Coronavirus update for construction: Wednesday 25

Grant Prior 5 years ago
Share

Covid-19 Update – 25 March 2020
Introduction

This short briefing has been prepared on behalf of the UK construction sector to brief companies and individuals on the ongoing repercussions of the Covid-19 coronavirus for our sector.
Site Operating Procedures

The Cabinet Office has confirmed that construction in England can continue as long as it can be done safely AND in accordance with the Public Health England guidance. The latest Construction Leadership Council Site Operating Procedures (SOP) align with the latest Public Health England guidance are here. As this guidance changes, the SOP will be updated.

If for any reason sites and companies are not able to comply with the PHE guidance, then they must cease activities until they can.

 

NHS Hospitals

NHS Hospitals have made the following request for supplies from industry to support their fight against Covid-19:

  • FFP3 masks
  • Full face visors (transparent and either disposable or reusable)
  • Safety goggles and glasses
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Haz mat / full body suits.

If you can source any of the following please contact any of the trade associations noted at the end of this newsletter, who will liaise with those coordinating this work.

 

Ban on evictions for commercial tenants

Commercial tenants who cannot pay their rent because of coronavirus will be protected from eviction. More information is available here.

 

COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility – Now open for applications

Under the new COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility, the Bank of England will buy short term debt from larger companies. All non-financial companies that meet the criteria set out on the Bank of England’s website are eligible. The scheme is now available for applications. More information is available from the Bank of England.

 

Travel within London

Making non-essential journeys risks lives. Please only travel if your journey is absolutely essential. If you are a key worker and your journey is absolutely essential, the busiest times are 05.45-07:30 and 16:00-17:30. If possible, please avoid these times, for the safety of passengers and staff.

 

CITB – Support for Apprentices

CITB is paying, in advance, apprenticeship attendance grants for second and third year apprentices to help keep skills in the construction industry amid the Coronavirus outbreak. The payments will be made from 6 April for apprentices already subject to CITB grant support and who are currently in the second or third year of their apprenticeship for the remainder of the year. The payments are expected to be able to support 7,500 apprentices, and will advance up to £2,500 in attendance grant at a time when retaining apprentices is critical. To read the press release on this please click here.

CITB has worked with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to discuss funding rules on breaks in learning for apprentices. ESFA have issued guidance for apprentices, employers and training providers, you can read the guidance here.
A dedicated email helpline for all apprentices and their employers providing advice and signposting during COVID-19 has been set-up by CITB. Please e-mail us at [email protected] for assistance.

HS&E App

CITB has developed a free app so employers can run their own in-house interim testing. The app will give employers a level of local assurance to help them determine if an employee is safe to work on their site. The app will be available to download from app stores shortly. A PC download version is available here, under the HS&E Test heading. The app will give breathing space to employers during the temporary closure of all Pearson Vue HS&E test centres and the suspension of testing throughout our Independent Test Centre (ITC) network.

New Employer Support Database
Today CITB will launch a database with useful information and links to help employers during the COVID-19 crisis. To view CITB’s COVID-19 updates page, including information on Grants, Funding and the NCC, click here.

Your feedback is vital – new survey 23 March

The construction industry’s federations are in regular dialogue with representatives from the UK Government to discuss the impact of Covid-19. To support this work we need feedback from businesses as to how they are affected by the pandemic.

Please take 5 minutes to fill in this survey to ensure that this work is supported by the most up-to-date feedback from industry. The new survey can be found here.

 

The Briefing has been prepared in collaboration between the industry’s leading trade and representative bodies: Association for Consultancy & Engineering, Build UK, Chartered Institute of Building, Civil Engineering Contractors Association, Construction Plant-hire Association, Construction Products Association, Electrical Contractors Association, Federation of Master Builders, National Federation of Builders, and Institution of Civil Engineers.

We are grateful to Building, Construction Enquirer, Construction Manager, Construction News, Highways and New Civil Engineer for support in distribution to the wider industry.

Latest news

BAM reassures supply chain after winding-up petition

Firm's credit rating temporarily affected after dispute with supplier
6 hours ago

Winvic secures Leeds build to rent scheme

Phase one of £500m Sweet Street South Bank regeneration starts
6 hours ago

£60m turnover construction group sold to staff

Meldrum Construction Services Group becomes Employee Owned Trust
7 hours ago

Starmer vows to “rip out” obstacles to investment

Prime Minister to make pledge at inaugural International Investment Summit
6 hours ago

VolkerFitzpatrick starts prep-work for £210m M3 junction upgrade

Main works to begin in early 2025 on Winchester junction job
7 hours ago

London super sewer turned on after eight years of construction

£4.5bn project starts protecting River Thames from pollution
7 hours ago

Housing and office new work jump fuels output recovery

August new construction work rebounds 1.6% after early summer fall
3 days ago

£300m London City fringe office tower approved

Rocket's 27-storey One Fairchild Street job set for take-off
4 days ago

Consultants named for London Tube Bakerloo Line extension

Aecom and architect WW+P to work up designs for four new stations
3 days ago

15 giant bridge beams lifted into place at HS2 station

Balfour Beatty VINCI carries-out civils work for Solihull station: Video
4 days ago

Ballymore JV picked for £500m King’s Cross scheme

Camley Street scheme to consist of 350 homes and offices
4 days ago

Digger stolen from Dorset site recovered in Poland

Machine found after four month police hunt
3 days ago

Construction firms face claw back of R&D tax credits

HMRC estimates only 38% of construction claims are "wholly compliant"
4 days ago

Willmott Dixon bounces back into profit in first half

CEO predicts ISG demise will shift client mindsets from lowest bid to best quality
4 days ago

M&E specialist Integral UK suffers fifth year of losses

Building services and FM specialist plunges to £32m loss
4 days ago

Glenbrook plans 44-storey Manchester resi tower

Scheme next to Deansgate station will contain 360 flats
4 days ago

Downing submits 430-bed London student scheme

Two-10 storey towers planned at Wandsworth Gasholder Site
4 days ago

Mace construction head steps down

Andrew Jackson leaves top role after three months
5 days ago

Pre-pack saves 60 jobs at fit-out firm WFC Contractors

Aviation fit-out group swoops on up-market hospitality fit-out specialist
5 days ago

Multiplex in talks for ISG’s £70m London offices to labs job

Plan to restart Regent Quarter life science campus with ISG project team
5 days ago

M&E firm goes under after more than 70 years in business

HBS Group Southern employed 75 staff
6 days ago

Trio of big names win £600m biscuit factory revamp

Developer Greystar confirms deals for McLaren, McAleer & Rushe and Sisk
6 days ago

HS2 London tunnels chief joins Transpennine Route Upgrade

James Richardson will take up MD role at TRU in New Year
5 days ago

Transport minister signals HS2 will run to Euston

Decision expected in spending review and budget later this month
6 days ago

£9bn Lower Thames Crossing decision delayed 7 months

Fears grow mega project could be axed in upcoming Budget
6 days ago

Vistry issues profit warning over build out costs at southern division

Probe launched after £115m hit on 9 schemes where build costs under estimated by 10%
6 days ago

ISG administrator tells subbies no funds to pay debts

EY warns trade creditors they are unlikely to see any of the cash they are owed
6 days ago

Giga factory powers McAlpine to top of contracts league

Work winning for the top 50 firms rebounded in September after August lull
6 days ago

Merit to build £30m modular NHS medicines centre

Specialist starts work on offsite components
6 days ago

Buckingham supply chain hit soars above £300m

Unpaid bills from unsecured creditors keep mounting
1 week ago

Contractor services