Skills News

Young Workers Are Choosing Construction — But the Sector Must Be Ready to Support Them

New data published by the CSCS Alliance offers some genuinely encouraging news for the construction and fit-out sector: the number of cards issued to workers under the age of 25 rose by 8.8% between 2023 and 2025, reaching 94,444 — and this growth came at a time when overall card issuance across the industry actually […]

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Introducing the WOMA Academy: Professional Training, at a Price That Makes Sense 

Introducing the WOMA Academy: Professional Training, at a Price That Makes Sense  Training your team shouldn’t be a luxury. But for many businesses in the shopfitting and interior fit-out sector, the cost, complexity, and time involved in keeping staff properly trained has always been a barrier. The WOMA Academy is here to change that.    What is the WOMA Academy? 

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Right to Work Rules Are Changing — And the Implications Go Beyond HR

From 1 October 2026, the UK’s right to work regime will undergo its most significant expansion in years. For shopfitters, fit-out contractors, and interior specialists, the changes are worth understanding now — because the new rules extend well beyond your employed workforce.   What’s Changing? Section 48 of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act

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An update from James Filus, NAS and IOC Director, on the latest apprenticeship developments

In January of this year, I updated our membership on ongoing apprenticeship reform work particularly in relation to ST0264 – i.e. the Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery standard. The background to this is complex but can also be broadly summed up as follows: Skills England, who replaced the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfaTE)

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Skills England Report: What NAS Members Need to Know

The newly released Skills England Sector Skills Needs Assessment: Construction report outlines the shifting workforce landscape over the next decade. Driven by infrastructure pipelines and the government’s target to build 1.5 million homes, the construction and fit-out sectors face an unprecedented demand for qualified, skilled labor. Here is a general summary of the key findings

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CSCS Smart Check Upgrade – What It Means for Your Sites

The card verification platform CSCS Smart Check has officially launched a major data upgrade. The platform is the only system that verifies all 2.3 million cards carrying the CSCS logo. What is changing? The new system captures richer, site-level data during card scans through new API fields, including: GPS Coordinates: Pinpointing exactly where a card

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📅 Free Webinar: The Building Safety Act – Back to Basics

As the regulatory landscape continues to shift, staying compliant is more critical than ever. We are pleased to invite NAS members to a free, essential webinar hosted by the Construction Law Department at Holmes & Hills Solicitors. Designed specifically for contractors, subcontractors, and consultants, this session will help you uncover what you don’t know about

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📢 Important: CITB 2026 Levy Return – Action Required

CITB has officially issued the 2026 Levy Return, and it is vital that all members complete and submit their returns by the 30th June 2026 deadline. Why submit on time? Accurate Assessments: Ensure your levy is based on your actual figures rather than an estimated assessment, which could be significantly higher. Maintain Funding: Protect your

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Government Funding Update: Financial Incentives for Hiring Young People

The UK Government has updated its range of financial incentives for employers who provide training and work opportunities for young people. While apprenticeships remain a key pillar, there are several alternative pathways that offer significant funding without the immediate requirement of a full apprenticeship framework. Incentives at a Glance Programme Type Requirements Incentive Payment T-Level

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Industry Update: Construction Leadership Council Publishes 2026 Biennial Report

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has released its latest biennial report, detailing the industry’s progress over the last year and outlining the strategic priorities that will shape the sector through 2026. For NAS members, the report highlights several key “wins” and ongoing workstreams that directly impact our day-to-day operations: 1. Fairer Payment & Retentions The

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