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
Willmott Dixon Interiors

Fergus Harradence
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Professor Noble Francis
Construction Products Association

Jon Vanstone
Industry Competence Committee

Len Bunton
Bunton Consulting

Mark Farmer
Cast Consultancy

Geoffrey Brown
Office for Product Safety and Standards

Anthony Armitage
Thirdway

Faye Burnett
Mace