Page 132 – FIS

Are you are Net Zero Hero?

by Clair Mooney | 9 Sep, 2021 | Sustainability

As part of Net Zero Week at the FIS we are supporting the ‘Heroes of Net Zero’ competition to find the UK’s best small businesses taking innovative steps to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The best entries will be invited to attend the COP26 international climate change summit in Glasgow on 2 November, where the winners will be announced and receive an exclusive prize package worth £4,500:

21 hours consultancy with an Energy Manager and one-year free access to ‘Business Energy Intelligence’ energy management platform, worth £3,500, from SSE;
Six hours of bespoke mentoring with a NatWest Enterprise Manager from its Climate Accelerator programme, helping winning businesses gain climate friendly skills in accessing new markets to attracting talent, and;
Up to £1,000 in vouchers to access a brand-new digital advertising support package from BT to grow your business

To take part in the Heroes of Net Zero competition, entrants must tell us in 200 words the exciting measures they have taken on the journey to net-zero. Reaching net-zero means the amount of greenhouse gases your business produces is no more than the amount taken away, eliminating all negative impact on the planet. Submissions can be made via an online form at the competition website.

The competition is open for entries from Thursday 9 September until 6 October, with judging happening during the week of 11 October.

The competition is open to businesses across the United Kingdom with fewer than 50 employees, the competition will be split into two categories:

Micro businesses – 1-9 employees
Small businesses – 10-50 employees

In order to enter the competition, businesses must first make a commitment at the UK Business Climate Hub to achieve net zero by 2050, in line with the Government’s own climate commitment.

The shortlist and winners in each category will be selected by judges Andrew Griffith MP, the UK’s Business Net Zero Champion, James Close from NatWest Group, Gabrielle Giner from BT, and Marta Smart from SSE.

FIS Members can recieve support in developing a carbon reduction plan via the FIS Sustainability Hub.

Members are being encouraged to share positive examples of carbon reduction on social media via #FISNetZeroChallenge

Each week in September FIS is theming around an element of transformation in construction via our Annual Conference: Embracing Change in the Finishes and Interiors Sector

Join the conversation #FISNetZeroChallenge.

Public sector to mandate Carbon Reduction Plans on all projects over £5 million

by Clair Mooney | 9 Sep, 2021 | Sustainability

In a week themed with a focus on Net Zero in the Finishes and Interiors Sector, new and stricter guidelines have been revealed to focus attention on Carbon Reduction in Central Government contracts.

From 30 September 2021, contractors bidding for Central Government contracts worth more than £5 million a year will be required to provide a Carbon Reduction Plan, which confirms their commitment to achieving net zero by 2050 and sets out the environmental management measures they will have in place during the performance of the contract. Carbon Reduction Plans must be updated at least once a year and meet the standard set out in Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/21, which includes a template that contractors can use.

FIS Members can recieve support in developing a carbon reduction plan via the FIS Sustainability Hub.

Members are being encouraged to share positive examples of carbon reduction on social media via #FISNetZeroChallenge

Each week in September FIS is theming around an element of transformation in construction via our Annual Conference: Embracing Change in the Finishes and Interiors Sector

CPA and Barbour ABI collaborate to help identify hotspots and coldspots in regional construction

by Clair Mooney | 9 Sep, 2021 | Market data

This new report, a collaboration between Barbour ABI and CPA, seeks to analyse construction contract awards at a high level of regional granularity, firstly to identify pockets of growth or contraction – hotspots and coldspots – in regional activity and secondly, to offer a forward-looking indication of growth by region and by sector.

The report identifies London remains the UK’s largest regional economy and construction gross value added (GVA) in 2019 (the latest available from the ONS) was £22.6 billion, accounting for 18.5% of the UK construction total. With a construction GVA of £19.4 billion, the South East accounts for a similar proportion of UK construction (15.7%).

Given the relative size of the London and South East economies, populations and concentration of the services-based industry, it is easy to think that the majority of construction work is taking place in these regions. By using ONS regional economic data, it becomes clear that despite its overall dominance, there were only three London sub-regions in the top ten largest local authority areas for construction activity in 2019: Camden and City of London, Harrow and Hillingdon, and Westminster. Similarly, two sub-regions in the South East feature in this ranking. However, it is Hertfordshire, in the East of England, that remains as the sub-region with the largest value of construction activity in 2019. The South West, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the East of England complete the top ten list, underscoring the fact that there are large areas of activity beyond the traditional engines of growth.

The full report can be downloaded by FIS Members here.

The latest information from Builders’ Conference shows that there were 454 contracts worth £4.7 billion awarded in August. Whilst this was lower than the previous month as the industry had its traditional and well‐deserved summer break, both the number and value of contracts awarded this August were higher than August 2020, indicating that construction’s recovery is holding steady. 41% of all the contracts awarded by value were housing (£1.9 billion), 16% were office projects (£754 million) and 9% were education projects (£407 million).

The number of tender opportunities was 22% down on July and remained 40% below the monthly average for the past year.

Manufacturers given time, but costs of Brexit could be significant

by Clair Mooney | 9 Sep, 2021 | Main News Feed

The Construction Products Association (CPA) has established a Working Group, supported by FIS, within the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) focussed on collaboration across the construction supply chain. The key aim is to ensure that there is consistent intepretation, clear understanding and effective communication with Government on how regulation and legislation are amended to manage transition.

At the end of October it was confirmed that manufacturers would be given an extra 12 months to prepare. This was communicated in the statement below from MHCLG (who have responsibility for aligning the Construction Products Regulations).

I am writing to let you know that Government has just announced plans to introduce legislation which will enable CE marked goods to continue being placed on the Great British market until 1 January 2023. Although we are in a different legislative situation for the construction products sector, this new date for the end of recognition of the CE mark in Great Britain will also apply to construction products. MHCLG have updated guidance on GOV.UK (GB and NI) for construction products to reflect this.

We have been working hard to support industry make the transition to the new UKCA regime and we are grateful for all the work the CPA have already done in order to facilitate business preparedness. However, we are aware that the pandemic continues to impact businesses, and this has made adapting to the new regime more challenging. As a result, we have decided to provide an additional year for businesses to adapt to UKCA requirements.

Whilst this is a welcome relief and allays initial concerns over capacity and availability of testing, it still does not address wider concerns related to mutual recognition of assessment and test reports that is creating a duplication of costs associated with testing and conformity assessment for the UK and the EU markets particularly for AVCP System 3 for CE marking (such as suspended ceilings and products requiring reaction to fire tests) which, according to interpretation now will require historic tests to be repeated.

To assist companies in managing change the Government has updated key parts of their Brexit guidance that impacts companies in the Finishes and Interiors Sector.

Using the UKCA marking – click here
Placing manufactured goods on the market in Great Britain – click here
Construction Products Regulation in Great Britain – click here
Construction Products Regulation in Northern Ireland – click here.

The Construction Products Association, through the working group, has produced a great summary of all outstanding issues impacting the construction sector and continute to work with MHCLG and the European Construction Products Association to find practical resolution you can view this summary here.

If you have any comments, examples or additions for this list, please send them to iainmcilwee@thefis.org or call the office on 0121 707 0077 if you want to understand better or discuss any aspects of the guidance or concerns being reaised.

You can visit the FIS Brexit Toolkit here.

CITB secures construction industry support for Levy proposals

by Clair Mooney | 8 Sep, 2021 | Skills

Construction employers have backed CITB’s Levy Proposals to support skills and training across England, Scotland and Wales, by way of the Consensus process.

The provisional result will now be taken to the Secretary of State for Education to make the final decision on the issue of a new, three-year Levy Order which, if approved, would be issued for 2022-2025. This will see the Levy continue at the following rates at 0.35% for PAYE and 1.25% for Net paid (Taxable) CIS Sub-contractors.

CITB will now get on with delivering this year’s Business Plan and working with industry to agree its forward plan. In doing so, it will listen to the feedback it received on how it can communicate its plans and impact more clearly and ensure its support is relevant, accessible and easily understood.

Overall, 66% or two thirds of the total number of Levy-paying employers agreed to the proposals, with 63% agreeing when measured by the total amount of Levy paid. This result was based on submissions from the 14 Prescribed Organisations (trade bodies representing employers across the industry) and an independent survey of 4,000 employers who were not members of POs. Eleven of the 14 Prescribed Organisations supported the Levy Proposals.

Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Gillian Keegan said:

“My thanks go out to both the staff at the CITB for facilitating a complex process and to the employers, other members and reps for your active participation.

“This last 18 months have been unusually challenging for the construction sector and that is why the CITB decided to delay the consensus process from 2020 to 2021. I recognise that Covid-19, one of the key factors for the postponement, has not gone away. Therefore the sector’s willingness to engage with the CITB is even more valuable.

“The next step in the process to progress the Levy Proposals towards a Levy Order now rests with me, before doing so I will be considering the Proposals in detail.

“I know that the CITB will relish returning its entire focus to delivering skills provision for the construction sector at a time when it is more crucial than ever. I also want to welcome Tim Balcon in his new role as CITB CEO from 1 October and thank Sarah Beale for the great work she has done for many years in leading the CITB.”

Peter Lauener, CITB Chair, said:

“Construction has been through a tremendously difficult couple of years. CITB moved quickly to support employers by freezing Levy collection last year, cutting bills by half this year, and putting the right support in place.

“We will carry on with delivering our current plans and get started with shaping our future ones. I want to thank everyone who participated in the Consensus process this year – your input is invaluable and will help shape CITB’s support for you in future.”

Sarah Beale, outgoing CITB Chief Executive, said:

“At an extremely tough time, construction employers have demonstrated that they still believe that the Levy and grant system is critical in addressing the industry’s skill needs and their support for the Levy Proposals. In developing our future plans, we will listen hard to what employers told us in how we can ensure that the Levy works for them and provides support that is relevant, easy to understand and accessible.”

Tim Balcon, new CITB Chief Executive, said:

“It’s good that so much of what employers are asking for is already in the Business Plan, so we need to make support easier to access and understand and to keep the sector better informed.

“CITB is committed to maximising the value of the Levy for employers, providing practical and financial support for everyday training needs as well as tackling long-term skills needs.”

Commenting on the announcement, FIS CEO Iain McIlwee said:

“This is clearly not what the majority of our members voted for, but we now need to focus on the positives and start looking at how we work better with CITB as a sector to increase our levy utilisation. Whilst the FIS was one of the three prescribed organisations to vote “No”, we did see a higher proportion of members claiming levy in this return and supporting concensus and there is recognition in CITB that there are clear priorities to mobilise resources more effectively to support the growing skills shortages that we face in the finishes and interiors sector. We will continue to offer our free one to one skills clinics to members that focus on reviewing your levy return and ensuring that you are getting all you are entitled through the process and focussing all our efforts on how we can better utilise our levy to attack the shortages that are emerging in key areas.”

Details of the FIS vote are available here

To access the FIS Skills Hubs click here

View the official letter from CITB

For a summary on all FIS Campaign to Attack Skills Shortages click here

FIS and Supply Chain Sustainability School Collaborate to start Net Zero Journeys

by Clair Mooney | 8 Sep, 2021 | Main News Feed, Sustainability

FIS and the Supply Chain Sustainability School are collaborating to help deliver Net Zero in the finishes and interiors sector through a new virtual training portal hosted on the Supply Chain Sustainability School website.

This sustainability training hub is another output of the FIS Sustainability Working Group, which has been established within the FIS community to support a focus on individual change, collective focus and supply chain engagement. The working group has five core objectives:

Increasing knowledge and understanding within the supply chain
Setting targets and standardisation (including monitoring and measuring impact)
Providing an active network and encouraging collaboration
Highlighting individuals and approaches that help inspire and inform change
Informing design and encouraging better asset management

FIS Board Member Phil Brown from Meronden Ltd who has been supporting the FIS Sustainability Working Group said:

“In our supply chain there is a growing understanding, not only of our responsibilities, but also the potential of the sector to support change. Our Working Group really starts with a focus on helping individual businesses in the sector to take the first and identify the next step to being better in terms of sustainability. In the true sense of sustainability there is absolutely no point in reinventing the wheel. The collaboration with Supply Chain Sustainability School was quickly identified as a priority, the School has a amazing wealth of resource that can help educate and inform our supply chain and we just needed as a first stage to curate this and help set up some suggested learning pathways. This launch is the first step, but we have ambitious plans together to develop the content and with it the understanding of sustainability through our supply chain.”

Graham Edgell of Morgan Sindall who is a Board Member of the Supply Chain Sustainability School added

“Collaboration is key to driving change. The School exemplifies this with an open source approach that makes content, developed by experts, available to all. It is great that we have teamed up with FIS, one of the more dynamic bodies in our sector and a key sector within construction to really help drive knowledge and capability on sustainability issues. With an improved understanding of the issues we can all individually and collectively help companies and the sector deliver more sustainable outcomes and play our part in the CLC CO₂nstruct Zero programme and the national Net Zero effort”.

With construction accounting for 40% of UK carbon consumption, the construction industry is critical to supporting the UK Net Zero Effort. The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Roadmap to Recovery has laid out proposals to secure the future of construction businesses nationwide, while setting the industry on a sustainable path towards recovery. The goal of the strategy is to:

Improve design, product selection and manufacturing and construction processes to deliver built assets that achieve a 50% reduction in greenhouse gases as part of the pathway towards net zero.

With the finishes and interiors sector estimated to be responsible for 40% of energy consumed by a building and an estimated 300 tonnes of fit-out materials going to landfill every day, FIS is working to rally the sector and, in addition to work with the Schoo,l has recently signed up as a partner organisation to support the delivery of the Co₂nstruct Zero strategy.

You can view the Finishes and Interiors Sustainability Virtual Training here Finishes & Interiors | Supply Chain Sustainability School (supplychainschool.co.uk)

You can visit the FIS Sustainability Hub here.

FIS Virtual Conference - A Path to Net Zero

Join us on 8 September at midday as we discuss the path to net zero.

In June 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming by 2050. The Prime Minister has subsequently pledged that the UK will “Build Back Greener” with 2021 being the “defining year of climate action”. But what does all this actually mean to projects in the finishes and interiors sector.

Our three keynote speakers will cover:

Net Zero and the impact on Design – Adam Strudwick, Principal, Corporate Interiors, London, Perkins&Will
How Net Zero will impact construction procurement decisions – Anna Baker, Head of Sustainability, Carey Group
Net Zero, how to bring a focus to support change on your projects – Elina Grigoriou FRSA HonRICS, Design & Sustainability Director, Grigoriou Interiors

Once the keynotes are complete, a debate will be facilitated by Damon Schunmann, a freelance journalist and Strategic Consultant to Barbour ABI, and our speakers will be joined on the panel by representatives of the FIS Board.

Building our Sustainable Future: Young guns take the lead with event to engage the sector

by Clair Mooney | 7 Sep, 2021 | Sustainability

Learn how the construction industry is taking action to tackle climate change. The Construct Zero Youth ‘BUILDING OUR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE’ event invites young people to think differently about the construction industry and explore the innovative solutions it is proposing to achieve high levels of sustainability across three main areas: materials, heavy plant and methods of construction. These areas are already evolving and inspiring people to join the movement in disrupting the industry and in changing its behaviours.

The event, scheduled for 23rd September is a hybrid event where you can hear from industry-leading speakers who are shaping the future of Net Zero in the construction industry and learn about the innovative new technologies which are transforming the way we build.

When: 23rd September 3-5pm

Where? : Hybrid event. Choose to attend and engage in person (Building Centre, 26 Store St, London WC1E 7BT) or online.

Why?: Understand how you can make a difference in driving the sustainability agenda in the construction industry; engage with our speakers, challenge each other, and be part of the movement for change.

Further details are available here and you can register via this link available here

CO₂NSTRUCTZERO Youth is a group of nine young individuals from the CLC’s Net Zero Champion businesses in the construction industry. They are using their expertise to create an exciting programme to showcase how the sector is tackling climate change. The climate emergency requires a response with the greatest urgency and the industry is stepping up to address this with increasing focus.

You can visit the FIS Sustainability Hub here

Dragons’ Den Competition for Young Professionals in the Construction Industry

by Clair Mooney | 7 Sep, 2021 | Sustainability

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has today announced a new Dragon’s Den competition targeted at young industry professionals, accelerating the drive to net zero.

The competition aims to:
• bring forward practical ideas which are almost ready for implementation on sites/in factories, and suitable for wider industry adoption;
• capitalise on the collective political, industry and societal demand to reduce our emissions levels; and to,
• harness the power and voice of young professionals already working in the sector, providing support to accelerate their practical ideas to implementation.

Shortlisted applicants will present their ideas to the Construct Zero Dragon’s Den for debate and discussion, with the winner receiving a range of prizes including a £1,000 cash award. This is an exciting opportunity for young industry professionals to pitch existing ideas to the heart of Government. Further details including how to apply can be found here.

The CLC’s sector leadership role and its Construct Zero programme is today recognised by the United Nations Climate Champions Team’s announcement of the CLC becoming a Race to Zero Accelerator. This marks a key step in our journey, providing a platform to build on existing UK and global engagement across Government and with industry partners.

Through the Construct Zero industry-change programme, the Construction Leadership Council has accepted the challenge of decarbonising the industry, bringing the sector together to deliver tangible actions and sustainable change across the construction supply chain. It’s change programme will: i) measure the sector’s performance; ii) share knowledge and best practice between businesses and; iii) engage firms and communicate the sector’s role in reducing carbon emissions.

Sector’s Performance
CLC has committed to holding the sector to account on progress through quarterly updates on its Performance Framework, with the first update due for publication in late October, prior to COP.

Knowledge and Best Practice
Construct Zero has led in bringing together businesses across the whole construction supply chain, through its Business Champion programme, ranging from SMEs e.g. Adair and Peak Construction, operating locally, to large scale companies, delivering major international infrastructure projects, e.g. Saint-Gobain, Costain and Multiplex.

We are also seeking to share knowledge globally- our joint event with Mace at New York Climate Week, will bring together major clients, contractors and consultants from across the US and UK to showcase the best of Anglo-American collaboration; exploring success stories where joint UK/US expertise is helping to address the huge climate impacts of the built environment across the globe; and form the first step on the road towards better trade links and net zero knowledge sharing to reach a brighter future.

Communications and wider engagement
Construction is one key element of a wider, complex business eco-system. That’s why we are working with key partners, including EDF Energy and CBI, to reach beyond our sector, ensuring our aims, message and approach reach a much wider audience. Construct Zero is committed to this challenge, and will be presenting at key events in the run-up to COP, as well as providing specific practical advice for construction SMEs on reducing emissions, which will be published shortly on the Business Climate Hub.

The call to do more and take steps to reduce our emissions is an immediate one, to ensure we leave a sustainable impact that will live long beyond our immediate future generations. Construct Zero is engaging directly with young industry professionals, drawn from our Business Champion programme, who are already playing a key role in meeting this challenge this head-on. We are delighted they are hosting an event on 23 September to discuss and debate the key issues as part of the Italian Government’s series of virtual summits in the run-up to the Youth COP Summit in Milan.

Finally, and most crucially we are working closely with the COP Unit to finalise our presence at the COP Green Zone.

For COP to truly leave its legacy, it’s imperative we continue to drive forward both the high-level actions and commitments that emerge from COP, together with the enthusiasm and drive companies have and are continuing to generate.

Only by working together in step and at pace, will we truly be able to rise to the challenge and build back better, faster and greener.

Construction Minister Anne Marie Trevelyan said:

“Engaging talented young professionals in the construction industry is key to the future of the sector by developing the highly skilled workforce that will accelerate its drive to net zero.
“This competition, and recognition from the UN as a Race to Zero Accelerator, shows the Construction Leadership Council is continuing to take its role seriously in offering the sector the direction and leadership it needs to build back better and greener.”

Net Zero Business Champion Andrew Griffith MP said:

“This competition is a fantastic opportunity for young professionals to make a mark on the construction industry by offering them the chance to have their innovative ideas to make the sector more sustainable
“Today’s competition launch shows the Construction Leadership Council is continuing to champion a cleaner, more sustainable sector – so it is right that they have been recognised by the UN as a Race to Zero Accelerator.”

Join the conversation #FISNetZeroChallenge

Proposed revision of BS8000-8 Workmanship on construction sites

by Clair Mooney | 7 Sep, 2021 | Building Safety Act

Proposed revision of BS8000-8 Workmanship on construction sites – Part 8: Design and installation of dry lining systems – Code of Practice

You are invited to comment on the proposed changes to this British Standard which was last published in 1994, which along with BS8212:1995 Code of practice for dry lining and partitioning using gypsum plasterboard they provide guidance and tolerance used in the specification and inspection of drylining.

The purpose of BS 8000-8 is to encourage good design and workmanship by providing:

guidance for designers on the selection of systems;
guidance for installers on the correct sequence and method of installation; and
updated tolerances reflecting use and material installation and methods of measurement.

This is a full revision of the standard, and introduces the following principal changes:

clarification of tolerances;
advice when installing dry lining to SFS frames;
testing of dry lining systems; and
expansion of relevant performance requirements.

You are welcome to review the draft and to comment upon it if you wish. The draft can be accessed at https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/projects/2018-01823#/section

The document is available for review until 27 October.

FIS held an online meeting on 7 September to discuss the proposed changes – a recording is available here.