by Nicky Smith | 8 Aug, 2017 | Main News Feed
FIS, in association with McClelland Media Ltd, launched a Leaderboard for the Top 500 active Twitter users in the fit-out sector on 7 August. The aim of the new Leaderboard is to raise social media engagement for our members and promote the finishes and interiors sector to the wider industry.
How does the Leaderboard work?
Companies and individuals who have an interest in the fit-out Sector, including Finishes and Interior Systems such as ceilings, drylining, heritage plastering, operable walls, partitions, plastering and raised-access flooring, have been nominated to Jim McClelland who curates and manages the Leaderboard. The ranking order is determined by Klout Score. Each Monday morning, the Leaderboard updates to provide the new ranking; if you choose to follow the Leaderboard, you will be notified each Monday via email of your rank and Klout Score. Jim McClelland tweets from @SustMemeTop500, providing additional exposure for our Leaderboard, such as tweeting the Top 20, new entrants and top climbers.
How can my company or an individual feature on the Leaderboard?
For potential inclusion, simply Tweet the company or individual’s Twitter Username to @SustMemeTop500, using the hashtag #Top500ADDFitOut. Your Klout Score will determine if, and in which position, you enter the Leaderboard. To aid your Klout, get posting, talking and influencing on your social media channels. FIS looks forward to the Fit-Out Top 500 helping to raise the profile of our members to the wider industry.
If you have any questions about the Leaderboard, please contact nickysmith@thefis.org
by Nicky Smith | 7 Aug, 2017 | Main News Feed
The latest edition of the Joint Taxation Committee’s Newsline for August can be downloaded here. This month’s hot topics include:
- Workplace Pension automatic enrolment
- Making Tax Digital – new timetable
- Reclaiming Construction Industry Scheme tax
- Time for the statutory employment test? – The Taylor Review
by Nicky Smith | 2 Aug, 2017 | Main News Feed
A summary of July’s data from the IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI® revealed that Construction growth eased to an 11-month low in July amid weakness in commercial building.
Other key findings include:
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- Weakest construction performance since August 2016
- Commercial work falls at fastest pace for 12 months
- New orders decline, leading to softer job creation in July
To view the full report, click here.
by Nicky Smith | 21 Jul, 2017 | Main News Feed
We have received advice from Liz Bridge who runs the Joint Taxation Committee, is a Tax Judge and sits on the CITB Levy Panel. Her advice is set out below;
Some firms insert a clause into their contractual terms which allow them to make a deduction for training costs of say 1.25% of the amounts payable to a subcontractor. This deduction must be made plain when subcontractors are tendering for work so no one can say it was sprung on them after the work was done. If it is not in the original contractual terms, any deduction would amount to short payment. The clause must make no reference to being in respect of the CITB Levy because it is not legal for employers to pass on their obligation to pay the Levy to any worker.
A note of caution – It is generally reported that subcontractors tendering to firms making such a deduction for training will inflate their tender price to recompense themselves for the deduction. There may also be resistance from subcontractors who are gross paid under CIS because they may know that no Levy is paid for them. Equally, there may be resistance from subcontractors who are themselves subject to CITB Levy because there is no set-off in the new Levy scheme and they will reason that they are paying twice for training.
Whilst it is possible, it isn’t always best practice.
We would like to remind FIS members that they are eligible to contact Liz Bridge or the Womble Bond Dickinson legal construction team, both services are free and can be found in the Membership Hub here.
by Nicky Smith | 20 Jul, 2017 | Main News Feed
On 7 August, the Fit-Out Top 500 Leaderboard will go live. FIS is sponsoring the latest online Leaderboard, the series of which is run by Jim McClelland who enjoys a high-profile social media presence on Twitter. The Leaderboards provide league-table-style Twitter rankings for the Top 500 influencers worldwide in key sectors. FIS currently features in the Top 500 for the Built Environment at position number 164, whilst David Frise sits at number 158 and Joe Cilia at number 267.
The aim of the new Leaderboard is to raise social media engagement for our members and promote the finishes and interiors sector to the wider industry.
How will the Leaderboard work?
McClelland is currently taking nominations and populating the Leaderboard; the ranking order will be determined by Klout Score. On Monday 7 August, the first Leaderboard will be published and if you choose to follow the board, you will be notified each Monday via email of your rank and Klout Score.
How can your company feature on the Leaderboard?
FIS has set the criteria to include all those who have an interest in the Fit-Out Sector, including Finishes and Interior Systems such as ceilings, drylining, heritage plastering, operable walls, partitions, plastering and raised-access flooring. To be sure of inclusion, simply send a Tweet to using the hashtag #FitOutTop500 and include your Twitter name.
If you have any questions about the Leaderboard, please contact nickysmith@thefis.org
We look forward to the launch of the Fit-Out Top 500 and helping to raise the profile of our members to the wider industry.
by Nicky Smith | 17 Jul, 2017 | Main News Feed
On Saturday 15 July, six staff from the FIS office in Solihull ran the 5K Pretty Muddy course in aid of Cancer Research UK.
Carole, Cath, Clair, Erika, Nicky and Sharon decided to form the team ‘Can the FIS ladies finish?’ as two FIS staff have fought the disease during the last two years.
The cold morning saw the ladies hold on to their coats for as long as possible, and the rain ensured that the course was muddier than normal. Once the warm-up was completed, they set off at 10.45am and within three minutes, they linked arms to form a barrier against the powerful jets of water kindly provided by the Fire Service!
Then followed ten obstacles which included crawling through a mud pit, scaling the A-frame, bouncing on Space Hoppers and the final slide down into the mud bath. The ladies thoroughly enjoyed the event and have so far raised £1,000 for Cancer Research UK; the photos and videos can be seen on the FIS Facebook page.
If you would like to make a donation, please visit the ‘Can the FIS ladies finish?’ fundraising page at: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/can-the-fis-ladies-finish
by Nicky Smith | 11 Jul, 2017 | Main News Feed
The latest edition of the Joint Taxation Committee’s Newsline for July can be downloaded here. This month’s hot topics include:
- HMRC – Use of Labour Providers
- CITB – The next Levy order
- PAYE reporting for employment intermediaries
- Workplace Pensions
- Making Tax Digital
- Taxation of termination payments
- Fuel rates
- HMRC unannounced visits
- PAYE dynamic coding
- Voluntary payrolling
- Due dates for P11Ds
- Employment allowance
by Nicky Smith | 6 Jul, 2017 | Main News Feed
After a successful inaugural event in 2016, our Scottish Awards Lunch will be held at the George Hotel in Edinburgh on Friday 6 October. The Lunch looks set to attract in excess of 150 members and guests; winners of the FIS Scottish Awards will be announced and presented by our guest speaker and compère Bill Copeland.
Please book your tickets via the events page here.
There are a small number of sponsorship opportunities available. If you are interested in any of these, please get in touch either by emailing clairmooney@thefis.org or call the office on 0121 707 0077.
View the event details and winners of the inaugural Scottish Awards in 2016 here, winning projects can be viewed in the image gallery.
by Nicky Smith | 6 Jul, 2017 | Main News Feed
The Government’s independent public inquiry into the fire at Grenfell Tower will examine the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the fire at Grenfell Tower on 14 June 2017. It will establish the facts and will make recommendations as to the action needed to prevent a similar tragedy happening again.
The Chair of the Inquiry, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, will soon start to gather evidence. That will include:
- considering reports by the police, the fire brigade, safety experts and others
- obtaining all relevant documents from whatever sources
- contacting anyone who may have relevant information to give and who may be called as a witness
Anyone who thinks they have relevant documents or information should make sure they are retained and made available to the Inquiry.
Those with an interest are invited to help shape the work of the public Inquiry into the fire. Anyone can submit written views online or in writing. The consultation document is available to download here.
All suggestions must be made to the Inquiry team by 5 pm on 14 July 2017.
Suggestions should be sent to contact@grenfelltowerinquiry.org.uk or by post to:
Grenfell Inquiry Team
Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
The Inquiry will produce a preliminary report as soon as possible, which is expected to provide answers to the most urgent questions affecting the safety of tower blocks.
For fire protection information, visit the Technical section of our Knowledge Hub here.
