by Clair Mooney | 15 Aug, 2024 | Fairness, Inclusivity and Respect (FIR)
The Inspiring Change Awards celebrates organisations and individuals within the built environment sector that have created inclusive cultures through activities to support workplaces, education of the current and future workforce, and the community. Nominations are invited from organisations and projects that have introduced innovative and creative initiatives within the last two years.
Entry is now open for the following catgeories, and will close on 13 September 2024.
Find out full details on the nomination process here. Please email completed nomination forms to InspiringChange@supplychainschool.co.uk
FIS Head of Skills, Beena Nana is a judge for the 2024 Awards and said:
FIS is delighted to be supporting the awards and working with colleagues from across the industry to challenge all of us to be better and spotlight positive stories that can inspire us all.
The winner of the Awards will be announced at the 2024 Conference which will bring together a range of inspirational speakers from diverse backgrounds and workplaces to share their expertise. For more information on the conference and to book your place click here.
by Clair Mooney | 15 Aug, 2024 | Skills
How CITB’s New Entrant Support Team (NEST) can support you and your business
Are you looking to employ an Apprentice or New Entrant? If you are CITB registered and up to date with your levy the CITB New Entrant Support Team can support you throughout your journey, including:
- Recruitment
- CITB Funding
- Admin (including setting up your Government Digital Account to access additional Grants)
- Retention
If you wish to find out more, please contact marieflinter@thefis.org for a link to the following Webinars:
26 November 2024 – 09:30/10:30
27 February 2025 – 09:30/10:30
25 March 2025 – 16:00/17:00
by Oscar Venus | 15 Aug, 2024 | Skills
With today being A-level results day we want to reach out to everyone who is thinking about the next step in their career journey.
The construction industry, offers numerous career opportunities. The finesse of the industry lies in the finishes and interiors sector, where Apprenticeships and NVQs in plastering, drylining, ceilings, and partition fixing are available.
Prospective construction professionals can embark on several routes which include opportunities to gain experience in the workplace, underlining proficiency in a specific job role. These avenues equip you with the hands-on skills needed to progress and succeed in the diverse world of construction.
The finishes and interiors sector is a dynamic field, presenting an array of career pathways – from budding novice to seasoned leader. As expertise is gathered, you can climb the ladder from apprentice to site supervisor.
If you have any questions about getting started with a career in the Finishes and Interiors Sector, email beenanana@thefis.org
by Clair Mooney | 15 Aug, 2024 | Contractual and Legal
FIS Chief Executive Iain McIlwee will be speaking at the Conflict Avoidance Conference on 2 October in London. Iain will be discussing the Conflict Avoidance Pledge including the tools required to avoid and manage emerging disputes.
Speakers include Sir John Armitt, Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, Tim Tapper, Director of Contract Services at Turner and Townsend, Sue Barrett Head of Contracts & Procurement at Houses of Parliament Restoration & Renewal and FIS CEO Iain McIlwee.
Commenting on his contribution on one of the panels, FIS CEO Iain McIlwee said:
“I will be using data from the Reading Report and the ongoing research and dialogue Finishes and Interiors Sector has with our community to make the case that better buildings need better contracting. Better Safety and Sustainability are for many locked away by irresponsible contractual appointments and punitive combative behaviours. If you want to unlock better mental health in construction, better occupational health, genuine net zero deliverables, a collaborative approach to building safety and the strategic planning that underpins investment in the skills and technology needed to improve productivity, then we do need to start here. If you disagree, come along and tell us why, if you agree support the Pledge, come along and share ideas and if you aren’t sure get yourself along and listen to the debate”.
Places at the conference are limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment – you can secure your place here.
Should you sign the Conflict Avoidance Pledge? Find out why FIS is supporting it here.
by Oscar Venus | 13 Aug, 2024 | Technical
After BS8000-Part 8: Workmanship on construction sites – design and installation of dry lining systems code of practice was published last year, it was noted that some of the drawings were not as clear as they could have been and the values for openings in drylining were incorrect. BSI has subsequently re-published the document.
FIS has produced a Technical Note outlining the changes, which can be downloaded here.
by Clair Mooney | 12 Aug, 2024 | Health and Safety, Member Benefits, Technical
FIS is thrilled to announce a new partnership with UKATA, a leading authority in asbestos training. This partnership solidifies the collaboration between the two organisations and aims to further enhance the education and training opportunities related to asbestos across the construction and interiors sectors.
This new relationship reflects the commitment of both organisations to work closely together in advancing asbestos awareness and safety measures across the industry. By combining their expertise, resources, and industry knowledge, UKATA and FIS intend to strengthen efforts to prevent asbestos-related diseases and ensure the highest standards of safety in asbestos management.
Debbie Nixon, UKATA Senior Operations Manager expressed her excitement about the partnership saying,
“We are delighted to formalise our collaboration with the Finishes and Interiors Sector, and I look forward to contributing to our collective efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of asbestos.”
Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive of FIS commented,
‘Asbestos has slipped out of the headlines a bit in recent times, but we cannot get complacent. It is true that usage has been banned since the turn of the century, but it was so widely used historically that we will continue to encounter it in refurbishment works for many, many years to come. If disturbed and inappropriately managed, it is a killer and one of the worst we have known in construction – there is no safe level of exposure. It is critical that construction workers know how to identify and react when they encounter asbestos, not just for their own safety, but for all those around them. This new partnership is about ensuring that the next generation of construction workers have access to the training they need and are not at risk from decisions made in the past and eminently avoidable mistakes that ignorance and complacency may allow today’.
Both UKATA and FIS share a common commitment to asbestos awareness, training, and safety.
by Clair Mooney | 12 Aug, 2024 | Market data
The Construction Products Association’s latest State of Trade Survey showed early signs of recovery for the construction product manufacturing sector in the second quarter of 2024. Both heavy side and light side firms reported a quarterly increase in product sales volumes, although concerns remain over the near-term strength of demand and labour availability.
In 2024 Q2, a balance of 30% of heavy side manufacturers reported that sales of construction products increased, marking the first quarterly growth since 2022 Q2. Alongside this, 13% of light side manufacturers reported a rise in product sales.
Despite growth over the quarter, comparisons with a year earlier remained weak, reflecting two years of flatlining GDP growth and an extended period of interest rates being held at peak resulting in a significant reduction in demand from private housing new build and repairs, maintenance and improvement (rm&i). Manufacturers’ expectations for the next 12 months were positive in Q2, with growth expected by both the heavy side and the light side. Nevertheless, the strength of demand continued to register as a concern, whilst a record-high proportion of manufacturers flagged up concern over the availability of labour.
Rebecca Larkin, CPA Head of Construction Research said:
“After an extended period of declining sales, particularly on the heavy side, encouragingly we are now seeing the green shoots of recovery. For the heavy side this was the first quarterly growth recorded in two years and given this context, it is perhaps not surprising that sales volumes were still reported lower when comparing to a year earlier given the longer-running weakness experienced by product manufacturers feeding into a slower residential construction sector.
“Whilst cuts in interest rates are expected to be the catalyst for a recovery in the two largest sectors of construction, private housing and private housing rm&i, manufacturers continue to highlight both demand-side and supply-side challenges. In common with construction, one of the industry’s biggest longer-term issues will be attracting and retaining workers.”
Key survey findings include:
- A balance of 30% of heavy side firms and 13% of light side firms reported that construction products sales rose in 2024 Q2 compared with 2024 Q1, the first heavy side growth in two years
- Comparing 2024 Q2 with 2023 Q2, 30% of heavy side manufacturers reported a decrease in sales, on balance
- 56% of heavy side manufacturers and 23% of light side manufacturers anticipated a rise in sales over the next 12 months
- 57% heavy side manufacturers and 49% of light side manufacturers cited ‘demand’ as the key concern for sales over the next 12 months
- 29% of heavy side manufacturers also cited ‘labour availability’ as a concern, the highest proportion on record; this proportion was 27% for light side manufacturers
- All manufacturers reported an increase in wages and salaries compared to a year earlier
FIS members can access the full report here.
by Oscar Venus | 9 Aug, 2024 | Employment, Labour, Skills
In a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has set out plans to reduce net migration in favour of sectors “sourc[ing] the skills they need here at home”. Promising a new approach that “links migration policy and visa controls to skills and labour market policies”, she has commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the reliance of key sectors on international recruitment, starting with engineering and IT, which have consistently been on the list of shortage occupations for over a decade. The Government will keep a number of changes introduced by the previous Government, including maintaining the salary threshold for Skilled Worker Visas at £38,700 and scrapping the 20% going rate discount for overseas workers in shortage occupations.
Build UK’s flowchart provides an overview of the process of employing a worker from outside the UK in construction, with detailed guidance on How to Get a Sponsor Licence and How to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa.
Find out more about FIS work to address the Skills Shortage here
by Oscar Venus | 9 Aug, 2024 | Main News Feed
Following the release of the first JCT 2024 contracts, which include a number of changes in response to our recommendation on contract terms, Build UK has updated its guidance on implementing the recommendation when using JCT contracts. The changes, which will help to support a fairer allocation of risk through the supply chain, include:
- Fitness for Purpose ‐ A new clause containing an express exclusion for fitness for purpose, making it clear that in undertaking the design, the contractor will have no duty beyond reasonable skill and care, and will not be subject to any fitness for purpose obligation in respect of its design
- Unquantifiable Risks ‐ The range of events giving rise to an extension of time and/or loss and expense has been extended to include asbestos, contaminated material and unexploded ordnance, in addition to antiquities, allowing the parties to agree a share of the risk in the event of such conditions
- Uncapped Liabilities ‐ A new footnote highlighting that the parties may wish to agree a cap on liability, with model clauses now included in the Guide.
The business environment remains challenging, and our recommendation identifies six contract terms that should be avoided in order to promote collaboration and realise better project outcomes. The updated guidance is designed to help implement the recommendation by explaining why each term should be avoided and setting out ways to manage the underlying issues in a more collaborative way, with specific guidance for both JCT and NEC contracts.
BuildUK represent large contractors in the UK and they state that the recommendation is non‐binding and Build UK members are free to negotiate their own contractual terms.
Whilst this is the case FIS CEO Iain McIlwee stressed the importance of “not putting up with rubbish contracts” and encouraged members to report unreasonable contract terms to the FIS so that we can take them up with BuildUK and, if necessary the contractor in question on a collective level.
FIS Members can (and are encouraged) to report unreasonable and irresponsible contract clauses via our website here.
Further help on legal and contractual matters is available by calling the dedicated FIS Legal Helplines (supported by expert lawyers and quantity surveyors). This helpline is available during office hours Monday – Friday via 0121 707 0077.
A raft of legal advice, support and training is available via the FIS Contractual and Legal Toolkit. Here you will also find details of our subsidised contract review service and details of recommended training on legal and contractual matters.
Find out more about FIS campaign to support better contracting: The Responsible No here
FIS is supporting the Conflict Avoidance Coalition: Find out more about the coalition and signing the Pledge here
