Fit-Out Futures Social Event – 17 July

Fit-Out Futures Social Event – 17 July

Fit-Out Futures Networking Event

Event Details

Date: 17 July 2025
Location: The OD Group, 24 Chiswell Street London EC1Y 4TY
Time: 18:00 – 21:00

You are invited to join us on 17 July for our first Fit-Out Futures networking event to socialise with like-minded people in the finishes and interiors sector.

This event is especially aimed at early-career professionals looking to grow their network, build confidence, and meet others at a similar stage in their journey. Whether you’re an apprentice, graduate, or just finding your feet in the industry, we’d love to meet you and your colleagues!

Alternatively, if you have a colleague or team member who would benefit from meeting peers and building connections, please spread the word and share this invitation with them.

We’ll be kicking off what we hope will be the first of many friendly, informal events to support personal and professional development, discuss STEM and youth activities, and share a drink and a laugh with new colleagues and friends.

 Bring your business cards and your drink of choice. The dress code is business-casual, whatever you’re comfortable in.

 If you have any questions or queries, please email FitOutFuturesGroup@thefis.org

FIS Health & Safety Working Group – 3 July

FIS Health & Safety Working Group – 3 July

Health and Safety Working Group

Event Details

Date: 03 July 2025
Location: Online
Timings: 14:30 – 16:40

Agenda

  • Welcome, David Cant, Veritas Consulting, FIS H&S Working Group Chair
  • Review of FIS H&S Survey Data, Iain McIlwee, CEO Finishes and Interiors Sector
  • Dust Risk, Monitoring and Managing (including feedback on recent site monitoring for Dry Lining operations) – Joe Marais LFOH, Product Development Manager – Particulates, Trolex
  • The Residents, Clients & Construction Excellence Toolkit (ReACT) Improving Silica Dust Awareness and better managing our risks, Dr Scott McGibbon, Pivotal Consulting
  • Bespoke manual handling training, Adam Snowden, Executive Director Pristine Condition International
  • Update on FIS Projects:
    • Review of new FIS Guidance on Knife Safety
    • Occupational Health Training progress
    • Moving pallets safely onsite
  • Open discussion on any H&S Concerns (topics can be raised on the day, but if you wish to raise something specific to allow people to prepare for a discussion or simply wish to raise a topic anonymously, please email iainmcilwee@thefis.org details)

Download the notes from the last meeting here.

Training Course: understanding EPD and LCA – 15 July

Training Course: understanding EPD and LCA – 15 July

Training course: Understanding Environmental Product Declaration's and Life Cycle Assessments

Event Details

Date: 15 July 2025
Location: Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining, 297 Euston Road, London, NW1 3AD
Time: 10:30 – 17:00

Cost:

FIS members: £120 + VAT per delegate

Non-members early-bird rate: £200 + VAT (book before 4 July)

Non-members: £250 + VAT

This one day training course will be an opportunity to learn more about Environmental Product Declaration’s (EPD’s) and Life Cycle Assessments (LCA’s).

Delegates will have the opportunity to spend the day with two experts who will take them through the following:

  • Understanding the difference between an EPD and an LCA
  • What is contained in an EPD
  • What is the process and data requirements to obtain an EPD

Delegates will also explore the use of tools that are available to manufacturers and there will be plenty of time to ask questions.

*This training course is limited to 8 places to ensure that all delegates can maximise their time and ask specific questions directly related to their business.
Dr Max Robson

Dr Max Robson

Environmental Metrics and Training Manager at Recolight

Dr Max Robson, Environmental Metrics and Training Manager at Recolight, has a background in materials chemistry and life cycle analysis (LCA). Max has previously worked as a consultant in product sustainability and now works at Recolight, helping UK lighting manufacturers on their journeys implementing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) into their business. This includes conducting EPD-focused workshops to provide training, and offering technical guidance for life cycle assessments (LCAs) needed to create EPDs.

EPD for construction products – 12 June

EPD for construction products – 12 June

Webinar: EPD for construction products

Event Details

Date: 12 June 2025
Location: Online
Time: 11:00 – 12:00

FIS and Recolight have partnered to support their members in creating an environmental product declaration (EPD).  In this webinar you will hear from two experts who will explain 

  • What an EPD is 
  • Why it is important to have EPDs
  • How to get an EPD  

Scottish Regional Meeting – 18 June

Scottish Regional Meeting – 18 June

FIS Scottish Regional Meeting

Event Details

Date: 18 June 2025
Location: Specialist Assessment & Training Centre, Nisbet Business Centre, Nisbet Street, Glasgow, G31 5HB
Time: 13:30 – 17:00

13:00 Registration

Technical and Sustainability update

FIS Technical Project Manager, Damian Hill and Sustainability Champion, Flavie Lowres give an update on key elements of FIS work in these areas.

Len Bunton, Bunton Consulting

Current contractual conditions, the Responsible No, conflict avoidance and dispute resolution.

Break

Dave Drimmie, The Construction Business Coach

Improving productivity in construction

Naila Wood, Balfour Beatty

Naila will share Balfour Beatty’s latest approaches to setting and achieving social value targets and her involvement with early career engagement initiatives.

17:00 Close

EPD for construction products – 12 June

Webinar: Top 10 Insights: 2024 Diversity Report, 15 May

Webinar: Top 10 Insights: 2024 Diversity Report

Event Details

Date: 15 May 2025
Location: Online
Time: 12:00 – 13:00

Discover key trends and insights from this year’s Diversity Data Benchmarking Report!

What is the session about? 

The Supply Chain Sustainability School has recently launched its Diversity Data Benchmarking Report which aggregates protected characteristic data of employees within the built environment sector. It provides key insights and trend analysis covering 589 organisations anonymously reporting data on 453,624 employees making it the largest report of its kind and giving us one of the clearest pictures of diversity in the sector. 

Join the Fairness Inclusion and Respect (FIR) Team to hear our Top 10 Takeaways from this year’s report including: 

  • Key takeaways  
  • Standout trends  
  • Biggest changes year-on-year 
  • Findings that surprised us 
  • Lessons learned 

What will I achieve?  

By attending this webinar, you will: 

  1. Learn about the Diversity Data Benchmarking Survey, what it covers, how it works and why we do it. 
  1. Get key insights and trends from this year’s benchmarking report and understand what they mean for the industry and your business. 
  1. Understand how you can get involved in next year’s Diversity Data benchmarking exercise and the value of participation. 

What level is the webinar, and do I need any particular skills? 

This is a beginner level webinar that outlines key trends and insights. No prior skills or knowledge is needed, however if you’d like to read the report in advance please click here to view.  

What are the attendance requirements? 

Pleasearrive promptly andstay for the duration. There are no other requirements for attending this session.  

When I’ve finished, what related resources should I do next?  

  1. Learn more about the Diversity Survey here.

Contact details: 

If you have any questions about this session, please contact: fir@supplychainschool.co.uk 

FIS Health & Safety Working Group – 3 July

SFS Working Group – 1 May

SFS contractors working group

Event Details

Date: 1 May 2025
Location: The Vault, 8-11, St John’s Lane, London EC1M 4BF
Time: 13:00 – 16:30

FIS is holding its SFS working group at The Vault in Clerkenwell. We will pursue a strong health & safety agenda before delving into the government’s response to the Grenfell Inquiry Report and construction products Green Paper and the design development process as it applies to the SFS market among other subjects. Members and non-members are welcome and will have a chance to raise any of your own concerns or propose activities that will support improvement and help members.

Agenda:

  • Health and Safety | Safe ingress, storage and cutting of boards, work at height and metal cutting
  • Update on Rotational Movement Project
  • Construction Products | Government response to Grenfell Inquiry and Green Paper consultation
  • Net zero carbon targets
  • Changes to fire regulations | impact on membranes
  • Skills | Update on competency framework
  • Design development | The design process for SFS

Visit the SFS working group page

Click here

EPD for construction products – 12 June

Webinar: Transforming construction finance – 8 April

Webinar: The Fair Payment Code Gold Award - transforming construction finance, and why it matters

Event Details

Date: 8 April 2025
Location: Online
Time: 11:00 – 12:00
Join Liz Barclay, the UK’s Small Business Commissioner, alongside leading industry experts to tackle one of construction’s biggest financial challenges: late payments.

Late payments and inefficient cash flow remain persistent challenges in the construction industry, often leading to supply chain disruptions, project delays, and financial strain on SMEs. This webinar explores the feasibility of achieving the Fair Payment Code (FPC) Gold Award in construction, outlining the benefits, practical steps, and regulatory landscape shaping fair payment practices.

This webinar provides a practical roadmap for construction companies aiming to achieve the Gold Award, helping businesses improve cash flow, strengthen supplier trust, and secure a competitive edge in the market.

Joining Causeway to guide us through the implementation, practicalities and benefits of the Fair Payment Code is an exclusive panel;

Liz Barclay
Small Business Commissioner, Office of the Small Business Commissioner (OSBC)

Iain McIlwee
CEO, Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS)

Stuart Green
Professor of Construction Management, University of Reading

Who is this webinar for?

Designed for C-Suite Executives, Financial Directors, Procurement Leads, Commercial Managers and other employees working in a financial role.

Webinar Agenda
  • The true cost of late payments and the impact it has on weakening the supply chain.
  • Understanding what the Fair Payment Code Gold Award is.
  • Lessons learnt since the launch of the Fair Payment Code.
  • The steps to achieving a Gold Award and the strategic advantages this provides.
  • Overcoming the main challenge of managing cash flow while meeting payment deadlines and avoiding certification delays.
  • Understanding the role of new regulatory powers, reporting obligations, and potential penalties for non-compliance.

EPD for construction products – 12 June

Webinar: Dangers of asbestos and the importance of asbestos awareness training – 10 April

Webinar: Dangers of asbestos and the importance of asbestos awareness training

Event Details

Date: 10 April 2025
Location: Online
Time: 11:00 – 12:00

Asbestos remains a significant health hazard in the UK and each year, asbestos-related diseases continue to claim more than 5,000 lives. It is especially hazardous for those in the finishes and interiors sector who frequently work in older buildings where asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are still present.

UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) is dedicated to improving the quality and standards of asbestos training, with the ultimate goal of protecting workers and the public from the risks associated with asbestos exposure.

To achieve this goal, it is vital that we continue to discuss and educate in order to debunk any myths associated with asbestos.

To support, FIS in collaboration with UKATA, is hosting a webinar to dig deeper into some of the myths around asbestos and provide an opportunity for the audience to put their questions to UKATA  Speaker, Wayne Bagnall.

Wayne Bagnall - MBE MSc CFIOSH Hon-FIDE MCMI

Wayne Bagnall - MBE MSc CFIOSH Hon-FIDE MCMI

Wayne Bagnall Ltd

Wayne operates a specialist asbestos and demolition safety consultancy; Wayne Bagnall Ltd, with a small team providing advice, training, and support to ensure safe and cost-effective projects.

In the 1970s, Wayne studied chemistry & biochemistry for five years attaining a City & Guilds full technological certificate equivalent to degree level. He continues his education in management and safety gaining membership with the Chartered Institute of Management (MCMI), a qualified demolition engineer with the Institute of Demolition Engineers (IDE), and a corporate membership with IOSH.

In 2000, Wayne was one of the first four people to be awarded a Master’s Degree in Construction (Health & Safety) Management at John Moores University Liverpool.

EPD for construction products – 12 June

Unlocking the potential of prison leavers – 4 March

Webinar: Unlocking the potential of prison leavers

Event Details

Date: 4 March2025
Location: Online
Time: 11:00 – 12:00

Ex-offenders can play a crucial role in addressing the skills shortage in construction. Many ex-offenders are eager to turn their lives around and contribute positively to society, and the construction sector offers ample opportunities for hands-on training and career growth.

By getting involved in training or vocational programmes, they can acquire valuable skills while helping to bridge the labour gap, proving that second chances can lead to long-term success for both individuals and the industry.

Join us for an insightful webinar, in collaboration with Wates, developed to educate you on how to employ prison leavers.

The webinar will aim to share with you the knowledge of industry leading specialists.

Attendees will gain valuable tips on understanding prison leavers and how they can help your business grow. Hear good news stories and positive outcomes of businesses recruiting in this field.

The webinar will be hosted by:

Sasha Simmonds

Sasha Simmonds

Regional Social Value Manager, Wates

Emma Wagstaff

Senior National Employment Manager, New Futures Network

Scottish Regional Meeting – 3 December

Scottish Regional Meeting – 3 December

FIS Regional Meeting - Progressing the Responsible ‘No’

Event Details

Date: 3 December 2024
Location: Specialist Assessment & Training Centre Ltd, Nisbet Business Centre, 30 Nisbet Street, Glasgow, G31 5HB
Time:14:00 – 17:00

14:00 Registration

How the Responsible 'No' is gathering pace

Speaker: Iain McIlwee, FIS Chief Executive

Conflict Avoidance Pledge

Len will update the group on his work with FIS members and progress on the Conflict Avoidance Pledge.

Speakers: Len Bunton, Bunton Consulting

Quality and Compliance

Colin will talk about Quality and Compliance and how this is being managed within the supply chain.

Speaker: Colin Campbell, Scottish Futures Trust

CITB Update

Margaret will provide delegates with details on the CITB Employer Networks.

Speaker: Margaret Evans, CITB

17:00 Close

FIS Health & Safety Working Group – 3 July

Partitions and Pods Working Groups – 18 June

Partitions and Pods Working Group

Event Details

Date: 18 June 2025
Location: The Vault, 8-11 St John’s Lane, London EC1M 4BF
Timings: 13:00 – 16:30

 You are invited to join us at our next Partitions & Pods working group at The Vault in Clerkenwell where in addition to a robust discussion about a number of technical concerns, we will also be discussing the reuse of glazed partitions with a guest speaker from the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP). Members will have the opportunity to raise any of their own concerns or propose activities that will support improvement and help members.

Agenda:

  • Product safety & compliance | Summary of FIS green paper response and introduction to PAS 2000
  • Sustainability | ASBP reuse of glass partitions guide and introduction to reuse of doors
  • Industry competence
    • Baseline installer competence, doors and fire-resistant glazing
    • Estimator and procurement training
    • BS 8670-2, design and fire safety competence
  • Underfloor fire barriers | Understanding the limitations of design and testing
Peter Long

Peter Long

Partitions and Pods Group Chair (Optima Products)

Debbie Ward

Debbie Ward

Alliance for Sustainable Building Products

Online Members Meeting – 9 October

Online Members Meeting – 9 October

FIS Online Members Meeting

Event Details

Date: 9 October 2024
Location: Online (via Teams)
Time: 11:30 – 12:30

At this meeting we will be joined by one of our legal advisors, Alistair Dean, our resident QS and contracts specialist Len Bunton and our debt recovery partner BABR, who will provide guidance and support to members.

This event is your opportunity as members to discuss the issues affecting your business. Please feed in any topics for discussion to michellearmstrong@thefis.org or complete the form below.

Submit your topics for discussion below

5 + 7 =

FIS Conference – 16 October, London

FIS Conference – 16 October, London

FIS Conference

This one day event will include our official AGM and will conclude with a drinks reception and networking

Event Details

Date: 16 October 2025
Location: Hill Dickinson, The Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, London EC2A 2EW
Timings:
Conference: 10:00 – 16:00
Drinks reception – 16:30 – 18:30

10:00 Registration

Full programme coming soon

Construction in the finishes and interiors sector: How the market is shaping up for 2026

Ed Griffiths, Head of Business & Client Analytics at Barbour ABI

Break

Lunch

Break

16:00 Close

Drinks reception - sponsored by Nevill Long

You are welcome to join us for a drink in the networking area once the event has concluded.

Meet the speakers…

Ed Griffiths

Ed Griffiths

Barbour ABI

Thanks to our event sponsors

Scottish Regional Meeting – 3 December

FIS Conference and AGM – 7 November

FIS Conference and AGM: Reframing Construction, building a resilient industry

Date: 7 November 2024

Location: University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7SH (Scarman Building)

Time: Registration from 09:30

Meeting: 10:00 – 16:30

Agenda

09.30 Registration and refreshments

10.00 FIS and the finishes and interiors landscape – Philip Brown, FIS President

The political and economic backdrop

10.05 Keynote: A New Government and what this means for UK construction – Fergus Harradence, Deputy Director, Infrastructure & Construction – Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)

10.30 Prospects for the UK construction industry – Dr Noble Francis, Economics Director, Construction Products Association

11.00 Break

How we need to adapt to the new regulatory landscape

11.30 The developing regulatory framework for construction products – Geoffrey Brown, Assistant Director – Construction Products: Sector Compliance Team, Office for Product Safety and Standards

11.45 The competence conundrum: How we need to adapt to manage individual competence

  • Jon Vanstone, Chair, Industry Competence Committee, Competence, Regulation and how the Regulatory Approach to Competence is changing
  • Faye Burnett, Mace, Super Sector Chair, Installer Competence and Super Sectors

12.15 Getting  to grips with organisational capability – Paul Stevens, Aviso Consultancy

12.25 Panel discussion and Q&A (joining the panel will be James Parlour, FIS Vetting Manager).

LUNCH 12:40

Rethinking supply chains – The Responsible No

13.40 Building Resilient Businesses and Supply Chains – Richard Bartlett, Willmott Dixon

14.05 Conflict avoidance and better supply chain working – Len Bunton, Bunton Consulting

14.20 Standard form contracts, just  what the DOCTOR ordered: – Anthony Armitage, Thirdway

14.30 Panel discussion and Q&A

14.45 Break

A postcard from the future

15.00 Panel discussion hosted by the FIS Fit-Out Futures Network.  What construction nightmares do we need to consign to Room 101? Open debate on competency, risk changes to the construction landscape and the future of the fit-out sector.

15.50 We haven’t modernised yet, so how do we avoid dying…?  – Mark Farmer, CAST Consultancy

16.15 FIS Annual General Meeting, including the announcement of the elected Board members and new FIS President

16.30 Close and drinks reception

Richard Bartlett

Richard Bartlett

Willmott Dixon Interiors

Fergus Harradence

Fergus Harradence

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Professor Noble Francis

Professor Noble Francis

Construction Products Association

Jon Vanstone

Jon Vanstone

Industry Competence Committee

Len Bunton

Len Bunton

Bunton Consulting

Mark Farmer

Mark Farmer

Cast Consultancy

Geoffrey Brown

Geoffrey Brown

Office for Product Safety and Standards

Anthony Armitage

Anthony Armitage

Thirdway

Faye Burnett

Faye Burnett

Mace

FIS Health & Safety Working Group – 3 July

Operable Walls Working Group – 6 March

Operable Walls Working Group

Event Details

Date: 6 March 2025
Location: The Vault, 8-11 St Johns Lane, London, EC1M 4BF
Timings: 13:00 – 16:00

FIS is holding its Operable Walls working group at The Vault in Clerkenwell where you will get to see a number of interior product manufacturers showrooms whilst we discuss, review and update the ongoing work that FIS is undertaking on competence standards, sustainability, technical issues and the latest developments in regulation and Government, with a chance to raise any of your own concerns or propose activities that will support improvement and help members.

Agenda:

  • Legislative and economic updates
  • Skills and training | new baseline competence standard – next steps
  • Occupational health | site ingress, manual handling and sequencing for operable walls
  • FIS technical activities and issues | void barriers and models for reuse
  • Questions and open forum
  • AOB (must be submitted in advance)
  • Join us for a drink afterwards

FIS Health & Safety Working Group – 3 July

SFS Working Group – 19 November

SFS Working Group

Event Details

Date: 19 November
Location: Hilti, No.1 Circle Square,  3 Symphony Park, Manchester, M1 7FS
Timings: 10:30 – 16:00

FIS is holding its SFS working group at the head offices of Hilti UK in Manchester where we will review and update the ongoing work that FIS is undertaking on Competence Standards, Sustainability, Technical issues and the latest developments in regulation and Government, with a chance to raise any of your own concerns or propose activities that will support improvement and help members.

Agenda:

  • Welcome and networking
  • Legislative and economic updates
  • Short survey, open forum and lunch
  • Skills and Training | Baseline Competence, SKEB and Occupational Health Training
  • Guest speaker | Hilti and Sustainability
  • FIS technical activities and issues | Passivhaus implications, internal walls using SFS and design responsibility
  • Short survey, open forum and AOB

FIS Health & Safety Working Group – 3 July

Heritage and Fibrous GRG – 23 October

Heritage and Fibrous GRG working group

Event Details

Date: 23 October 2024
Location: Plaisterers Hall Offices, One London Wall, Barbican, London EC2Y 5JU
Time: 13:00 – 16:30

FIS is holding our Heritage & Fibrous GRG working group at The offices of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers where we will review and update the ongoing work that FIS is undertaking on the Repair of Historic Ceilings, Skills, Sustainability, Technical issues and the latest developments in regulation and Government, with a chance to raise any of your own concerns or propose activities that will support improvement and help members.

Agenda:

  • Legislative and Economic Updates
  • Skills & Training | Baseline Competence & SKEB, CSCS Carding & Industry Accreditation
  • Project Update | Repair of Historic Ceilings
  • FIS Technical Activities & Issues | Open Forum
  • AOB (must be submitted in advance)
  • Join us for a Drink Afterwards

If you have any questions, please contact Joe Cilia

Visit the Partitions and Pods working group page

Click here

EPD for construction products – 12 June

Delivering circular solutions with ISG – 18 July

Webinar: Delivering circular solutions with ISG

Event Details

Date: 18 July 2024
Location: Online
Time: 12:00 – 13:00

What is the session about?

Join this webinar, alongside Peter Kelly, Group Director of Sustainable Operations at ISG, to understand the practicalities of reusing materials which have been donated and then reinstalled onsite. 

This will include: 

  • Finding the right materials 
  • Managing design 
  • Factoring in remanufacturing and repurposing
  • Dealing with logistics and storage
  • Tackling the tricky issues of warranty and insurance
  • Lessons learnt

Materials range from structural steel to door jams to bespoke pieces of furniture. 

We will also take a look at an ongoing initiative which focuses on how the reuse of materials could be more widely adopted across the industry.

What will I achieve?

By the end of the session, you will understand:

  • The practicalities of reusing and reinstalling materials
  • Some of the key challenges involved and how to combat these
  • Tips and tricks for embedding reuse practices into your organisation

What are the attendance requirements? 

Please arrive promptly and stay for the duration. This means arriving no later than 10 minutes to the session and attending the full hour.  

To receive your CPD accreditation and for this to be tracked through your Supply Chain Sustainability School dashboard make sure your full name is reflected on your Zoom account when you join the session.  

Please note, if you fail to meet the attendance requirements, unfortunately you will not be issued a CPD Certificate. 

Can I invite a colleague? 

Yes, you can invite as many colleagues as you’d like. Simply follow the instructions when you click through to register under ‘Add or cancel additional attendees’. 

If you have any questions feel free to contact Lucy.

EPD for construction products – 12 June

Identifying challenges affecting fit-out companies — 24 October

Webinar: Identifying challenges affecting fit-out companies

Event Details

Date: 24 October 2024
Location: Online
Time: 10:00 – 11:00

Join us for this webinar where PlanRadar will be exploring potential solutions in response to the findings of its current research project in which they are identifying the challenges affecting fit-out companies around the UK.