Event sponsor

Sam Beer, Senior Associate, Hill Dickinson

Sam has 18 years of experience of handling complex disputes. In this time, Sam has dealt with disputes through litigation, arbitration and adjudication. In addition, Sam has extensive experience of alternative dispute resolution forums, such as mediation. Sam specialises in contentious construction, with a background in professional negligence disputes arising in the construction sector – acting for contractors and specialist sub-contractors .  Further, since the coming into force of the Building Safety Act 2022 (“the Act”), Sam has spoken at external and internal seminars as well as advising clients as to issues arising from the Act. Sam’s work has been recognised by The Legal 500 directory, whose 2023 testimonial said he pays ‘excellent attention to detail and is persistent in trying to achieve the best outcomes for his clients.’

Peter Kelly, Group Director of Sustainable Operations, ISG

Group Director responsible for delivering ISGs ‘Net Gain’ strategy focussing on net zero carbon, circular economy, social value and environmental enhancement.

Responsible for:

• Net Gain strategy delivery across ISG
• Working with ISG enabling departments to ensure our policies and targets inform all operational decisions
• Leading our approach to how we embed circular economy principles within ISG, our projects and the construction industry
• Continuing to develop and implement new and innovative techniques to ensure ISG delivers industry leading sustainable solutions

Adam Strudwick, Principal, Corporate Interiors, London

Adam has built his career in the commercial workplace industry, working at various scales, and in a range of locations around the world. But most importantly, there is a driving force behind all his designs – creating democratic workplaces that are sustainable for the future.

As we spend the majority of our day working, Adam is passionate about delivering places that make people happier, and better able to do their job. Coupled with this, he is keenly aware that as a society we are using too many resources, and he aims to limit his impact on the planet through environmentally responsible design.

His care for the environment goes beyond his working life too. As a sustainable and healthy way to travel, he is an advocate of cycling, and believes it will be the future of commuting for most people. For Adam, it is a great way to get in some exercise, drop his kids off at school, and still get into work with time to spare!

Michelle French, Director, CAMA

Michelle supports many different areas of the business with a focus on customer support, business development, and networking. This provides the opportunity to see behind the scenes of the variety of industries that CAMA works with from construction through to Film and TV productions.

Event Details

This one-hour webinar designed to help contractors and subcontractors improve their management of building contracts. A panel of experts from the CICV, and FIS CEO Iain McIlwee will give advice on a range of best practice, including tender qualifications, payment schedules, variations, retentions, contract amendments, fluctuations and conflict avoidance.

The session will also include a Q&A.

The webinar follows a CICV survey on cashflow and payments in the industry which can be downloaded here: bit.ly/CICV-paysurvey

The CICV also created a Best Practice Guide to address some of the issues raised in the survey, which can be dowloaded here: bit.ly/CICV-BPG

Event Details

Event Details

This is Me – I am a Go Construct STEM Ambassador is a fantastic initiative created by STEMFirst, the STEM Ambassador Hub for Lancashire and Cumbria,  and endorsed across the UK by STEM Learning.

• Our amazing STEM Ambassadors have wonderful, inspirational stories to tell, however often struggle to know what schools want/how they can support young people.
• Teachers want STEM Ambassador support however ask us, who are the STEM Ambassadors and what can they do / which STEM fields are they from?

Via a 1 hour virtual training session, STEMFirst take STEM Ambassadors through how to prepare a simple, impactful and memorable two slide presentation to showcase who they are as a STEM Ambassador. This resource is personal to YOU, and once prepared will save you time, help develop your confidence and ability to get active , and can be used again and again.

STEMFirst will take you through slide content, key components for a punchy two minute talk and how to talk about yourself in a simple, impactful way. We will show you how you can easily get STEM-active and showcase your own story. We will then illustrate how to ‘OFFER’ these talks via the STEM Ambassador website and highlight why this is such a step change to the way previous STEM Ambassador support has been requested by schools and youth organisations.

The session will also:

• Showcase construction specific examples of other STEM Ambassadors ‘This is Me’ presentations
• Highlight how to use This is Me to support various STEM/Construction activity
• Give you chance to hear from other STEM Ambassadors who have put together this own ‘This is Me’ talks and used them
• Ask questions

Event Details

Reducing the waste generated by the fit out process from both the removal of products/components and the installation is one of the key challenges the construction sector has to address if we are to achieve net zero carbon targets and a reduction in waste. Fit-outs are often carried out under strict time pressures which frequently means that opportunities to reuse or recycle materials are not taken, and which can lead to a substantial increase in carbon footprint.

The LINK project, funded by Innovate UK, has the aim of dramatically reducing the amount of waste produced by fit-outs by using artificial intelligence and machine learning to rapidly identify materials and products for reuse, and connect those who wish to dispose of materials to those who wish to use them, keeping these materials in circulation, a key facet of the circular economy. It aims to develop a rapid listing mobile app, and engage with all parts of the supply chain to revolutionise reuse in fit-outs, and ultimately for construction as a whole.

This event is the first of a series of industry workshops for the project and seeks to engage with stakeholders from across the fit-out and interiors sector. We will explore some of the challenges and opportunities provided by digital technology and aim to identify the key drivers and critical success factors in developing technology which enables reuse to become the norm, rather than the exception. The event is open to designers, clients, manufacturers, contractors and all those involved with promoting and encouraging reuse, and those who simply want to find out more.

Registration is free and the programme details are below:

2pm Introduction and Welcome

Sustainability for Finishes and Interiors
Iain Mcilwee, CEO / Flavie Lowres, Sustainability Champion – Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS)

Avoiding Waste in the Fit-Out Process
Dr Katherine Adams, Technical Director – Reusefully

Specifying Reused Products – the Vision
Rachel Hoolahan, Associate – Orms

Introduction to the LINK project – using AI to revolutionise reuse
Prof Hafiz Alaka, Director, Big Data Tech and Innovation Lab – University of Hertfordshire

Discussion Group 1
What are the key information needs to facilitate reuse in fit-outs?

Discussion Group 2
Who is going to drive this and how?

Summary Session and Discussion
Key points from the discussions

3.30pm – Close and Next Steps

Event Details

15:30 Welcome: Angela Mansell, Managing Director Mansell Building Solutions

Introduction and FIS Update– Iain McIlwee, FIS CEO
A quick update on FIS activities including headline findings from our Procurement Research

Better Contracting:  Tendering, Bottoming out Risks and Learning when to say no – Damian James, Damian James, Delay and Quantum Experts
A look at common challenges, how to set yourself up to avoid disputes, when to walk away and how to avoid conflict and disputes

Improving the Supply Chains Commercial and Contractual Management of Building Contracts – Pat Loftus, Anderson Strathern
A look at how to review a contract, a look at design development and how to make best use of new Standard FIS Contracts

Open Discussion on Better Contracting

Followed by networking and drinks at nearby O’Neill’s at The Printworks, 27 Withy Grove, Greater, Manchester M4 2BS

Event Details

Agenda

1. Update of FIS activities, Building Safety Act, Competency Management, Sustainability
2. Removal of Mouldy Plaster Board and other safety issues during strip out
3. Pallet Trucks, Banksmen and placement of dunnage
4. Round table points and activities
5. Any other business (Please notify George Swann in advance)

Event Details

In partnership with Skills Development Network, this webinar will introduce the Education Landscape resources.

Delivered by the Strategic Development Network and funded by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, the objective is to help SMEs better understand the education sector, and see how working with education partners can benefit their business. To do this a Guide and set of resources have been produced, along with an established network of business partners who use these across their work and support for SMEs.

Launched in June 2022, the resources were developed in partnership with the Confederation of British Industry, Federation of Small Businesses, Institute of Directors, Careers and Enterprise Company, and the British Chambers of Commerce.

This webinar will explain the resources which are free and readily available for FIS members.

Event Details