FIS introduces digital platform to deliver accurate competency records

The benefit of the MyProPass platform to individuals is that it allows them to store all of their certificates in one place and to share their training history with their employer or anyone else whom they grant access to their account. They can also browse and sign up to hundreds of training, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) or industry events in the events directory.

For their part, employers can link to individuals’ accounts, with the latter’s permission, in order to view and download their training history. They can also manage any training activity which requires a certificate through the platform, issuing a digital certificate directly to an individual’s account.

At a time when the industry is facing intense scrutiny, this new platform will enable companies and individuals alike to provide evidence of competency.

Better consistency

FIS CEO Iain McIlwee explained: “This is an exciting next step and builds out from core tools like CSCS. It’s clear that better consistency is key to competence management, especially so in a fast-moving sector like ours where there’s an uber flexible workforce. Only around 30% of our trade workforce are in employment.”

McIlwee continued: “MyProPass provides the ideal platform for us to start building digital competence passports. This is about more than the core qualifications. It’s also focused on encouraging and recognising wider training activities and will offer more of a formal approach to developing and, hopefully, retaining people in our sector. This platform, and the work we are doing around it, affords us an opportunity to reset and focus not just on how we recruit, train and develop our workforce, but ultimately how we reward and encourage individuals, investing in the future of the people who are building our future.”

MyProPass CEO and co-founder Pia Osseforth stated: “We are truly delighted to be partnering with the FIS who are leading this space of digitisation and unpicking the challenges of the industry. MyProPass is passionate about digitising competency within the construction industry. The power of data has a big role to play, and this can only be truly realised when skills gained through learning and work experience are detailed and captured digitally.”

Talent management

Further, Osseforth noted: “As highlighted within the Building Safety Act 2022, this is also becoming paramount for regulators in terms of assessing the competency of individuals working on projects. Talent management that focuses on the needs of individuals and enhances their employability can only increase employee motivation and productivity and improve the attractiveness of companies as employers. These are issues of particular significancein the digital age for recruiting and retaining staff.”

In addition, Osseforth observed: “The provision of further training, retraining and skills management are all important aspects of CPD. Employees will have to engage in lifelong learning through further training if they are to be capable of responding as rapidly as possible to the changes in skills requirements triggered by automation and digitalisation. Working collaboratively with the FIS, we want to provide value for employers and employees alike and look forward to creating positive change.”

*To support its members on meeting the need to prove competence, the FIS has negotiated a discount for organisations wishing to engage with MyProPass. For further information about MyProPass, send an e-mail to info@thefis.org, telephone 0121-707 0077 or visit www.thefis.org

**The FIS boasts circa 500 members drawn from contractors, manufacturers and distributors of ceilings, steel framing systems, partitions, operable walls, plastering, drylining and specialist interior fit-out and refurbishment businesses. The organisation exists to support those members, improve safety, minimise risk, enhance productivity and drive innovation in the sector