Event Details

The construction industry accounts for over a third of global carbon emissions and produces around 60 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste annually in the UK. Whilst much of this is recovered and recycled, only a small percentage is reused. This creates a significant opportunity to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint. Estimates suggest that 22.3 MtCO2e of GHG emissions could be saved over 9 years by increasing our reuse of construction products.

During the Reuse Summit, hosted by the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) and the Finishes & Interiors Sector (FIS), we’ll hear from those from those already active in the materials reuse space, with panel discussions taking a deeper dive into the shearing layers* of ‘Structure, Skin and Services’ and ‘Space and Stuff’. Inspiring case studies will show what steps the industry can take to increase the uptake of reused materials, looking from structure to flooring, and fittings to furniture.

For the full programme and details of the speakers visit https://asbp.org.uk/events/2023-reuse-summit

Event Details

The group was formed to represent and support companies carrying out new and remedial work to heritage and fibrous plaster ceilings and plaster works.

If you have any questions, please contact Joe Cilia joecilia@thefis.org

Event Details

Join us for our Regional Conference in Manchester, where we will hear from guest speakers covering topics on the compliance and the Fire Safety Act, commercial construction and avoiding the race to the bottom and a focus on visibility of pipeline and procurement opportunities.

The meeting will be followed by a social event at Flight Club.

Programme:

13:30 – Registration and refreshments
14:00 – Welcome – Angela Mansell, Mansell Building Solutions
14:05 – FIS Update and pipeline and prospects for the Region, Iain McIlwee, FIS Chief Executive
14:30 – The new compliance landscape in the wake of the Building Safety Act and overhaul of the Building Control process, Glyn Thomas, Managing Director, Building Consents Ltd
14:55 – Fire Doors, what the inspector saw, Ian Cavanagh TIFireE MIFSM MAFDI, Independent Fire Safety Services Limited
15:20 – Networking & Comfort Break
15:40 – A Social Value Plan for Manchester, what it means for the supply chain, Penny Anderson, Head of Social Impact Akerlof
16:00 – Retrofit Manchester: Driving growth in the supply chain through sustainable retrofit programmes, Mark Atherton, Director of Environment, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
16:25 – Q&A
16:45 Innovation In the Finishes and Interiors Sector – A practical focus on collaboration, productivity and innovation (2 x 5 min innovation pitches)
17:00 Close

18:00 – Flight Club

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:  Mark Atherton, Director of Environment – Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)  

Mark joined the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) in May 2012 as Director of Environment for Greater Manchester and transferred to GMCA in May 2017.  In this role, Mark provides strategic support to the Greater Manchester Green City Region Board and Partnership by leading the development and delivery of strategies, policies, research and demonstration projects for environment and low carbon work areas (Green City Region – Priority 7 of the Greater Manchester Strategy). 

Current projects include the a smart energy demonstration projects, domestic energy efficiency programmes, community energy promotion, natural capital investment planning, climate change adaptation research plus developing joint work programmes between GM and several government departments, including hosting the Urban Pioneer for the UK’s 25 Year Environment Plan. 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Penny Anderson, Head of Social Impact, Akerlof

Penny is Head of Social Impact at Akerlof, a market-leading consultancy that specialises in integrating Modern Methods of Construction to realise better social, environmental and economic outcomes. With over 14 years’ experience of social value in the construction and engineering sectors, Penny has worked on a number of high profile projects alongside clients, contractors, suppliers, communities and wider stakeholders, to design and deliver challenging social value plans. She led the development for BAM’s global social value strategy ‘Enhancing Lives’, as well as setting in place the building blocks for Atkins’ social value strategy.

At Akerlof, Penny is involved in a range of exciting projects, helping those at the very start of their social value journey, as well as challenging more advanced businesses to push the boundaries. Intent on achieving real change at all levels, she inspires and leads others to understand how even small changes in behaviour can shape our world for the better.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Ian Cavanagh – Independent Fire Safety Services

Ian is the owner and lead consultant of ‘Independent Fire’ offering specialized inspection services across the UK. Formerly the co-owner of a well-respected doorset manufacturing business, Ian has extensive knowledge in the design, testing, manufacturing, and installation of fire-rated doorsets and assemblies.

Independent Fire operate across a range of developments whether it be new-build, major refurbishment projects or ad-hoc replacement contracts, adding another layer of confidence to appropriate product specification, suitably qualified installation personnel and Third-Party Certification, operating themselves under a UKAS accredited inspection scheme, and can represent either the Client or the Main Contractor.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Glyn Thomas, Managing Director, Building Consents Ltd

Glyn has been a Building Control practitioner for 40+ years and has also spent a decade in Ukraine working for an American real estate company. Now UK based he heads up the site inspection services of the business and leads a team of professional surveyors.

Agenda

15:00 FIS Annual General Meeting

15:30 How CITB is supporting competence in the supply chain, Tim Balcon, CEO CITB

16:00 Keynote – Contracting post Building Safety Act, David Rintoul, Partner Hill Dickinson LLP

16:30 Break

16:50 Keynote – Peter Apps, Author Show Me The Bodies

17:20 – Panel Discussion and Q&A – Compliance, Competence and Culture in the finishes and interiors sector – Joining Peter, David and Tim on the panel will be Philip Brown FIS President and Mark Hands from Construction Shield .

17:45 – 19:00 Networking and drinks

Event sponsor

GUEST SPEAKER: Peter Apps

Author: Show Me The Bodies

Peter Apps is a journalist who primarily writes about building safety and social housing. Over a 10 year career at the specialist magazine Inside Housing, he has won numerous awards for his news and analysis of the UK’s affordable housing sector. He was one of the few to raise concerns about dangerous cladding and high rise buildings before the Grenfell Tower fire, and provided revelatory reporting in its aftermath into the causes of the blaze. This reporting culminated in his acclaimed book, Show Me The Bodies, which won the 2023 Orwell Prize for Political Writing.

GUEST SPEAKER: David Rintoul

Partner, Hill Dickinson

GUEST SPEAKER: Tim Balcon

Chief Executive, CITB

Tim became Chief Executive of CITB in September 2021. He has led professional and membership bodies, the most notable being as Chief Executive at the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, where he transformed its vision and performance, leading to year-on-year growth. 

He has also been Chief Executive of the Energy and Utility Sector Skills Council (EU Skills), where he created the National Skills Academy for Power. In this role he led EU Skills to securing significant funding from Ofgem, the energy regulator, after demonstrating the economic risks arising from the skills crisis facing the industry.

Tim’s knowledge of education and skills was reflected in his previous appointment to the board of Ofqual at a time of major education reform, and prior to this he was also a member of the UK Vocational Qualifications Reform Board.

Tim will be joining us to discuss how CITB is supporting competence in the supply chain. This will be followed by a Q&A session where members can put any questions they have directly to Tim.

Panellist: Mark Hands – Managing Director Construction Shield

Mark has spent the last 36 years working for insurance companies in a number of business functions including underwriting, claims, project management, company mergers and managing various business functions / units across the UK.

His career began with General Accident back in 1987 and he played a significant part in both the CGU and Norwich Union mergers during his 14 years’ service, he then joined NIG for a 7-year spell before joining LV= where he spent 9 years building a £300m commercial book from a zero start whilst overseeing branches in 4 major cities. He has built two successful Managing General Agents (MGA’s), Mercia Underwriting, for 14 months before founding Centrix in 2019.

Well respected in the insurance market Mark is twice Past President of the Peterborough Insurance Institute and a past President of the Birmingham Insurance Institute.

Event Details

Meet our speakers

Andy Street was elected Mayor of the West Midlands in 2017 and regained his seat in 2021. He is working to deliver his Renewal Plan for the region. His focus is creating new jobs and apprenticeships, delivering better transport and providing more homes – focusing on brownfield sites.

Before becoming Mayor, Andy combined a career at John Lewis, Britain’s most successful workers’ co-operative, with a host of high-profile economic development roles, working with local and national government.  Starting on the John Lewis graduate scheme, Andy rose through the ranks to become managing director, overseeing one of the most successful periods in the company’s history.

Additionally, he has been lead non-executive director for the Department for Communities and Local Government as well as a member of the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group.

In June 2015, Andy was awarded the CBE for services to the national economy. He was named ‘Most Admired Leader’ by business magazine, Management Today in 2014 and received the ‘President’s award’ from the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce for his work in the region. He holds three honorary degrees from Birmingham City University, Aston University and the University of Birmingham.

Simon is the Assistant Director Development within the Planning and Development service area for
Birmingham City Council. As a qualified Architect Simon is Birmingham City Council’s lead design
advisor championing design quality within the built environment.

Having responsibility for ‘Specific Specialist Areas’ such as the City Design Team, City Centre Planning
Management, City Centre Development, Enforcement and Householder Simon encourages and
enables the highest standards of Place Making, Planning, Architecture, Urban Design, Arboriculture,
Historic Conservation and Landscape Design across all new development in the City for the benefit of
all the citizens of Birmingham.

Simon is known for his ability to successfully combine Architecture and Urban Design to create
holistic environments and is responsible for recent Masterplans such as ‘Birmingham Curzon HS2
Masterplan for growth’, ‘Birmingham Smithfield Masterplan’, ‘Langley Sustainable Urban Extension’
and most recently the ‘Rea Valley Urban Quarter Masterplan’.
This includes acting as the focal point on design issues and stimulating design quality through multiagency

project team working and close interaction with external developers, key stakeholders and
partners in relation to the design of new development being promoted and managed through the
Planning and Development Service that reflects the international standing of the City of Birmingham.
Simon is listed in the Birmingham Central University ‘Sphere of Influence’ the 50 top influencers
within the architecture and landscape sector to graduate from the Birmingham School of
Architecture.

Martin is an experienced Director and chartered Engineer with a demonstrable history of delivering quality projects in the construction industry. Skilled in all aspects of Construction, Design Management, Preconstruction, Business Development and Business Improvement.

During his 34 years of diverse experience, Clive has previously been engaged as Façade Technical Director at LABC Warranty & Premier Guarantee, and Technical Director at Saint Gobain and Façade Director at global multidisciplinary engineering consultancy practices CBRE, Ramboll and Gifford.

Clive has extensive technical knowledge and project management delivery experience. Supplying solutions to a wide range of complex projects in both new build and refurbishment sectors, in support of the residential, commercial, education and transportation industries.

Joining our Panel will be Professor Andrew Quinn is Professor of Climate Adaptation, bridging the disciplines of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science. His research focuses on the interactions between infrastructure, particularly rail and transport systems, renewable energy and extreme weather events/climate change and how these impact on the resilience of communities and services. Andrew was lead author of the International Union of Railways (UIC) climate change adaptation framework, helping railway organisations globally to improve their preparedness for extreme weather and climate impacts and has presented on the adaptation of transport systems at CoP24 and CoP26.

Andrew is Deputy Director of Education for the College of Engineering & Physical Sciences. The role provides strategic leadership for the College’s education delivery, particularly ensuring excellence through quality assurance and staff development. Andrew works closely with the University of Birmingham’s Higher Education Futures Institute to encourage and support pedagogic research, staff training and educational enhancement. Andrew’s educational research focuses on how students receive and perceive the feedback they are provided with during their courses in order to assist them in maximising their learning experience.

To help manage risk and provide additional support to its members on insurance matters, FIS has partnered with specialist insurance consultants Construction Shield and AWL Homeproof Limited.  Mark heads up the team at ConstructionShield and has a background in developing insurance products and has previously worked on mutual products with the NFU.  

Details

Running a contracting business is fast paced and it can be hard to find the time to break stride and modernise our processes. But the truth is that with the profound labour shortages we face and escalating costs we need to start rethinking our processes and find a way to better measure, manage and refine every aspect of what we do. At the same time, the Building Safety Act captures this with a requirement to implement a digital information plan, it advocates the need for one source of the truth, but the reality right now is that in the confusing and chaotic world that is digitisation, it can feel like a mess of confusing and unaligned solutions.

At this event, FIS will be joined by construction software specialists Causeway and County Contractors to look at how to get started with creating a digital information plan.

– Overcoming barriers to digitisation and creating your own digital spine
– Identifying risks and breaking down your processes for digitalisation
– Creating digital checklists
– Paperless Construction and practical steps to ensuring information is accessible to all
– The benefits of clear reports in relationship management (and getting paid)

The event will be interactive and involve live demonstrations and showcasing the work that County have done to revolutionise their business.

FIS will at this event be launching the latest edition of the FIS PPP Quality Risk Management Toolkit and we will be looking at how companies can embed and code this into their business.

Event Details

Back in 2021 the CITB and the STEM Ambassador programmes came together to offer the construction sector and supply chain businesses one united support programme for its ambassadors and employers.

The partnership showcases the essential work our Go Construct STEM Ambassador programme is doing to help thousands of volunteers across the UK to access events, feedback and resources; ensuring they are fully equipped to make an impact on young people. 

Being a Go Construct STEM Ambassador not only helps encourage the next generation of construction workers across the UK in schools, workplaces, events and career fairs, but also brings plenty of personal benefits too, with CPD sessions, achieving continuous personal and professional development with training, experience and the opportunity to learn new skills all while making a real impact on lives of young people. 

This session will give an overview of the Go Construct STEM Ambassador Programme, its benefits and how to get involved and signed up on the day.

Find out how the STEM Ambassador Programme and the Construction and Built Environment Ambassadors can link together to support even more effective STEM and Careers engagement. Join us for a construction ‘flavoured’ overview of the STEM Ambassador programme followed by a Q&A session.

The session will cover:

• Intro to the Go Construct STEM Ambassador
• What is going on ‘virtually’ regarding STEM Engagement – how STEM Ambassador Hubs can help
• Instructions and walk-through on how to register and use the STEM Ambassador website
• How Construction and Built Environment Ambassadors can link with the STEM Ambassador Programme
• A brief spotlight on construction-focussed STEM opportunities

This session will be virtually interactive and you will need to be able to access MS Teams, as well as opening additional pages on your web browser.

Event Details

When it comes to proving proof of competence on average 86% of the industry is not digitised, in some cases vocational qualifications are not given the importance they deserve usually through no fault of the qualification holder, 76% of the skills developed by individuals are not captured, 82% of work experience is not documented, detailed or validated, data is not easily accessible and stored in multiple places, how many certificates have you got gathering dust in a cupboard?

The My Professional Pass system provides an individual account free of charge where any of the items listed above can be recorded, a repository linking all data that can be accessible to whoever the individual wishes to view. Employers can have access to individual records of competence from recruitment to retirement. Organisations can organise and register their own events and training notifying participants and issuing certificates.

Register with FIS for this event and learn how digitisation can change the way people and organisations prove competence.

Event Details

Event Details

The Building Safety Act sets out to change the construction process, shifting the dial towards predictability and evidencing control. Fundamental to the Act is greater emphasis on Information Management and the Regulators will be looking for evidence that before the job starts A Construction Control Plan is in place that includes clear Change Management Protocols. Regulations is not, however, the only driver, inflation and labour shortages are causing us to carefully review productivity and with that look at programme management and waste reduction.

Fundamental to all of this is better management, measurement and recording of progress and the sector need to look to ever more digitalised solutions to support. In this webinar we will provide a brief overview of the Building Safety Act and the Information Requirements and start to look at the type of data we can capture, the benefits of adopting live data capture and how Artificial Intelligence can be used to compare work to design and schedule and report effectively on the project.

For this session we will be focusing on

• The Building Safety Act and the impact on the supply chain of information management
• What we mean by live data capture technology and AI
• What problem the technology addresses and how the technology can be used to transform traditional inefficient construction management process
• How the technology can be used to make your business or project more efficient, productive, and profitable
• The relationship between the technology, 3D models and construction management platforms and how they can be used together
• Why this technology is relevant to the FIS sector with some practical use cases
• What we are learning from the data we are currently gathering
• How to get started with the technology and what support is available to support you on your journey

Event Details

The UK Government has committed the UK to be net zero by 2050. In this session, we will discuss what this means for the finishes and interior sector, both at organisation and activity level (product and project).

We will be joined by Michael Cross from Willmott Dixon who will share his experience of measuring their organisational carbon footprint. Following the short presentation, this session will provide an opportunity to understand more about the papers that have been published by FIS and ask questions/share any concerns or issues.

Event Details

This webinar will be delivered by legal firm Anderson Strathern and provide:

• An overview of the supply chain issues currently facing the construction industry;
• How contractors can manage existing contractual commitments and negotiate new contracts for future projects;
• How contractors can manage early/late delivery of construction materials; and
• Impact on contractors in the event of delays to programme timetables.

There will also be information on the imminent legislative changes under the Building Safety Bill and the new limitation rules being introduced under the Prescription (Scotland) Act 2018.

Event Details

Event Details

With labour shortages and recruitment a key challenge within the sector, this event will focus on a collective response to labour shortages and attracting the next generation of workers.

We will look at the scale of the problem and a round-up of local opportunities providing ideas to support recruitment that cover all key pathways into construction (trade and construction management). There will be advice on how to approach schools, colleges and local networks and where to advertise roles (trade and construction management/surveying).

For discussion

• Recruitment: What’s available, what support is there for employers
• Retaining trainees: Managing young people, training to retain, the purpose of induction and options for delivering training
• Meeting Section 106 responsibilities: Additionality of training.  Programmes that you can tap into including BuildBack, BounceBack and flexi-job apprentices
• Competence: Qualifications, changing regulatory landscape, ongoing training professional passports, training facilities in your region
• Funding: Funding available to support you

Time will be allowed for open discussion and networking.

The FIS team will be supported by representatives of CITB and local speakers aiming to give members fresh ideas, a clear plan of action and understanding of the support available to attack their skills gap. This will include ideas and resources to support approaches to local schools, how to work more effectively with the Department for Work and Pensions, case studies and a list of initiatives and funding that can support your recruitment efforts and induction and development of workers. Details of the support available from CITB for recruiting and qualifying people will also be given.

Similar intervention events are being run across the UK in March, April and May in London, Leicester, Bristol, Dartford, and Glasgow – click here to find your local event

Event Details

With labour shortages and recruitment a key challenge within the sector, this event will focus on a collective response to labour shortages and attracting the next generation of workers.

We will look at the scale of the problem and a round-up of local opportunities providing ideas to support recruitment that cover all key pathways into construction (trade and construction management). There will be advice on how to approach schools, colleges and local networks and where to advertise roles (trade and construction management/surveying).

For discussion

• Recruitment: What’s available, what support is there for employers
• Retaining trainees: Managing young people, training to retain, the purpose of induction and options for delivering training
• Meeting Section 106 responsibilities: Additionality of training.  Programmes that you can tap into including Buildback, BounceBack and flexi-job apprentices
• Competence: Qualifications, changing regulatory landscape, ongoing training professional passports, training facilities in your region
• Funding: Funding available to support you

Time will be allowed for open discussion and networking.

The FIS team will be supported by representatives of CITB and local speakers aiming to give members fresh ideas, a clear plan of action and understanding of the support available to attack their skills gap. This will include ideas and resources to support approaches to local schools, how to work more effectively with the Department for Work and Pensions, case studies and a list of initiatives and funding that can support your recruitment efforts and induction and development of workers. Details of the support available from CITB for recruiting and qualifying people will also be given.

Similar intervention events are being run across the UK in March, April and May in London, Leicester, Bristol, Dartford and Manchester- click here to find your local event

Event Details

With labour shortages and recruitment a key challenge within the sector, this event will focus on a collective response to labour shortages and attracting the next generation of workers.

We will look at the scale of the problem and a round-up of local opportunities providing ideas to support recruitment that cover all key pathways into construction (trade and construction management). There will be advice on how to approach schools, colleges and local networks and where to advertise roles (trade and construction management/surveying).

For discussion

• Recruitment: What’s available, what support is there for employers
• Retaining trainees: Managing young people, training to retain, the purpose of induction and options for delivering training
• Meeting Section 106 responsibilities: Additionality of training.  Programmes that you can tap into including BounceBack and flexi-job apprentices
• Competence: Qualifications, changing regulatory landscape, ongoing training professional passports, training facilities in your region
• Funding: Funding available to support you

Time will be allowed for open discussion and networking.

The FIS team will be supported by representatives of CITB, the local Department of Work and Pensions and the Dorset and Somerset Training Provider Network to help provide a clear plan of action and understanding of the support available to attack their labour and skills shortages. This will include ideas and resources to support approaches to local schools and colleges, how to work more effectively with the Department for Work and Pensions, case studies and a list of initiatives and funding that can support your recruitment efforts and induction and development of workers. Details of the support available from CITB for recruiting and qualifying people will also be given.

Similar intervention events are being run across the UK in March, April and May in London, Leicester, Dartford, Manchester and Glasgow – click here to find your local event

Event Details