FIS selected for CITB Specialist Upskilling Fund in fit-out, drylining and plastering

The Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has been selected by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) to deliver specialist training support for fit-out, drylining and plastering employers under the board's Specialist Upskilling Fund.

FIS said on 27 October that it is one of 11 organisations chosen for the fund, which aims to remove barriers to specialist construction training and help workers progress towards recognised qualifications, including National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs).

CITB announced the successful applicants on 28 September 2026, following what it described as a strong response to its call for applications earlier in the year. It listed FIS as the successful applicant for the fit out, dry lining and plastering sector.

Julia Stevens, Director of Industry Delivery at CITB, said: "We're pleased to share the successful applicants that have been awarded funding through our Specialist Upskilling Fund."

What FIS will offer

FIS said it will work with employers and training providers to identify skills gaps and strengthen workforce development across its sector.

The practical offer to employers is a Training Needs Analysis (TNA). FIS said its skills team will hold one-to-one sessions with businesses to identify workforce skills gaps, assess training requirements and explore the most appropriate training and qualification routes.

The body said the support is intended to help firms strengthen workforce skills, address gaps with sector-specific training and progress employees towards relevant industry NVQs. It invited employers to contact its skills team by email to discuss their training needs.

The fund

According to CITB, each of the successful organisations will help employers in its sector access high-quality, cost-effective competence training and support the uptake of sector-specific NVQ achievements. Each will begin delivering training support and guidance to employers in its sector.

The other bodies named by CITB include Jones HSEPM Ltd for civils, infrastructure and highways in England and Wales, the Scottish Civils Training Group for the same sector in Scotland, CraftGate for heritage, Hire Association Europe for plant hire, the Dry Lining and Plastering Training Forum for repair, maintenance and improvement and retrofit, SIMIAN for roofing, the National Association of Shopfitters, TunnelSkills, the British Woodworking Federation and the Contract Flooring Association.

Stevens said: "We remain committed to providing sector-specific skills investment to ensure that support is available".

Background

FIS describes itself as the not-for-profit representative body for the £12bn UK finishes and interiors sector. It says it has more than 600 members drawn from contractors, manufacturers and distributors across ceilings, steel framing, partitions, plastering, drylining and interior fit-out.

The organisation was formed under the FIS name in 2015. It vets members on application, which for contractors includes a physical audit of a construction site, and again at regular intervals during membership.

Employers wanting a Training Needs Analysis can contact the FIS skills team at beenanana@thefis.org or marieflinter@thefis.org.