Wakefield-based granite and quartz worktop supplier, Roann Limited, is stepping away from single use plastic and replacing all worktop packaging, with fully recyclable cardboard – preventing 140kg of single use plastic going to landfill in 2023, through just one average customer partnership. As part of a wider sustainability initiative, Roann
A STUNNING video showcasing Sunderland’s two new city icons has been unveiled. A promotional video has been created to tell the story of Maker & Faber – two new distinctive office buildings rising from the ground at Riverside Sunderland – and how the new developments shape the future of the
With only a few days until The Workspace Design Show returns to London’s Business Design Centre, on 27-28 February 2023, here is a taste of what to expect. The show brings together striking features, a thought-provoking programme of talks featuring a whole host of speakers, from developers to architects and
National housing association, Accent Housing, has appointed Office Principles North to deliver its new collaborative workplace in Peterborough. The leading interior design consultancy will fit out 7,000 sq ft of office space at WestPoint, an award-winning Grade A building at Peterborough Business Park. The new office has been designed to
Award-winning company appointed main contractor for major redevelopment of Theatr Clwyd in Wales Leading construction and fit-out company Gilbert-Ash has been appointed main contractor for the £38million redevelopment of Theatr Clwyd in Mold, North Wales. The construction, which is planned for completion in late 2024, aims to set a high
Nottingham-based architects and interior designers, Marchini Curran Associates, is reflecting on a year of positive change under new ownership, with ambitious plans for growth, innovation and sustainability in 2023. The practice has had a successful year of transition under its leadership, breaking into new sectors, promoting internally and growing the
One of the UK’s leading interior fitout and joinery specialists, Northern Ireland-based Mivan, has announced a record order intake in excess of £100m following an increase in demand for its services, particularly in the 5* hotel and premium residential sectors in London. Turnover for 2023 is now set to be
From acoustics to furniture to flooring and fabrics, Workspace Design Show is the perfect place to discover the workplace trends for 2023. The show, taking place between 27- 28 February 2023, brings you an extensive exhibitor line-up where the workplace interiors community can gather and celebrate the latest in office
With the construction sector under ever-closer scrutiny in relation to competency, a new Sector Guide – Competency Management Plans has been launched by the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) to assist organisations in the improvement of quality and safety and ensure they meet new regulatory requirements. This new Sector guide
With skills shortages in the sector still a key concern for businesses, the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has introduced a new workforce census questionnaire to take a snapshot of the current status of the workforce and skills activities and move further towards a solution. The construction industry is currently
Wakefield-based granite and quartz worktop supplier, Roann Limited, is stepping away from single use plastic and replacing all worktop packaging, with fully recyclable cardboard – preventing 140kg of single use plastic going to landfill in 2023, through just one average customer partnership. As part of a wider sustainability initiative, Roann Limited is reducing its impact on the environment and in turn, tackling a big contributor to global warming and pollution. It is predicted to save over 3000 kgs from going to landfill in the next 12 months. “The move to a more sustainable approach and environmentally friendly packaging is something that we’ve been working on very hard here at Roann Limited. As the business continues to grow, it was important for us to make this switch to benefit both the environment and our customers. This is just the start for us as we evaluate our wider sustainability initiatives, but we look forward to seeing how this progresses,” commented Nigel Hercock-Walker, Director of Health and Safety at Roann Limited. The business has been using single use plastic to protect worktops during delivery to installation, since it was founded in 1990. However, with this change, Roann Limited can create a more sustainable supply chain and reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste it uses as a whole. This announcement comes shortly after Roann Limited reported record-breaking revenue in 2022, with a 15% increase in sales year-on-year. This initiative will benefit the key stakeholders Roann Limited partners with, including the likes of Crest Nicholson, Barratt Homes and Taylor Wimpey. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A STUNNING video showcasing Sunderland’s two new city icons has been unveiled. A promotional video has been created to tell the story of Maker & Faber – two new distinctive office buildings rising from the ground at Riverside Sunderland – and how the new developments shape the future of the city centre. Funder and developer Legal & General and development partner Landid commissioned the film to bring to life how the sustainable Grade A office developments will fit into the cityscape once their doors open next year, creating an attractive new base for ambitious companies big and small. Maker & Faber will attract more businesses to Riverside Sunderland, between them creating thousands of jobs that will boost the heart of the city. The video features stunning panoramas of the city’s natural assets including its beautiful coastline, parkland, and the River Wear; as well as attractions and leisure destinations such as Keel Square, STACK Seaburn, Fausto, and the Sunderland Empire. The video showcases Maker & Faber’s close proximity to other developments at Riverside Sunderland, such as City Hall, The Beam, and Vaux Housing, as well as highlighting other key amenities near to the scheme. The film’s release follows a ceremony to mark the official topping out of the buildings last month, attended by Legal & General chief executive, Sir Nigel Wilson; Sir Andrew McAlpine, partner of Sir Robert McAlpine and Patrick Melia, chief executive of Sunderland City Council, along with James Silver, managing director of Landid. Mr Silver said: “We are delighted with this really inspiring video, which captures not just the essence of Maker & Faber, but also the increasing sense of vibrancy in Sunderland, a place that is undergoing a once-in-a-generation transformation. “The video provides a taste of the unique amenities and features these two developments boast, including the stunning river views and landscaped areas which will bring a really unique proposition to the city.” The fast-paced animated video also provides an insight into the ‘new kind of office’ offered by Maker & Faber, with their stylish interior designs, beautiful outdoor spaces, and elegant external facades. Maker & Faber are being developed as part of Legal & General’s £100m commitment to Riverside Sunderland, representing 150,000 sq ft of space to add to the city’s growing office portfolio. The developments within the Riverside site will create a vibrant, mixed-use site that will comprise 1,000 new homes for up to 2,500 new residents, as well as new places to enjoy such as Culture House. These developments will boost the number of people living and working within the heart of the city, creating 18,000 new jobs. The new buildings will be home to businesses of all sizes, including the first tenant, RSA, which has signed a deal to relocate its customer services team to Faber, bringing 400 new jobs. James Silver added: “It’s been amazing to be part of such a huge project for Sunderland’s changing landscape and we cannot wait for the doors to open to showcase two incredible developments in the heart of the city.” To watch the full promotional video, visit the Maker & Faber website: https://www.makerfaber.co.uk/ To stay up to date with Maker and Faber’s development and watch the video visit www.makerfaber.co.uk or follow @makerandfaber on social media. To enquire about space within the buildings, contact Richard Thorton from JLL at Richard.Thornton@eu.jll.com or on 07966 532 251 or contact Patrick Matheson at Knight Frank at Patrick.matheson@knightfrank.com or on 0191 594 5001. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With only a few days until The Workspace Design Show returns to London’s Business Design Centre, on 27-28 February 2023, here is a taste of what to expect. The show brings together striking features, a thought-provoking programme of talks featuring a whole host of speakers, from developers to architects and their blue-chip clients, along with accomplished exhibitors showcasing the latest workplace interiors innovations. All of this incredible content aligns perfectly with the show’s theme, Destination Workplace: Places Where People Want To Be. The four talks programmes that attendees can choose from are the Workspace Design Talks, bringing you insights on workplace strategy and design; FIS Conference, offering the latest from the finishes and interiors sector; The Occupiers Forum: The View from HQ, providing the perspectives from the all important Occupiers; and Sustainability Works, addressing the latest challenges in sustainability and ESG in our workplaces. Over 100 speakers will be debating these issues from companies such as tp bennett, American Express, Heatherwick Studio, Grimshaw, PLP Architecture, Jacobs, Unilever, PwC, Nokia, Legal & General, DWP and CBRE. Visitors can listen to the leading architects, designers and occupiers talking about the latest trends, challenges and innovations within this year’s ‘Design Talks Lounge’. This has been curated by international furniture specialists, The Furniture Practice, in collaboration with multidisciplinary studio, Acrylicize. The Lounge will host the Workspace Design Talks across the two-day event, where leading voices at, Perkins+Will, Foster & Partners, WeWork and more will debate the current themes shaping today’s work environments. The space will incorporate furniture by several iconic brands including Andreu World, Arper, Fredericia, Moroso and Vitra; while the stage will feature an immersive installation, designed by Acrylicize, celebrating material innovation in furniture and interior design with materials by Foresso, Kvadrat, Kvadrat Really and Autex. Flooring for the space will be provided by Tarkett. ‘Change by Design’ is a lounge space concept for the Workspace Design Show, carefully curated by BDP. It is a discussion piece surrounding the current climate crisis, and questions the impact of workplace design on the natural environment. It represents a problem-solving approach that showcases the use of recycled, reused and biomaterials in design projects helping to shape a low-carbon future. On arrival, attendees will be met by the spectacular Destination Workplace Rebirth entrance, designed by the worldwide integrated architecture, design, planning, and consulting firm Gensler, along with design partners, AW Spaces, Acrylisize and Kvadrat. Becky Spenceley, Design Director at Gensler, who is leading the project, showcases her passion for storytelling here explaining, “We are inspired by how we can care for our planet, and how we as designers can affect that through pioneering and sustainable design. It’s about fresh perspectives to enable new ways of working and create unique and tailored destinations.” The popular first-night Workspace Design Show party, sponsored by FUTURE Designs, also returns on the 27 February. A stunning bar designed by M Moser Associates provides a focal point on the show floor. The REVIVAL bar will be the place to inspire, network, restore and recharge show visitors throughout the day. The concept for this bar is inspired by the practice’s mission to reduce waste and repurpose discarded materials. The goal is to give these items a new lease of life, sparking curiosity and conversation. The space aims to take you from a state of flux to stasis. Other features include The Mood Board Contest, and interactive opportunity for attendees to express their creative talents with Kvadrat products. Also, don’t miss the Bio Materials exhibition, designed by bio manufacturing company BIOHM. This will combine ideologies of the circular economy and human-centred design with future-tech, representing an exciting opportunity for visitors to discover advanced materials that will be crucial to the future of design. Altogether, the Workspace Design Show brings together the UK’s workplace interior community to explore the experience of tomorrow’s workspaces. Get your free ticket here!
National housing association, Accent Housing, has appointed Office Principles North to deliver its new collaborative workplace in Peterborough. The leading interior design consultancy will fit out 7,000 sq ft of office space at WestPoint, an award-winning Grade A building at Peterborough Business Park. The new office has been designed to function as a ‘community hub’ and will contain a variety of settings to promote inclusivity through different ways of working. Visitors to the space will be greeted by a welcome lounge which flows through to a large, open plan tech hub area, occupying the centre of the space. It will be complemented by bookable deskspace, workbays, high tables and hot benching areas for informal meetings, with several flexible meeting and training room spaces, a boardroom and private meeting booths. Employees will benefit from the creation of a cafe area to support team working and socialising, with a central dining table, island unit and bench seating. There will also be a large emphasis on wellness, with a design that maximises natural daylight and includes features such as a wellbeing room and extensive use of biophilia. The workplace will be connected through a neutral colour palette and the use of branding to create a sense of identity and belonging. The seven-week project is expected to be completed in March 2023. Tina Batham, joint managing director of Office Principles North, said: “Accent Housing does such a brilliant job in providing homes for others but this project is all about creating a central ‘home’ for its people. “Collaboration is at the heart of every thriving workplace and has become especially important for companies that have adopted hybrid working. Our design will deliver a multipurpose space with high-quality acoustics, which works as well for those handling customer queries, as it does for people calling into the office for a meeting.” Sarah Ireland, executive director of strategy & growth at Accent, said: “We are delighted to be working with Office Principles North on our new Peterborough office. The office design considers our Accent values and branding at its core, providing an inspirational and flexible working environment for our staff as we embrace modern ways of working.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Award-winning company appointed main contractor for major redevelopment of Theatr Clwyd in Wales Leading construction and fit-out company Gilbert-Ash has been appointed main contractor for the £38million redevelopment of Theatr Clwyd in Mold, North Wales. The construction, which is planned for completion in late 2024, aims to set a high bar in delivering a stand-out cultural space with zero carbon emissions. It also sees Gilbert-Ash reunite on a theatre project with architects Haworth Tompkins and Project Directors Plann. Gilbert-Ash was the main contractor in 2014 when Haworth Tompkins won the Stirling Prize for the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool. The Theatr Clwyd project includes the major refurbishment of the existing theatre which will see the 1970s building being stripped right back to its shell. In addition, there will be a new build construction of a timber foyer extension to the front and carpentry workshop to the rear. Works also include new MEP systems, windows, roof coverings and theatre technical systems. Once complete, the building, which was originally designed as a TV production space and theatre, will provide multiple platforms for performance, music and community use. Every effort has been made to minimise the building’s carbon footprint during the redevelopment while several design elements have been included with the aim of meeting a whole life zero carbon target for the new building. These include the reconfigured foyer and sun shading canopy being made from larch and reused steel, while existing space will be upgraded and insulated to allow the theatre to run on 100% renewable electricity via air sourced heat pumps and LED lighting. There will also be a programme of tree planting green walls, roof planting and the widespread use of PVs. Gilbert-Ash Managing Director, Ray Hutchinson, said the company was delighted to be once again working on a project which has been designed by Haworth Tompkins. He said: “This is a truly exciting project, and we are looking forward to working closely with Haworth Tompkins and our Client, Flintshire County Council and Theatr Clwyd Trust in making these ambitious designs a reality. “I believe this will be another stand-out project in our portfolio and one which could have the power to make people re-think how cultural spaces are constructed in the future. “This will be a building which will serve as a real hub for the performing arts in this region and one which, through its intelligent design, will have only a minimal impact on the environment. “Annually, the theatre attracts over 200,000 paying visitors and plays an important role in the community with its outreach programmes. The redevelopment will enhance the experience for all visitors and provide a significant economic impact in the region. Gilbert-Ash has a unique approach to construction, fit-out and refurbishment based on the belief that great buildings come about through hard work, inspired innovation and genuine collaboration. Sustainability is a key focus for Gilbert-Ash with a number of initiatives underway to help the company to drive down its carbon footprint. To find out more about Gilbert-Ash visit www.gilbert-ash.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Nottingham-based architects and interior designers, Marchini Curran Associates, is reflecting on a year of positive change under new ownership, with ambitious plans for growth, innovation and sustainability in 2023. The practice has had a successful year of transition under its leadership, breaking into new sectors, promoting internally and growing the team with new staff including architect, Sara Saadouni, and architectural assistant, Lauren Leyva, with plans to further expand the senior team this year. Major projects completed in 2022 have included Mayfield Retirement Village, whereby Marchini Curran Interiors was commissioned to develop a brand-new interior concept for the 255-apartment village, with a contemporary, vibrant and environmental community feel at its core. Marking further inroads into the leisure and entertainment sector for the practice, Marchini Curran Associates worked alongside Willmott Dixon to deliver two cinema schemes, which included architectural works for The Arc Cinema in North Street, Daventry, as part of the £12.5million Mulberry Place Development, and the expansion of the Phoenix Cinema and Art Centre in Leicester – a landmark expansion scheme, which transformed the Cultural Quarter venue with the provision of two additional screens, a new gallery facility, together with a multipurpose events space and terrace. Cultural and religious developments have also been a key area of growth in the last 12 months, and having secured planning permission at a public inquiry, the architects were appointed to deliver the landmark design for the UK’s first purpose-bult Hindu crematorium, located in the grounds of the Hindu temple at the Shree Swaminarayan Spiritual Cultural and Community centre in Denham. The facility will address a longstanding need for a purpose-built environment for the unique funeral rites of Hindu, Jain and Sikh communities. Finishing the year by planning further success for 2023, Marchini Curran is continuing to build on its diverse workload, increasing outputs in the data centre sector, which has been earmarked as a growth area due to increased reliance on cloud technologies. Retirement living is another key focus for the practice with an industry shift from functional to more premium community-based end of life care, alongside co-living schemes and purpose-built student accommodation. The practice has also been appointed to a major scheme in the heart of Oxford city centre, working with Lothbury Property Trust for a venture by Oxford Science Enterprises. Marchini Curran Associates will be delivering a mixed-use development, which is primarily a high-specification research and development facility including laboratory and incubation facilities, acting as a steppingstone for industry professionals following university PHDs. Alongside the higher enterprise business facility, the scheme will include retail and leisure units, as well as student and office accommodation – creating a pivotal professional and educational hub in the city centre. The practice will also be delivering design support for Brasenose college in Oxford, as well as a number of residential schemes in the London area, focusing on apartment living. To support the growing portfolio of secured projects, diversifying skill sets and expanding the senior team is a priority for the practice. Nurturing the next generation of architects and interior designers is also an intrinsic part of office culture, and placements are provided for students from universities across the UK, looking to progress with their RIBA qualifications in a thriving office environment, working with staff at a variety of experience levels. Strengthening operations through the introduction of new technologies is also a priority, and alongside the use of 360° photography and drones to map structures and create aerial photography, virtual reality applications are being introduced to facilitate immersive working and client viewing experiences. As a RIBA Chartered Practice, sustainability remains at the forefront of company commitments for the future. Focusing on ethical and responsible sourcing of materials, as well as efficient building, from a thermal perspective, the practice plans to continue developing its sustainability credentials across all aspects of the business, with a sustainability lead overseeing appraisals and addressing national and global targets, by reducing operational energy and embodied carbon both in the office and in construction. Marchini Curran has linked up with Nottingham Trent for a carbon analysis initiative and has designed a plan for offsetting carbon targets, with a carbon assessment in progress this year. Kevin Smith, director at Marchini Curran Associates, said: “The last 12 months have seen us transition into a new generation for the business, and since March we’ve welcomed new team members, reached clients in new sectors, and procured a significant pipeline of work putting us in a really strong position. “To facilitate work secured, we will be building on our diverse skill set alongside strengthening the senior team, to ensure we are as robust as possible to support company visions for the future. Ensuring the culture is the best that it can be is a priority for the practice and while flexible working is needed to ensure a harmonious balance, prioritising contact time to ensure consistent supported learning is key to fuelling engagement and creativity. We are now optimally placed to put our ambitious growth plans into action and look forward to enhancing our dynamic culture and offering, with a focus on professional identity, creativity, and sustainability.” Since its formation in 2002, Marchini Curran Associates and Marchini Curran Interiors has designed a diverse portfolio of projects for local, national, and international clients, across commercial, retail, leisure, residential, education, industrial and master planning. To find out more about Marchini Curran Associates and Marchini Curran Interiors please visit: www.mc-a.co.uk and www.mc-i.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
One of the UK’s leading interior fitout and joinery specialists, Northern Ireland-based Mivan, has announced a record order intake in excess of £100m following an increase in demand for its services, particularly in the 5* hotel and premium residential sectors in London. Turnover for 2023 is now set to be over £70m. The business is also on target with its strategic growth plan to increase turnover to £100m by 2025. 100 new jobs have just been announced to support Mivan’s continued expansion and the next phase of a multi-million-pound capital investment programme is also underway. John Cunningham, Chief Executive of Mivan, said, “This strong performance is down to our clear strategy and a really exceptional team across the business and at every level. This has resulted in a high level of repeat business from the UK’s leading developers and contractors. We have a healthy balance sheet, have diversified into a wide range of sectors, and have developed an international reputation for our specialist fitout services.” “It is great to see so many world-class developments being fitted out with bespoke joinery manufactured in Northern Ireland. As a result, we remain on target with our ambitious growth strategy and will continue to invest to the benefit of our customers and stakeholders.” The record order intake includes: Mivan has recently completed its latest contract on The World – the largest, private residential ship on the planet – to fitout its luxury apartments and public areas. Over the past 12 years, it has delivered around £20m of contracts on this vessel. Mivan’s commitment to investing in state-of-the-art technology for bespoke joinery manufacture at its 110,000sqft factory in Antrim continues. Its latest investment totals around £1m and includes the addition of new on line dryer for its automatic spraying equipment and a 6m five axis CNC machine, which will be installed by Spring 2023 to further improve capacity and efficiency. Mivan has also invested heavily in digital construction technology and 3D modelling to enhance client engagement and collaboration in the design process, streamline manufacturing, and facilitate site installation. Established in 1975, Mivan specialises in the creation of luxury interior spaces – from historically significant buildings to high specification residential, 5* hotels and cruise ships, as well as museums, stadia, and offices. It employs nearly 200 people and offers a range of services to developers, major contractors and in the marine sector – in-house design development, bespoke joinery manufacture, project management and installation. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
From acoustics to furniture to flooring and fabrics, Workspace Design Show is the perfect place to discover the workplace trends for 2023. The show, taking place between 27- 28 February 2023, brings you an extensive exhibitor line-up where the workplace interiors community can gather and celebrate the latest in office innovation. With many new as well as returning exhibitors, London’s Business Design Centre will be the place to explore cutting-edge workspace solutions. Get your free ticket to attend here. Workspaces are increasingly requiring multifunctional products. Furniture designer Pedrali will be exhibiting the multifunctional BuddyHub Desk, a functional and efficient workstation where users can concentrate and isolate, to partition open spaces and create collaborative and meeting areas. Spacestor will be launching their newest product development, Arcadia, a space-making toolkit for designers which brings the New Landscape for Work. RS Barcelona will showcase other fully flexible products, among them its ‘you and me’ ping pong table which caters for the recent trend ‘microbreaks’ which are proven to increase productivity. With mental and physical well-being at the forefront of workplace design, Technogym will be showcasing elements of its product ecosystem: connected smart equipment for end-user access wellness. ‘Personal Line’, for example, was created using over three decades of biomechanical experience and feedback, combined with the design skills of iconic Italian designer Antonio Citterio. Workspace Design Show has every surface covered from flooring to fabrics, which are increasingly used to define different spaces within an office floorplate. Flooring specialists Tarkett and Strata Tiles will both be exhibiting, demonstrating their latest surface solutions. Exploring the importance of colour and texture through fabrics is Kvadrat, a well-renowned textiles company, which produces high-performance, design textiles, rugs, acoustic and window covering solutions for both commercial and residential uses. BIOHM will present the bio materials exhibition, with biological systems at the heart of its inspiration. Workspace Design Show is showcasing a vast range of products that aid privacy and sound control. Amongst these are award winning firm The Meeting Pod Company, known for their commercial and domestic, indoor and outdoor meeting pods. Mute, meanwhile, will be displaying various solutions to regain focus and allow conversations to flow. Making a return to the show are leaders in sustainable and acoustic finishes, Woven Image, who will be demonstrating the importance of ceilings in acoustic control. Fora Form, one of Scandinavia’s largest furniture manufacturers for social areas will also be exhibiting. The event will also host some of the industry’s leading architectural lighting specialists, demonstrating the move away from harsh office lighting towards more human-centric solutions. Collaborators include FUTURE Designs, sponsors of the bar area. This UK-based firm specialises in quality bespoke lighting solutions and has recently gained the Carbon Careful sustainable accreditation. Lighting exhibitors include Erco which has a whole portfolio based entirely on LED technology and Delta Light, recognised throughout the world for its subtle blend of ambiance, elegance, functionality, and design, both in interior and exterior lighting. The Indoor and Outdoor intelligent lighting specialist, iGuzzini will also be exhibiting their latest products. A wide array of leading architects and designers will also be showcasing their perspectives on the latest workplace trends. A series of stunning features will be presented, including The REVIVAL Bar by Moser Associates; The Entrance ‘Destination Workplace Rebirth’ by Gensler, The Lounge: Change by Design, by BDP; International furniture specialist, The Furniture Practice will curate this year’s Design Talks Lounge in collaboration with multidisciplinary studio Acrylicize. The main stage space will bring together key pieces from leading furniture manufacturers, including Moroso, Andreu World, Arper, Fredericia and Vitra, alongside an immersive installation celebrating material innovation within furniture and interiors. Workspace Design Show 2023 is bringing together the latest innovations and trends under one roof, with an extensive range of unmissable products. Get your free ticket to attend here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With the construction sector under ever-closer scrutiny in relation to competency, a new Sector Guide – Competency Management Plans has been launched by the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) to assist organisations in the improvement of quality and safety and ensure they meet new regulatory requirements. This new Sector guide – Competency Management Plans will provide examples and signposts to available information and assist organisations in improving quality and safety whilst at the same time ensuring that they meet the requirements of legislation and avoid any enforcement penalties.1 The guide aims to address the regulatory regime as part of the long-awaited Building Safety Act which sets out clear duties and responsibilities for those who commission, design, construct and refurbish higher-risk buildings as well as those responsible for ensuring buildings are safely managed when occupied. A Competency Management Plan is a critical document for any organisation working in the finishes and interior sector of the construction industry and must be embedded within the culture of the business and embraced within any quality management process. The guide has been produced by FIS and is designed to contextualise and help to structure and improve existing processes. It is structured to help form a strategy for assessing competence and provides guidance to suggested CMP content including organisational and occupational competence, functional requirements, creating job descriptions, competency and training plans, appraisal process and succession plans. Commenting on the guide, Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive of the FIS said: “The Building Safety Act has become law and we need as a sector to ensure we have robust processes in place to meet the exacting competency requirements. This new FIS sector guide will provide the necessary guidance to enable organisations to formulate a Construction Management Plan, which will be key to progressing through the relevant gateways and ensuring the Building Safety Regulator can allow a project to proceed.” In addition to the availability of the new Sector Guide – Competency Management Plans, FIS has been working with My Professional Pass (MPP) to help support a universal approach to competency passports in the sector. The FIS Competency Passport system will store, retrieve, view and monitor training and qualification achievements of individuals and records of experience. Individuals registered with MPP, self-employed or directly employed can give organisations access to their records. The Sector Guide – Competency Management Plans is freely available from the FIS website herehttps://www.thefis.org/skills-hub/competency/ For further information or for any questions and comments, please contact FIS at info@thefis.org or call 0121 707 0077 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With skills shortages in the sector still a key concern for businesses, the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has introduced a new workforce census questionnaire to take a snapshot of the current status of the workforce and skills activities and move further towards a solution. The construction industry is currently experiencing an alarming shortage of skilled workers entering their workforce, with 20.7% of businesses reporting shortfalls in workers in November 2022. The finishes and interiors sector employs around 280,000 people in the UK and is required to recruit more than 5,000 workers annually to sustain its workforce. But in the post-Brexit climate and with an ageing workforce, companies are struggling to meet increased demand with effective staffing levels. FIS is no exception, with 61% of its members reporting shortages of skilled workers, particularly in drylining, ceiling fixing, carpentry and joinery, and plastering. FIS is committed to finding a solution and a better future for the industry. As a result, they are appealing to their membership to take part in their workforce census, The Skills Pulse Survey. It is essential that a substantial number of members complete the survey, as this will allow greater integrity to be placed upon the data collected. Once FIS has retrieved the data, they aim to use it to inform and influence the English and devolved Governments, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Local Authorities, in the hope it will open the door to increased training opportunities for people entering the workforce. The census is an important step towards bridging the skills gap, as the results will allow FIS to establish where the current shortages fall and provide a framework for organisations to work towards. FIS hope their findings can encourage authorities to think further about the delivery of training and qualifications through the FIS Approved Training Provider Network, as well as stimulate financial support for employers.Organisations taking part in the census remain completely confidential and will not be named in any reports. Organisations taking part in the census remain completely confidential and will not be named in any reports. The survey takes 10-15 minutes and can be found here https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90443183/FIS-Skills-Pulse-Survey-2022 For further information or for any questions and comments, please contact FIS at info@thefis.org or call 0121 707 0077. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
