🚧 FenceX 2025 – Book Your Free Tickets Now! 🚧
FenceX 2025 is shaping up to be the biggest and most exciting fencing industry event yet! With some top exhibitors already booked including IAE, CLA, Harper Chalice, Borg Locks, Fastline, Goel & Goel, Zaun, QAB, Barkers, FaCT, Panthera, MRT, CLD, Siddall & Hilton, Locinox, Tornado, and Scanpole, this is the must-attend event for fencing professionals.
Expect thrilling destruction testing, a dedicated Gate Automation Zone, live outdoor demonstrations, and insightful seminars. If you’re interested in demonstrating your product in our destruction testing, contact fencex@theafi.co.uk.
📅 Join us on 15th October 2025 at NAEC Stoneleigh!
🎟️ Get your FREE tickets or book your stand now at www.fencex.com!
AFI Membership renewals
To ensure all members continue to meet the high standards outlined in our Code of Practice and Terms & Conditions, we are introducing new requirements for membership renewal. From 2025, all renewing members will need to provide:
- A copy of your up-to-date insurance documents (employer, public liability, and all-risk).
- Your latest financial accounts.
- A positive reference.
These updates will help maintain the credibility and reputation of AFI members while positioning you for future opportunities.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in implementing these changes, which are designed to strengthen the AFI and the value we provide to our members.
If you have any questions about the renewal process, or member benefits, please don’t hesitate to contact Pete or myself at victoria@theafi.co.uk or 0203 772 0617
National Apprenticeship Week 10th – 16th February
National Apprenticeship Week (10–16 February) is a vital celebration of apprenticeships, highlighting the opportunities they create for individuals and businesses alike. This week showcases the benefits of combining hands-on experience with industry-recognised training, helping apprentices develop valuable skills while earning. It also shines a light on employers who invest in the next generation, ensuring a skilled and resilient workforce. Getting involved is easy—employers can share success stories, attend career events, or promote apprenticeship vacancies, while individuals can explore opportunities through industry bodies, training providers, and local businesses. Whether you’re an employer looking to grow your team or someone seeking a rewarding career path, National Apprenticeship Week is the perfect time to discover how apprenticeships can make a lasting impact.
FISS -CSCS Experienced Worker Card
The Fencing Industry Skills Scheme CSCS Experienced Worker card is for workers with on-the-job experience who are registered to complete an approved Fencing qualification at Level 2, or higher.
The card is valid until 31/12/2025 and cannot be renewed. Cardholders are expected to complete their qualification by the time the card expires and apply for a skilled FISS CSCS card.
This card is appropriate for those transferring from Industry Accreditation which expired 31st December 2024.
Applicants must also have passed the appropriate Health, Safety And Environment (HSE) test within the last two years. This must be taken at the relevant level for the occupation being applied for.
For further information on FISS CSCS recognised qualifications and the appropriate HSE test level can be checked either through the FISS CSCS Information Booklet here.
Or contacting a Lantra Approved Training Provider here.
Important note:
‘Experienced Worker’ skill can be added to any skills card that has non-IA live skills listed (Blue, Gold, Black cards)
British Standards up for review 2025 BS1722-2 & BS1722-18
The AFI in its role as overseer of standards for the fencing industry is informing the industry the following BS are up for review and amendment.
As all the industry is impacted by the standards all are invited to be involved with changes, development for the industry with valid comments, to update the standards and help modernise, progress them for the whole industry. Please contact Pete Clark CEO of the AFI for committee participation and inclusion.
This is not just open to one section of the industry as the standards have an impact on all. Inclusion is open to members and non members, with total impartial participation subject to availability on the committee, and justification for inclusion.
All roles are voluntary, mainly conducted via virtual meeting, with access to the individual standard portal for amendments and communication.
If you have a valid point that you would like the AFI to present we will progress this for all AFI members, if unable to attend the meetings.
All replies by 4th April 2025
Common Assessment Standard
To coincide with the Procurement Act coming into force on 24 February 2025, which will introduce significant changes to public sector procurement, Build UK will be publishing an updated version of the Common Assessment Standard to ensure that it remains relevant and up to date for use by public sector clients and their suppliers.
will include minor updates to the question set and associated guidance to reflect the requirements of the Procurement Act, as well as the changes to company size thresholdsfrom 1 April 2025. Suppliers will be required to answer the updated question set when they go through the certification process for the Common Assessment Standard after 24 February.
The Welsh Government has published WPPN 001 which states that Welsh authorities should use the Common Assessment Standard for works contracts from 24 February. The WPPN highlights the benefits of adopting the Common Assessment Standard in Wales, including improving efficiency and saving suppliers time and money through use of a common question set.
National Minimum Wage – apprentices and associated risks
HMRC’s National Minimum Wage team are offering live webinars, talking through who is eligible for the apprentice rate, the common mistakes made and, provide some best practise tips. You can also ask questions to a panel of experts.
So many employers accidentally underpay their workers because they do not understand the criteria, or what counts as working time for an apprentice. We know it isn’t aways straightforward and mistakes are easy to make.
Protect Workers from Hand-Arm Vibration (HAVS)
HAVS can be caused by using hand-held power tools for prolonged periods of time. It is a painful, disabling disease of the hands affecting blood vessels, nerves and joints.
There were 215 new cases of HAVS recorded in Great Britain in 2023.
HSE’s hand-arm vibration calculator can assist you in calculating exposures along with guidance on how to use it.
Our HAVS website contains useful guidance and resources on how to manage the risks in your workplace, including:
HAVS enforcement prosecution
A council was recently fined £60,000 for exposing workers to the risks arising from the use of vibrating tools.
HSE’s investigation found that:
- the system of health surveillance in place was inadequate
- data used to calculate the vibration exposure to workers grossly underestimated the vibration magnitude of the tools in use
Read more in our press release: Council fined after workers exposed to risks from vibrating tools.
HAVS training course
HSE is running a one-day course around hand-arm vibration management on Tuesday 4 March 2025 at HSE’s Science and Research Centre in Buxton.
Book your place at Hand-arm vibration: management in the workplace.
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