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.
by Nicky Smith | 5 Jul, 2017 | Main News Feed
CITB is hosting a series of Grants and Funding workshops, including one-to-one sessions, during August. Book your free workshop to learn about:
- Flexible and structured funds (what is available and how to apply)
- Update on grants available, CITB products and services, and card schemes
- Update on Apprenticeship funding, frameworks/standards, recruitment and supporting apprentices
- Discuss your Apprenticeship needs with a CITB Apprenticeship Officer
Advisers and Apprenticeship Officers will also be available for one-to-one sessions from 1.30pm – 3.00pm to answer any questions you may have and offer information on other ways that CITB can support your business.
To find out more about how CITB can help support your business, please book a session using the links below. If you have problems booking a place, please email Shirley Ratcliffe. If you are unable to attend an event and would like more information on CITB support, please contact the customer services team on 0344 994 4455.
2 August – Bournemouth
3 August – Swindon
8 August – Fareham
9 August – Winchester
22 August – Oxford
23 August – Maidenhead
24 August – Sussex
30 August – Bordon
by Nicky Smith | 5 Jul, 2017 | Main News Feed
Three weeks after the devastating Grenfell Tower fire, we bring you a round-up of the week’s industry responses. A research briefing paper from Parliament.co.uk sets out the events and commentary around the Grenfell Tower fire, the relevant building regulations, fire safety laws and housing standards, the Government response to the fire, the responsibilities around re-housing, and previous concerns raised by fire regulations.
Landlords are engaging in a checking and testing process for Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding. The tests that are currently being conducted at BRE – on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) – are a screening test to identify which ACM panels are of concern.
ACA is an Association that represents architects’ private practices in the UK. As publishers of Forms of Appointments and Building Contracts the ACA has a long and special interest in successful design, procurement and construction. Its response asks if the Design and Procurement of buildings in England and Wales are currently working as it should? If not, how can it be improved to prevent future catastrophic failures? The ACA sets out 41 relevant questions following the disaster.
The International Institute of Risk and Safety Management provides the open letter to the Prime Minister from over 70 leading organisations and figures from the UK’s safety and health profession. They call for a political sea change in attitude towards health and safety regulation and fire risk management following the Grenfell tragedy.
The Scottish Government reported that the second meeting of a Ministerial Working Group, convened to examine building and fire safety regulatory frameworks, has taken place. The group oversees a review of building and fire safety regulatory frameworks with an initial focus on high rise domestic buildings.
by Nicky Smith | 4 Jul, 2017 | Main News Feed
A summary of June’s data from the IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI® revealed that the UK construction sector recovery lost momentum in June.
Other key findings include:
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- Business activity growth slows from May’s 17-month high
- Weaker rises in new orders and employment
- Business optimism eases to its lowest so far in 2017
To view the full report, click here.
