Ceilings and Absorbers Working Group – 7 June

Ceilings and Absorbers Working Group – 7 June

FIS Ceilings and Absorbers Working Group

Event Details

Date: 7 June 2023
Location: Saint-Gobain Build Better Centre, 95 Great Portland St, London W1W 7NY
Time: 13:00 – 17:00

We will be discussing market trends such as the move from continuous ceilings to discontinuous ceils and baffles, what can be done to address the waste in the practice of CAT A fit out and then strip out.

We will also consider if UKCA marking is working, as well as what needs to be done to meet the Building Safety Act. And finally, we will start to review our Top Fixings and Suspended Ceilings.

Industry Day: Commercial Fit-Out and D&B – 17 May

Industry Day: Commercial Fit-Out and D&B – 17 May

FIS Industry Day: Commercial Fit-Out and D&B

Event Details

Date: 17 May 2023
Location:
Hill Dickinson
The Broadgate Tower
20 Primrose Street
London EC2A 2EW
Time: 09.30 – 16:00 

We are delighted to invite you to join FIS at its first industry day dedicated to the commercial fit out and design and build sectors.

The purpose of the day is to bring together contractors involved in the commercial fit-out sector to discuss the opportunities as we move to net zero and look to decarbonise fit-out. In the morning sessions we will hear from speakers on what is happening now, and we will discuss how members can position themselves to be part of this revolution. During the break there will be an opportunity to network and see some of the entries from our recent innovation awards.

In the afternoon we will discuss the issues of quality, compliance, and reputation and explore how to reduce risk, increase competence and look at optimising the fit-out process and relationships up and down the supply chain.  During this session we will also have an open forum to hear about the issues that you want to talk about; ahead of the event, if there is anything you would like to put forward for dicsussion, email info@thefis.org with details.

We hope you can join us.

*Due to limited places, should the event sell out, spaces will be offered to contractors first and may be limited to one attendee per company

Speakers include (see agenda above for the full line-up)…

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.

FIS Members Meeting – Scotland, 18 May

FIS Members Meeting – Scotland, 18 May

FIS Members Meeting

Event Details

Date: 18 May 2023
Location: BE-ST (formerly Construction Scotland Innovation Centre)
Unit 3B, 3 Watt place, Hamilton International Technology Park, G72 0AG
Timings: Registration from 14:30 / Meeting: 15:00 – 18:00

Followed by networking and drinks at Red Burn Farm.

Welcome: Jeanette MacIntyre, Indeglas and Scottish regional chair

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

Targets and Opportunities  –  North Lanarkshire Council’s Community Wealth Building and Net Zero strategies
Derek Brown (Deputy CEO, North Lanarkshire Council)

BE-ST’s retrofit and Sustainability targets
Douglas Morrison, Deputy CEO, BE-ST

Questions for the panel

Conflict Avoidance and Best Practice in Managing Disputes
Len Bunton FRICS FCIArb Hon FRIAS, Bunton Consulting Partnership

 Open Discussion

Networking – Red Burn Farm, G72 0JB

 

Event sponsor

FIS Members Meeting – Scotland, 18 May

FIS Members Meeting – Birmingham 19 July

FIS Members Meeting

Event Details

Date: 19 July 2023
Location: Radisson Blu Hotel, 12 Holloway Circus, Queensway, Birmingham B1 1BT
Timings
registration from 15:00
Meeting: 15:30 – 17:30

Followed by networking and drinks

15:30 Welcome: Richard Grimes, Managing Director, Grimes Finishings

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

Agenda coming soon

 

Event sponsors

Awards Lunch 2023

Awards Lunch 2023

FIS Awards Lunch

The FIS Awards Lunch is the finishes and interiors sector’s most prestigious awards ceremony to recognise and celebrate the outstanding projects completed by FIS members. The lunch also provides a great networking opportunity for like-minded individuals to come together. The 2023 Awards Lunch will be held on 8 June at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, where some 600 members and their guests will gather to hear the winners of the 2023 FIS Contractors Awards. Following the awards, guests will be entertained by guest speaker Alistair McGowan.

Date: 8 June 2023

Venue: Nine Kings Suite, Royal Lancaster Hotel, London

Time: 12:00 – 16:00

Dress code: Lounge suits

The event is now sold out. If you are interested in attending, please email clairmooney@thefis.org and we can add you to the waiting list.

Guest speaker – Alistair McGowan

Our guest speaker is impressionist, actor and stand-up comedian Alistair McGowan.

Thanks to our 2023 sponsors

FIS Awards Lunch – 8 June

FIS Awards Lunch – 8 June

FIS Awards Lunch

The FIS Awards Lunch is the finishes and interiors sector’s most prestigious awards ceremony to recognise and celebrate the outstanding projects completed by FIS members. The lunch also provides a great networking opportunity for like-minded individuals to come together. The 2023 Awards Lunch will be held on 8 June at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, where some 600 members and their guests will gather to hear the winners of the 2023 FIS Contractors Awards. Following the awards, guests will be enteratined by guest speaker Alistair McGowan.

Date: 8 June 2023

Venue: Nine Kings Suite, Royal Lancaster Hotel, London

Time: 12:00 – 16:00

Dress code: Lounge suits

Guest speaker – Alistair McGowan

Our guest speaker is impressionist, actor and stand-up comedian Alistair McGowan.

Thanks to our 2023 sponsors

Flexi-job Apprenticeships – 4 July

Flexi-job Apprenticeships – 4 July

Webinar: Flexi-Job Apprenticeships

Event Details

Date: 4 July 2023
Location: Online
Time: 12:00

CoTrain – Flexi-Job Apprenticeships allow you to train for short periods without the employment and training provider commitment

CoTrain were formed in 2013 with the support of CITB to help create another work stream to engage with young or not so young people as a pathway into the Construction Industry. CoTrain will employ the apprentice on a PAYE contract for the full length of their apprenticeship. We also register the apprenticeship with Government and organise an appropriate Training Provider and liaise with all stakeholders to make sure the process is as smooth as possible for all concerned. We need industry partners to collaborate with to get those very important on-site skills and knowledge. For a fixed weekly fee, we will loan you an apprentice for a minimum of 6 months to work alongside you on a project and all we ask is you teach them those real-life skills they need to become competent in the industry. We know it works because we have had 300+ apprentices over the years that have become qualified and 98% of them are still working in the industry and many have continued further training with their new employers.

We recruit to order “were not a labour agency” and work very hard to keep our apprentices in a placement/s full time. “If they’re not working, they’re not learning or earning”.

Typically, we place apprentices with Contractors that are trying to meet local authority targets for a project, or a contractor that only employs staff on a self-employed basis. Or maybe you’re working outside your normal geo-graphical area, and you have been told to recruit local to that area but you’re only going to be there for 6 to 9 months. CoTrain can help you overcome these barriers. We will also record the Social Value that this adds which the main contractor maybe asking you for as part of the tender process.

Do you want to pass on your skills to the next generation so that we sustain our own industry? Is this a way you can give back to the industry? We cover Hampshire, W.Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire and we can sign post you to sister companies that cover the rest of the UK who work the same way as we do.

Mark Pope

Mark Pope

Programme Director, CoTrain

Mark completed an electrical apprenticeship in the early/mid 1980’s. He then went onto work in the Electronics industry for 15 years where many of the skills he learnt in construction were still relevant at home and abroad. He returned to the construction industry via CITB as an Apprenticeship Officer for 15 years until he decided CoTrain was an exciting project to help engage with new entrants into our industry. He is passionate about training the next generation correctly and expects everything he does or says should benefit the apprentice or the industry in some way. Collaboration is key as it only works if CoTrain can partner with good training providers and even better construction companies and their talented workforce. He firmly believes that only together can we make that real difference to individuals and the industry.

Flexi-job Apprenticeships – 4 July

Improving cashflow and payments – 3 March

Webinar: Improving cashflow and payments in construction

Event Details

Date: 3 March 2023
Location: Online
Time:  12:30

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

Flexi-job Apprenticeships – 4 July

RIBA CPD: Specification of ironmongery, 20 June

Webinar: RIBA Approved CPD: An architect’s guide to door hardware

Event Details

Date: 20 June 2023
Location: Online
Time: 11:00

Douglas Masterson, Technical Manager at the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers, will present this RIBA Approved CPD on a specifiers guide to door hardware which goes through all you need to know on specification of ironmongery.

This seminar covers what the term ironmongery means and the main points to consider when specifying door hardware. It will help you to understand the following topics:

  • What ironmongery is and how to recognise the key terms in ironmongery
  • The main considerations when specifying door hardware and how a hardware specification is put together, looking at correct application and appropriate standards
  • How to find an architectural ironmonger and how to work effectively with them during the specification process
  • How to avoid risks in the specification of door hardware

Douglas said: ‘Properly functioning hardware is, of course, critical to any property’s ongoing safety, security and accessibility. In addition, while architectural hardware typically comprises less than 2% of the cost of a new building, its impact on maintenance costs can be as much as 20% of the total budget’

FIS Technical Director Joe Cilia added ‘Its easy to assume that ironmongery is ironmongery, yet specifying the wrong hinges, closer or even locks can invalidate the whole door set leading to costly refit. This webinar helps everyone in the process from designer, estimator, installer and sales, to ensure you get it right first time.’  

More details on the guides is available at www.gai.org.uk/GAI/News/News-Items/2023/new-architectural-ironmongery-user-guides.aspx

Industry Day: Commercial Fit-Out and D&B – 17 May

Industry Day – Housebuilding and residential, 28 June

FIS Industry Day: Housebuilding and residential

Event Details

Date: 28 June 2023
Location: NFRC, 31 Worship Street, London EC2A 2DY
Time: 10.00 registration
Event: 10.30 – 15:00

You are invited to join us at our specialist Industry Day for the housebuilding and residential sector on 28 June in London.

This event will look at the trends and prospects for fit-out in the housebuilding and residential sector, and managing quality and reducing re-work especially to drylining.  We will also be discussing the new compliance landscape and unravelling the Golden Thread.

To support discussions and debate we’ll be joined by a range of expert speakers from MACE, Laing O’Rourke and the National House Building Council (NHBC).

This full day event will be split into two sessions:

10.30 – 13:00: Market Overview and New Compliance Landscape

13:30 – 15:00: Compliance, Productivity and Safety

The day is contractor focussed and designed to give you tangible outcomes to help you to start the process (or check that you are on the right track).

Futurebuild – 7-9 March, London

Futurebuild – 7-9 March, London

Futurebuild

Event Details

Date: 7-9 March 2023
Location: ExCeL, London

Futurebuild provides the stage for inspiring ideas, innovative solutions and knowledge sharing to drive sustainable construction and help us reach our goal of net zero.

Your free ticket will give you access to over 400 brands, never seen before innovations, the world-class conference programme and inspirational seminar content curated by over 90 industry partners.

Futurebuild is taking a stand for a better built environment and we want you to join us. By getting involved you will drive positive change for your industry, whilst connecting with like-minded people and the innovations that will propel the industry towards a more sustainable future.

On 9 March at 13:30, FIS Technical Director Joe Cilia will be delivering a session on the recently published Site Guidance for Drylining.

The new site guide aims to improve efficiency by up to 17% where additional waste is being generated each year on projects because of a lack of information at the start of a project. The guide will also help the delivery team to understand the process required at each stage to ensure compliancy which is the cornerstone of the building safety Act.

To attend this session, reserve your place here

FIS Awards Lunch – 8 June

FIS Scottish Awards Lunch – 15 September

The FIS Scottish Awards Lunch is the finishes and interiors sector’s annual event to recognise and celebrate the outstanding projects completed by FIS members in Scotland.  The event will see the winners of the 2023 Scottish Awards announced and presented, the lunch also provides a great networking opportunity for like-minded individuals to come together.

Event Details

Date: 15 September 2023
Location: voco Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow
Time: 12:00 – 15:30

Interested in sponsorship?

We have event and award sponsorship opportunities available, placing your company name in front of more than 180 individuals from the sector.

Event sponsors

Flexi-job Apprenticeships – 4 July

Support for Construction STEM Ambassadors – 9 February

THIS IS ME – I am a Go Construct STEM Ambassador

virtual training for construction industry volunteers

Event Details

Date: 9 February 2023
Location: Online
Time: 12:00 – 13:00

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

FIS Innovation Awards Ceremony – 27 February

FIS Innovation Awards Ceremony – 27 February

FIS Innovation Awards Ceremony

Event Details

Date: 27 February 2023
Location: Business Design Centre, London
Time: 17:30 – 18:30

 

Join us in the FIS Conference area where we will announce the winners of the 2023 Innovation Awards.

There categories cover Digital, Sustainability, Product Fit Out and Product FF&E. The winner of each category will then showcase their product or service with the audience determining live the overall Innovation of the Year.

The event is free to attend and will be followed by a drinks reception.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Flexi-job Apprenticeships – 4 July

Increasing circularity and reuse in fit-out projects – 27 March

Increasing Circularity and Reuse in Fit-Out Projects

Can digital technology provide an answer?

Event Details

Date: 27 March 2023
Location: Online
Time: 14:00 – 15:30

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

FIS Members Meeting – Scotland, 18 May

FIS Members Meeting – Manchester 29 March

FIS Members Meeting - Better Contracting: Contract Management, Dispute Avoidance and Managing Risk

Event Details

Date: 29 March 2023
Location: Material Source Studio, 1 Federation Street, Manchester, M4 4BF
Time:
registration from 15:00
Meeting: 15:30 – 17:30

Followed by networking and drinks at nearby O’Neill’s.

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

Damian James

Damian James

Damian James is a leading expert in the area of quantum, delay, disruption and cost evaluation. He has been appointed as advocate in arbitrations and as expert in adjudications. He is widely experienced in engineering and construction claims and dispute resolution. He has particular expertise in the preparation of detailed claims to recover client entitlements.

Damian is skilled in the complex discipline of delay analysis and disruption valuation. He is able to disentangle global claims to establish the relationship of particular cause and effect, particularly in matters of dominancy and concurrency.

 Damian is also qualified as an arbitrator and was recently accepted as an arbitrator at the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC).

Pat Loftus

Pat Loftus

Partner, Anderson Strathern

Pat has more than 15 years of experience providing advice on the terms of commercial contracts and the risks associated with them, concentrating especially on the urban regeneration and renewables sectors. He specialises particularly in construction law, negotiating and drafting how these risks are positioned in documentation such as development agreements, building contracts, professional appointments, guarantees, bonds and warranties.

Pat’s advice encompasses all kinds of construction documentation for developers, contractors, sub-contractors, commercial tenants, public authorities, investment purchasers and funders. His expertise covers all the major standard form building contracts such as JCT, SBCC, NEC, GC/Works and FIDIC. He also drafts bespoke contracts.

Pat is dual qualified in Scotland and England & Wales. He is a real specialist in his field as he is a Law Society of Scotland accredited specialist in Construction Law and also has a Masters degree in Construction Law.

In a previous life Pat worked as a postman, so you might say that he’s always been a man of letters…In his spare time he frets about Manchester United and his fantasy football team.

FIS Health and Safety Working Group – 13 December

FIS Health and Safety Working Group – 13 December

Health, Safey and Environmental Working Group

Event Details

Date: 13 December 2022
Location: Online
Time: 15:00 – 17:00

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)

Flexi-job Apprenticeships – 4 July

Helping SME’s grow the talent their business needs – 5 December

Introduction to the Education Landscape resources

Event Details

Date: 5 December 2022
Location: Online
Time: 11:30 – 12:30

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.

Flexi-job Apprenticeships – 4 July

Creating a Competency Management Plan – 14 December

Webinar: Creating a Competency Management Plan

Event Details

Date:14 December 2022
Location: Online
Time: 12:00 – 12:30

The Building Safety Act imposes a legal requirement on Principal Designers, Principal Contractors and anyone carrying out any design or building work to be competent.  It also places a duty on those who appoint companies and individuals to work on a project to take “reasonable steps” to ensure that the people they appoint meet this requirement. 

A Competency Management Plan will be essential to evidencing that competency is being managed, you have the appropriate competency frameworks in place and can demonstrate this at the relevant Gateways so that Building Control can allow project(s) to proceed.  Moving forwards companies are going to need to do more to monitor, manage and demonstrate both individual and organisational competence.  Building Control will be empowered to ask for proof that the plan is being delivered at any stage in a project. 

This webinar will introduce the content of this FIS Guide to Creating a Competency Management Plan and outline the many tools available to employers.