Spec Finish

Wednesday 1 September – Building trends: looking at the social and economic drivers of change, how society is adapting and the impact this will have on future buildings. (Sponsored by Etag Fixings) Speakers: Tom Hall, Chief Economist at Barbour ABI. ( What will we be building in the UK in the next five years ) Clare Danahay, workplace consultant and interior designer at BeInspired Design. ( The changing face of the office, workplace needs and construction trends ) Vanessa Brady OBE, Founder and CEO of the Society of British & International Interior Design. ( Key trends that are driving specification and influencing building design ) Lee Jones: Head of Manufacturer Solutions at the NBS. ( How specification is evolving and the role of technology ) Andrew Smith, Managing Director of OWA (UK) Ltd, joined speakers for the debate. Wednesday 8 September – A path to net zero: the CLC Roadmap to Recovery has laid out proposals to secure the future of construction, while setting the industry on a sustainable path towards recovery, so what does this mean to projects in our sector? (Sponsored by Minster) Speakers: Adam Strudwick, Principal Corporate Interiors, London at Perkins+Will. ( Net zero and the impact on design ) Anna Baker, Head of Sustainability at Carey Group. ( How net zero will impact construction procurement decisions ) Elina Grigoriou, Design and Sustainability Director at Grigoriou Interiors. ( Net zero, how to support change on your projects ) Philip Brown, owner of Meronden Ltd, joined speakers for the debate. Wednesday 15 September – People and skills: with immigration and labour shortages hitting the headlines, what is our current position, how is our workforce is evolving and how responsible businesses are reacting to the challenge. (Sponsored by British Gypsum) Speakers: JonVanstone, Chair of the Interim Industry Competence Committee. ( Defining competence and setting a framework for success ) Professor Stuart Green, University of Reading School of Construction Management and Engineering. ( The future of employment and how our industry will engage its workforce in the future ) Suzannah Nichol MBE, Chief Executive at Build UK. ( Developing attractive careers in the finishes and interiors sector ) Helen Tapper of Tapper Interiors and Gareth Dunn of British Gypsum, joined speakers for the debate. 22 September – Contracts and risk: is the contractual and procurement process now at odds with effective risk management, delivering quality in construction and ultimately making us uninsurable? (Sponsored by BuildBack) Speakers: Jon Miller, Partner at Fenwick Elliott. ( How we need to shape out contractual relationships in the future ) Graeme Whitty, National Product Director at Willmott Dixon Construction. ( Procuring to delivery quality and support effective risk management ) Liz Barclay, Small Business Commissioner. ( Fair payment, moving beyond the old adversarial construction approach ) Craig Hayward, Head of National and Sales at CCF; James Reid of Construction Shield and Gordon Matheson, Director, Matheson Plumbing Company, joined speakers for the debate. 29 September – Quality and innovation: looking at the technology that is shaping our future. (Sponsored by Forza Doors) Speakers: Rob Frank, Customer Experience Director at BW. ( Digital transformation, and the fourth Industrial Revolution ) George Mokhtar, Director, Technology at Turner and Townsend. ( How offsite and modern methods of construction are shaping the future of our sector ) Kell Jones, Research Fellow at Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction (UCL). ( How construction sites will have changed by the end of the decade ) Jeanette MacIntyre, Managing Director at Indeglås. ( Innovation in the fit-out world – building a modern fit-out business ) Each session was recorded so members can watch again on demand at https://www.thefis.org/on-demand/ EMBRACING CHANGE IN THE FINISHES AND INTERIORS SECTOR In a departure from the usual in-person event, FIS spread its annual conference over each Wednesday lunchtime in September this year and hosted virtual round table sessions. Each one comprised important keynote presentations; followed by an open round table discussion that encouraged attendees to interact with the expert panelists. FIS Conference 8 www.thefis.org HEADLINE SPONSOR SESSION SPONSORS www.thefis.org/conference-2021 Catch up on every conference session on demand at https://www.thefis.org/on-demand/