Plastering
- Nicole McKeown from The Errigal Academy
- Sam Woodward of Measom Dryline
Student of the Year – Plastering Shortlist
- Mohammad Abuali studying at The City of Liverpool College
- Monique Fenell from Cadman Manpen Systems Limited
- Yusuf Ibrahim studying at Derby College
Training Provider / College of the Year Shortlist
- Carlisle College
- Coleg Llandrillo
- Coleg Menai
- Craven College
- Leicester College
- NPTC Group of Colleges
- The Skills Centre
Formula Trophy Shortlist
- Entol MFG North America Inc trading as Ceilings4U
- KLLangton Decorative Plasterwork
- Plaster Mouldings Direct
FIS Member Training Programme Shortlist
Training Champion Shortlist
- Adam Barringer
- Terry McDermott
- Paul Orton
The winners of the above categories, and the Rising Star and Lifetime Contribution to Training will be announced at the Training Awards Lunch on 25 November at Plaisterers Hall in London. If you haven’t yet reserved your seats you can book your place here.
Congratulations to all the nominees for their hard work and dedication in pursuing their academic goals!
by Clair Mooney | 6 Oct, 2025 | Skills
Are you a drylining employer based in Scotland? Your expertise is essential in shaping the future of our industry.
We’re currently reviewing the occupational standards for drylining apprenticeships—the benchmarks that define what apprentices need to know and be able to do. These standards must reflect the realities of the Scottish construction sector, and that’s where you come in.
Why your voice matters:
- Ensure apprentices are trained to meet the needs of Scottish worksites
- Influence the quality and relevance of future training
- Help build a skilled workforce that strengthens our national industry
Whether you’re a sole trader or part of a larger firm, your feedback will help ensure these standards are fit for purpose across Scotland.
If interested, please contact Jim Johnstone at Skills Development Scotland – jim.johnstone@sds.co.uk or 079828914298
Let’s work together to build a stronger, smarter future for drylining in Scotland.
by Clair Mooney | 2 Oct, 2025 | Payments
From 1 October 2025, companies bidding for central Government contracts over £5 million per year must now demonstrate that they pay invoices within an average of 45 days, down from 55 days. They must also continue to pay at least 95% of invoices within 60 days (90% if an action plan is provided) otherwise they will be excluded from bidding.
The guidance to PPN 018 confirms that companies must meet both of these metrics in at least one of their two previous six-month reporting periods under the Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations, although any companies that have failed to do so may submit data that has not yet been reported for the previous three or more months. Build UK’s payment performance table shows the results for more than 130 of the industry’s largest companies, and all Build UK tier one contractor members meet the new requirement to pay invoices within an average of 45 days.
The Government is consulting on further measures to tackle late payments, and we are encouraging all FIS members to have their say. The deadline for response is Thursday 23 October.
On the 9 September, FIS hosted a meeting with the Department for Business and Trade to discuss the key elements of the this consultation – you can see the full session here..FIS will be responding, but members are encouraged to feed their views into this consultation here.
