FIS Statement on Coronavirus
FIS is closely monitoring the development of the Coronavirus situation and is receiving regular briefings from the Civil Service and will continue to follow official advice from Government and the Health Authorities. We are very mindful of the additional pressure this is putting on our membership and the amount of misinformation that is out there, so we are working to keep this area of our website, live uncluttered and targeted on how things will impact our community.
Please remember that supporting below we have our legal helplines and feel free to contact iainmcilwee@thefis.org with any specific questions/concerns or requests for information – we will be dedicating all of the resources available to us to finding the answers and sharing best practice. Likewise if you have access to information that you feel would benefit sharing with the wider community, please fire it in and we’ll do all we can to collate so it is clear/logical and accessible.
FIS COVID-19 Risk Management Toolkit
In uncertain times, identifying risk is critical to effective planning. This tool is being developed real-time by the FIS team ensuring that risks are identified and where we are able, the very best sources to help you to quantify and mitigate are available. The key areas are:
- Leadership
- Workforce Welfare
- Contractual Matters
- Project Continuity
- Business Continuity
We are grateful you our members and for sharing information and firing in the questions that is helping to keep this grounded and relevant, to our colleagues in the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) who are keeping us regularly briefed and rapidly feeding back on intelligence we are feeding in and of course our fellow Trade Associations, particularly our BuildUK and the Construction Products Association for the support they are providing in these unprecedented times.
Template Resources & Link to our Daily Update
-
-
- Guidance to issue to self-employed workers on reporting to work, risk mangement, self-isolation and benefits is available for download here
- More information that includes standard letters to support lay-off and short-time working here
- COVID-19 Risk Management Toolkit – COVID-Risk Management Toolkit
-
See our daily newsletter here
Latest updates
25.3.20 –It was this morning confirmed that yesterday there was a telephone conference of the Build UK Major Contractors who discussed a collective decision for sites to shut. Following that call, a number of members went back to their Boards and have now confirmed that they are closing their sites. Read the full statement from Build UK here
25.3.20 What to do if you do not feel the conditions you are working in are safe – If any FIS Members are being expected to work in an unsafe way, the HSE operates a whistle blowing service
25.3.20 Companies to receive 3-month extension period to file accounts during COVID-19 – From today (25 March 2020), businesses will be able to apply for a 3-month extension for filing their accounts.
25.3.20 Government clarifies rules that confirm work can continue on people’s homes – Work carried out in people’s homes, for example by tradespeople carrying out repairs and maintenance, can continue, provided that the tradesperson is well and has no symptoms. Again, it will be important to ensure that Public Health England guidelines, including maintaining a two metre distance from any household occupants, are followed to ensure everyone’s safety.
No work should be carried out in any household which is isolating or where an individual is being shielded, unless it is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household, such as emergency plumbing or repairs, and where the tradesperson is willing to do so. In such cases, Public Health England can provide advice to tradespeople and households.
No work should be carried out by a tradesperson who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild.
24.3.20 BMF clarifies Builders’ Merchants’ role during COVID-19 Restrictions
24.3.20 The Chancellor says help is coming for the self employed – You can read the House of Commons Public Committee Amendments: Coronavirus Bill pages 14-18 here. Alternatively download the amendments PDF here.
24.3. 20 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.
CITB has helped apprentices return home from National Construction Colleges in Bircham Newton, Erith, Kings Norton and Inchinnan; every CITB apprentice is being contacted by their Apprenticeships Officer this week. Online learning tools (functional skills videos) have also been made available to help apprentices continue their studies from home. These videos are available to all apprentices, not just CITB’s. Information on how to register and access the videos can be found 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 CITB at Apprenticeships.COVID19@citb.co.uk for assistance.
24.3.20 Reports that there have been several instances today of police officers visiting construction sites and requesting the closure of these. BEIS have emphasised that this action is “not consistent with the Government guidance, which is clear that construction sites should continue to operate if they can do so in a manner consistent with PHE guidance, recognising that the vast majority of construction work cannot be undertaken from home.
We are working with the IPA and the Home Office to ensure that accurate information is provided to the police, to prevent this from happening in future. If you receive questions from your members, please do explain the position as set out above.”
24.3.20 The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), specifically for SMEs and provided by the British Business Bank via your usual bank or lender, is now available. There is no maximum cap set for lending supported through the scheme, so there is no immediate need to approach your lender if your business does not need finance at the moment
24.3.20 Through BuildUK, as part of their response to the Covid-19 pandemic, FIS is asking members to complete this survey on the support that The UK Government has put in place a number of actions to support UK businesses through the Covid-19 pandemic. All individual responses will remain confidential.
24.3.20 FIS has written to the Construction Minister, BEIS and thc CLC for urgent clarification to be issued. Current position from COBR, sites should continue to operate if they can do so in a manner consistent with PHE guidance (see CLC Operating Procedures), recognising that the vast majority of construction work cannot be undertaken from home.
24.3.20 Major merchant groups announce they will pause distrubution whilst they await clarity from the Government, CCF and Minster have both put out statements on social media to advise the sector. All Saint Gobain businesses, manufacturing and distribution are closing for 24 hours from this morning whilst they seek clarification from government on how they can operate within the new government guidelines.
23-3-20 Prime Minister’s speech further tightens guidance – The speech included new guidance on staying at home and away from others. Advice states you should only leave the house for one of four reasons:
● Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible.
● One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household.
● Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
● Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.
You can read the full advice here.
23-3-20 Update Guidance from the Construction Leadership Council Issued:
We are in exceptional circumstances, and are doing our utmost to keep construction sites operational wherever it is practical and safe to do so. Whilst the guidance from Public Health England may change in future, for the time being construction sites of any size that are operating during the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic need to ensure they are protecting their workforce and minimising the risk of spread of infection.
To implement the Government’s social distancing recommendation the Construction Leadership Council has now published Site Operating Procedures. I would strongly recommend that these procedures are implemented by every operational construction site, with the aim of us having a standard approach across the industry that all firms and workers can adopt.
It is also vital that the health and safety requirements of any construction activity must not be compromised at this time. If an activity cannot be undertaken safely due to a lack of suitably qualified personnel being available, or social distancing being implemented, it should not take place. We are aware that emergency services are also under great pressure and may not be in a position to respond as quickly as usual.
Andy Mitchell
CLC COVID-19_Site Operating Procedures – 23 March 2020
23.3.20 – Updated eligibility criteria for COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility to include the Bank of England’s eligibility criteria here – it has been confirmed that this will be available to all. Full details still to be announced through the Bank of England, but outline details now available.
23.3.20 – Support for businesses through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme – The scheme is now open for applications. To apply, you should talk to your bank or one of the 40 accredited finance providers (not the British Business Bank) as soon as possible, to discuss your business plan. You can find out the latest on the best ways to contact them via their websites.
All major banks are offering this scheme. If you have an existing loan with monthly repayments you may want to ask for a repayment holiday to help with cash flow.
The full rules of the scheme and the list of accredited lenders are available on the British Business Bank website.
21.3.20 – Guidance on critical workers has now been published – Construction workers are not explicitly referenced in the definition, however the document refers to flexibility and FIS has confirmed with BEIS that this will cover construction workers who are doing jobs that are essential to support public services and consequently workers falling in this category will be able to access school places should they not be able to make alternative provision.
21.3.20 – Temporary relaxation of the enforcement of the EU and GB drivers’ hours rules: all sectors carriage of goods by road
20.3.20 – Chancellor announces new package of support including VAT holiday, extensions of the interest free period for Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and more support for the self employed.
20.3.20 – CITB announces apprenticeship support package the message is please please hold onto your apprentices for the moment help is coming
20.3.20 – New Public Procurement Notice advises public sector to look at how supply chain can be supported includes Government Procurers encouraged to pay suppliers even if work is suspended.
- Urgently review their contract portfolio and inform suppliers who they believe are at risk that they will continue to be paid as normal (even if service delivery is disrupted or temporarily suspended) until at least the end of June.
- Put in place the most appropriate payment measures to support supplier cash flow; this might include a range of approaches such as forward ordering, payment in advance/prepayment, interim payments and payment on order (not receipt).
- If the contract involves payment by results then payment should be on the basis of previous invoices, for example the average monthly payment over the previous three months.
- To qualify, suppliers should agree to act on an open book basis and make cost data available to the contracting authority during this period. They should continue to pay employees and flow down funding to their subcontractors.
- Ensure invoices submitted by suppliers are paid immediately on receipt (reconciliation can take place in slower time) in order to maintain cash flow in the supply chain and protect jobs.
We have asked the question as to whether paying any withheld retentions would be possible too.
New guidance for UK businesses trading internationally – including how the DIT is looking to help businesses whose supply chain has been affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) find alternative suppliers.
20.3.20 – Advice on how to access evidence for work absence has now been included in guidance for employees, employers and businesses details here and on online isolation note on providing proof of coronavirus absence from work that can be accessed here.
20.3.20 – New advice from HM Treasury on to access financial support from the Government if you or your business has been affected by COVID-19, this covers SSP (including self-isolation), Universal Credit, mortgage repayment, loans and the new temporary Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, more details here
20.3.20 – Potential COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Economic and Construction Impacts report has been pulled together by the Construction Products Association, available to download here
19.3.20 – Fresh concerns over the return of plasterboard allocation following announcement from BG – more information here
19.3.20 – New advice from HM Treasury How to access government financial support if you or your business has been affected by COVID-19, this covers SSP (including self-isolation), Universal Credit, mortgage repayment, loans and the new new temporary Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme – download the factsheet here
19.3.20 – CITB Revise Support to Employers to ease cash flow: the 20 week grant claim processing rule is frozen, CITB are urging employers to check their Grant Online accounts for claims which need authorising, and to sign and return any paper Grant Claim forms we have issued as quickly as possible. FIS can offer free virtual skills clinics to help you to optimise your returns. To book your slot, email: amandascott@thefis.org
19.3.20 – Heath and Safety test centre from Friday 20 March 2020 are temporarily closed they are working on alternative ways to test. CITB have asked all all Site Safety Plus centres to relax cancellation and refund policies, additionally, any delegate whose SMSTS/SSSTS achievement has expired since 15 March 2020 and who hasn’t been able to renew in time due to COVID-19, will be allowed to take the refresher rather than the full course. Quality Assurance activities are reduced to electronic responses. Investigations will be risk assessed case by case as CITB’s compliance teams are committed to continuing their important work of identifying and protecting the construction industry from fraud risks relating to training delivery.
19.3.20 – Guidance from Midas sets the right tone and underpins the position of the Construction Leadership Council, the construction industry is resilient and do all we can to keep sites open. Read the statement here
19.3.20 – New Public Health Poster – developed to support employers in sharing best practice click here to access the poster
19.3.20 CSCS latest: CSCS are asking the industry to support the following temporary measures:
- Requesting employers and those responsible for site access and card checking procedures to use their discretion towards workers whose cards have expired since mid-March onward and who can provide evidence that they have been unable to sit their test or undertake the required training as a result of the closure of Test and Training centres. This is at the employer’s discretion until the situation has stabilised.
- CSCS has extended the grace period for card renewals from six months after the card expires to 12 months. This means that the card can be renewed, once the CITB Health, Safety and Environmental test has been passed, up to one year from the card’s expiry date.
For more details please click here
18.3.20 – Business rates: expanded retail discount – guidance. Members with “showrooms may be able to benefit” – more advice here
18.3.20 – BLOG: COVID-19: The vaccine that is needed to save construction firms, FIS CEO Iain McIlwee looks at planning for worst case scenario and what measures would be needed to save construction companies should sites close
18.3.20 – FIS updates guidance and provides template resources on home working (thanks to Mansell Finishes for sharing) and on Lay-off procedures, Short-time working and Redundancy (courtesy of Citation) – more here
18.3.20 – Schools in England, Wales and Scotland to close from Friday, Northern Ireland from Monday (for all but vulnerable and children of essential workers).
18.3.20 – CITB taking action, developing training materials to keep sites working, time bound qualifications and cards, closure of National Construction Colleges, all spring Roadshows cancelled to be moved on-line, electronic apprentice reviews, support for CITB Approved training providers, extensions on renewal periods for Site Managers (SMSTS) and Site Supervisors Safety Training Schemes (SSSTS) and postponement of Construction Ambassador events. For more information click here
18.3.20 – CSCS Ask Industry to Support temporary Measures, Pearson’s Health and Safety test Centres capacity reduced by 50% to allow for additional spacing between candidates. Card renewal grace period extended from six months to 12 months. For more information click here.
18.3.20 – Statement from Courts during coronavirus pandemic: Robert Buckland statement. “Our Crown and Magistrates courts provide a vital public service and until instructed otherwise, we expect all lawyers, magistrates, jurors, witnesses, defendants and court staff to continue to attend court as required, so the interests of justice can be served” More here.
17.3.20 – Extending announcements in last week’s Budget (see below), the Chancellor today announced he would take further action including:
- support for liquidity amongst large firms, with a major new scheme being launched by the Bank of England to help them bridge Coronavirus disruption to their cash flows through loans
- increasing the amount businesses can borrow through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme from £1.2 million to £5 million, and ensuring businesses can access the first 6 months of that finance interest free, as Government will cover the first 6 months of interest payments
- including new legal powers in the Covid Bill enabling us to offer whatever further financial support we think necessary to businesses
- He also confirmed Mortgage lenders have agreed they will support customers that are experiencing issues with their finances as a result of Covid-19, including through payment holidays of up to 3 months. This will give people the necessary time to recover and ensure they do not have to pay a penny towards their mortgage in the interim.
- Finally he confirmed that implementation of ir35 reforms would be delayed for 12 months.
Full details are available here
17.3.20 – The Construction Leadership Council with the support of the Construction Products Association and Build UK have written to the Prime Minister to affirm that it is vital that our construction sites are able to remain open. Read the full letter here.
17.3.20 – FIS COVID-19 Risk Management Toolkit updated to include latest advice on what to do if there is a suspected case on site and communicating with your team it has also been simplified Click here to access the Toolkit
17.3.20 – FIS develops new template corresponence to support communicatino with LOSCs covering welfare and hygiene advice, reaction to symptoms and information on how to claim Universal Credit if they are not able to report to site. This resource can be downloaded here.
17.3.20 – Foreign Secretary advises against all non essential overseas travel. British people who decide that they still need to travel abroad should be fully aware of the increased risks of doing so. That includes the risk that they may not be able to get home, if travel restrictions are put in place. Anyone still considering travel to be realistic about the level of disruption they are willing and able to endure, and to make decisions in light of the unprecedented conditions we face. More here.
16.3.20 – PM announces that now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel. People are advised to start working from home where they possibly can. If you live alone and you have symptoms of coronavirus illness (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home for 7 days from when your symptoms started. if you live with others and you or one of them have symptoms of coronavirus, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.
- For advice for individuals in terms of recognising symptoms and taking action – click here
- For advice related to travel internationally – click here
- For advice for employers and businesses – click here
- Many businesses will be impacted by childcare issues, the latest advice for educational establishments is available here
Skills, Training & Apprenticeships Updates
25.03.20 – The FIS are contacting the FIS Approved Training Provider network to discuss current activities, concerns regarding the current situation and attempt to identify how FIS may be able to assist. FIS continue to investigate methods of electronic training provision. Our existing E Learning facilities are always available to members pages.
25.03.20 – FEWEEK: Coronavirus, ‘Furious’ Association of Education and Learning Providers boss says government wants skills sector to collapse, Mark Dawe has told FE WEEK the government’s goal seems to be for the collapse of the skills sector, many independent training providers may go out of business: https://feweek.co.uk/2020/03/23/coronavirus-furious-aelp-boss-says-government-wants-skills-sector-to-collapse/
25.03.20 – CITB as announced, CITB is making available advanced payment of apprenticeship attendance grants for apprentices in their second and third year of apprenticeship programmes. To request the advance grant payment please register your details on the form https://www.citb.co.uk/levy-grants-and-funding/grants-funding/apprenticeship-grants/apprenticeship-grant-advance/.
25.03.20 – CITB Grants: CITB are unable to support Levy and Grant telephone lines, urgent enquiries should be sent by email levy.grant@citb.co.uk. They are processing grant claims as quickly as possible and urge employers to check their Grant Online accounts for claims which need authorising. Advanced payment of apprenticeship attendance grants for 2nd and 3rd year apprentices to help ensure future skills are retained in the construction industry. To claim see the link above. For the press release go to: https://www.citb.co.uk/about-citb/news-events-and-blogs/uk/2020/03/citb-paying-apprenticeship-grants-in-advance-/
25.03.20 CITB Health and Safety Testing: Health and Safety test centres are temporarily closed. New products have developed some free of charge. CITB hope is these will help employers run their own in-house interim testing to give a level of local assurance to help the employer to determine if an employee is safe to work on their site. For operatives and specialist go to:
https://www.imagitechmedia1.co.uk/CITB/Downloads/GT100_LITE_19_DL.html.
For Managers and Professionals go to https://www.imagitechmedia1.co.uk/CITB/Downloads/GT200_LITE_19_DL.html
For test guidelines please see: https://www.citb.co.uk/global/courses-quals/hse-test/hse_test_delivery_guidelines.pdf
25.03.20 – The National Construction College: CITB would like to re-assure our learners working towards their S/NVQ that we are here to support you with your qualification through these challenging times. Please continue to complete and send in your work-based evidence in the normal way (recorded delivery, if by post) as instructed by your training college instructor or on-site assessor.
24.03.20 – Government Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): apprenticeship programme response. This document sets out guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers and assessment organisations in response to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19). It includes applying the policy on breaks in learning:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-apprenticeship-programme-response
24.3. 20 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.
CITB has helped apprentices return home from National Construction Colleges in Bircham Newton, Erith, Kings Norton and Inchinnan; every CITB apprentice is being contacted by their Apprenticeships Officer this week.
Online learning tools (functional skills videos) have also been made available to help apprentices continue their studies from home. These videos are available to all apprentices, not just CITB’s. Information on how to register and access the videos can be found 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 CITB at Apprenticeships.COVID19@citb.co.uk for assistance.
The FIS are investigating methods of electronic training provision. Our E Learning facilities are always available to members pages.
Government Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): apprenticeship programme response. This document sets out guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers and assessment organisations in response to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19). It includes applying the policy on breaks in learning:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-apprenticeship-programme-response
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education England: IfATE has published new guidance on the delivery of assessment at https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/response-to-covid-19/
FEWEEK: Coronavirus, 9 key points from the government’s apprenticeships guidance. For more details see: https://feweek.co.uk/2020/03/23/coronavirus-9-key-points-from-the-governments-apprenticeships-guidance/
Cross-Industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force: A letter has been sent by CCATF Chair, Martyn W Price MBE, Chairman Cross-Industry Apprenticeship Task Force, Apprenticeship Ambassador, Workforce Development Director O’Halloran & O’Brien Ltd, to Rt.Hon. Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for the Department for Education. The letter includes a very specific ask and a call to action for the Minister to consider:
‘all flexibilities in the redistribution of any unspent current Apprenticeship Levy and suspend the expiry of any subsequent unspent future Levy funds, which are then ring fenced, for any future apprenticeship related interventions.’
CITB: Revise Support to Employers running funded projects. A message from CITB states they understand that the progress of the commission may be affected. There is no need to contact them with your concerns, members of the funding team will contact you, if they have not done so already.
Levy: Updated 24 March 2020
The CITB Board are meeting this week to examine and discuss am range of options to help employers with the levy
Grants: Updated 23 March 2020
CITB are urging all employers not to dismiss apprentices, the 20 week grant claim processing rule is frozen, they urge employers to check their Grant Online accounts for claims which need authorising, and to sign and return any paper Grant Claim forms we have issued as quickly as possible.
Health and Safety Testing: Updated 20 March 2020
Health and Safety test centres are temporarily closed they are working on alternative ways to test. If you have any concerns or queries, please email: HSEtestdev@citb.co.uk
National Construction College: Updated 17 March 2020
All training at National Construction Colleges is cancelled.
Funding: Updated 19 March 2020
Skills and training fund will launch as planned on 01 April 2020. CITB are reviewing how funds can be used to help businesses retain essential skills and support managers to provide the right leadership.
Spring Engagements: Updated 16 March 2020
All spring engagements are cancelled, on-line alternatives will be issued soon.
Apprenticeships: Updated 23 March 2020
Employers are urged not to dismiss any apprentices. It is clear that relief must come rapidly, and we will announce details in days rather than weeks. A letter was issued to all CITB apprentices via email 19 March 2020. Although college provision will cease liaison with CITB Apprenticeship Offices will continue via electronic means.
Construction Training Directory and Construction Training Register: Updated 19 March 2020
CITB Approved training Organisations are encouraged to relax cancellation and refund policies.
Site Safety Plus: Updated 20 March 2020
CITB encourage all Site Safety Plus centres to relax cancellation and refund policies, additionally, any delegate whose SMSTS/SSSTS achievement has expired since 15 March 2020 and who hasn’t been able to renew in time due to COVID-19, will be allowed to take the refresher rather than the full course.
Quality Assurance: Updated 19 March 2020
Quality Assurance activities are reduced to electronic responses. Investigations will be risk assessed case by case as CITB’s compliance teams are committed to continuing their important work of identifying and protecting the construction industry from fraud risks relating to training delivery.
SkillsBuild: Updated 23 March 2020
The full Regional Qualifier schedule this year has been postponed, contingencies are under discussion.
Go Construct Ambassadors: Update 20 March 2020
All Ambassador events are postponed until the end of April 2020.
For more detail check: https://www.citb.co.uk/urgent-messages/
CSCS latest: Updated 20 March 2020
CSCS are asking the industry to support the following temporary measures:
- Requesting employers and those responsible for site access and card checking procedures to use their discretion towards workers whose cards have expired since mid-March onward and who can provide evidence that they have been unable to sit their test or undertake the required training as a result of the closure of Test and Training centres.
This is at the employer’s discretion until the situation has stabilised.
Additional Useful resources for businesses and employers
For the latest information and advice, employers and business owners should visit guidance for employers and businesses. Check this page regularly for updates, urgent advice will be issued via emai alerts.
FIS Webinar – COVID-19 and Employment Matters (24 March 2020)
Listen to experts from ClarksLegal discuss employment and contractual matters – https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/6474066707118183942
Information includes:
Guidance on advice to provide to staff including: how to help prevent spread of COVID-19; what to do if someone suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 has been in a workplace setting; advice to give to individuals who have travelled to specific areas; and advice for the certification of absence from work resulting from COVID19
Information on the support available to businesses impacted by COVID-19
Government is also advising businesses to build their own resilience by reviewing their business continuity (see below), developing an understanding on the potential impacts to their supply chains, customers or other factors critical to their operations.
Crisis Communications
- Harvard Business Review: Communicating Through The Coronavirus Crisis
- Hubspot: Crisis Communication & Management Templates
Managing Remote Work
- Business Training Continuity During Public Health Events
- Settling Into Your New Remote Job: 3 Tips to Help You Ace Your First Month
Thanks to www.findcourses.co.uk for sending these in, it helps us all when the community shares in this way.
Site Welfare
- FIS Associate Citation have produced a free hand hygiene training video that you can access here
- Coronavirus: UK health and safety obligations a useful reminder from Pinsent Mason on the need to do specific risk assessments related to Coronavirus
- Top tips on how to maintain the wellbeing of your employees while they work from home
- Don’t forget to support your own workforce, who may also be feeling concerned at this time. The Construction Industry Helpline provides emotional and financial support to the construction community and their families and is available on 0345 605 1956
Government Action Plan
The Government have given more information about the action plan they are following here.
We are now in the Delay Phase, which is designed to slow the spread in this country, lowering the peak impact and pushing it away from the winter season.
The Governments approach is clinically led, based on the expert advice of the UK’s Chief Medical Officer for England, the NHS and Public Health England. Businesses should check for daily updates here and it is advisable to subscribe to receive email alerts to ensure they are acting on the most up to date information (FIS will be monitoring these on behalf of our members).
Contractual Advice – What are the implications of delays and closures
FIS Webinar – COVID-19 and Employment Matters (24 March 2020)
Listen to experts from ClarksLegal discuss employment and contractual matters here
Insight into the impact of COVID-19 on construction contracts (19 March 2020)
In an online meeting this week, John Bradley gave his views on the contractual implications of potential delays and site closures (20 March).
For the full presentation on JCT contracts, variations and amendments, visit the FIS Legal and Contractual Toolkit here
Where there are force majeure provisions within a contract, the events are usually defined. This is often a long list including acts of God, flood, drought, earthquake and so on. Sometimes, it includes failure or interruption of utility services or non-performance of suppliers or sub-contractors. In light of Covid-19, businesses need to know if the force majeure definition includes epidemic or pandemic or civil emergency or similar. In the absence of such knowledge, then it may be the case that a business can rely on action taken by the government or a public authority (for example a government announcement on travel restrictions which may prevent a business from fulfilling its contractual obligations).
Members are advised to review all contracts for provisions around delays to ensure that they are aware of any risks and obligations and reminded of the importance of record keeping and maintaing close management of notification requirements.
Members can call the FIS with specific questions on 0121 707 0077 and we will direct you to the legal helpline where necessary.
Additional useful resources
Additional Business Support from Government
Special Update from The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Stuart Young from the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy joined us on Monday 23 March to update listeners on the current state of play and answered questions from the audience. You can listen to the recording here.
We have been working closely with BEIS who have been a vital lifeline of targeted information and been a conduit for us to feed information through to Government on the impacts of COVID-19. This includes issues around supply, demand, specific company intelligence and asks of Her Majesties Government (HMG) intervention. Stuart is leading this engagement for the construction sector and co-ordinating intelligence and feeding it through our formal reporting mechanisms.
In the Budget (see our brief summary here) the Chancellor announced a package of measures to provide support for public services, individuals and businesses affected by Covid-19. It is our understanding through the Civil Service that over the next fortnight, more detail will be made available, as soon as this is published, we will be updating our advice and members.
A new Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, delivered by the British Business Bank, will enable businesses with a turnover of no more than £41m to apply for a loan of up to £1.2m, with the Government covering up to 80% of any losses with no fees. This will unlock up to £1 billion pounds to protect and support small businesses. This was extended in the speech on the 17th of March where the Chancellor announced:
- support for liquidity amongst large firms, with a major new scheme being launched by the Bank of England to help them bridge Coronavirus disruption to their cash flows through loans
- increasing the amount businesses can borrow through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme from £1.2 million to £5 million, and ensuring businesses can access the first 6 months of that finance interest free, as Government will cover the first 6 months of interest payments
- including new legal powers in the Covid Bill enabling us to offer whatever further financial support we think necessary to businesses
He also confirmed Mortgage lenders have agreed they will support customers that are experiencing issues with their finances as a result of Covid-19, including through payment holidays of up to 3 months. This will give people the necessary time to recover and ensure they do not have to pay a penny towards their mortgage in the interim.
More here (As soon as further advice on how to access is available, we will be updating members)
For businesses with fewer than 250 employees, the cost of providing 14 days of statutory sick pay per employee will be refunded by the Government in full. This will provide 2 million businesses with up to £2bn to cover the costs of large-scale sick leave. NB: Our understanding is that Government will be working with employers over the coming months to set up a repayment mechanism for employers as soon as possible. The current advice is that employers should maintain records of staff absences and payments of SSP).
A dedicated helpline has been set up to help businesses and self-employed individuals in financial distress and with outstanding tax liabilities to receive support with their tax affairs. Through this, businesses may be able to agree a bespoke Time to Pay arrangement.
There will be a £3,000 cash grant to 700,000 of our smallest businesses, delivered by Local Authorities, and worth a total of £2bn.
The Bank of England have also announced a comprehensive package of measures to help UK businesses and households bridge across the economic disruption that is likely to be associated with COVID-19. Interest rates have been reduced from 0.75% to 0.25% and additional funding will be available for banks to increase lending, especially to SMEs.
It is understood that the Chancellor is considering additional support for businesses to help them through this difficult time and further announcements are likely.
Furlough
The Government has announce the COVID-19 Job Retention Scheme, it is based around what is it and what is Furloughing, what is this and what does it mean?
In UK employment law, the term ‘furloughed’ has no legal significance and therefore the government will need to give specific guidance on this when further details are released. The strict meaning of the word is a temporary leave of absence from work. Unless the government confirms to the contrary, we should assume that all contractual benefits (e.g. holidays) continue to accrue.
In this instance it refers to an employment support package that will see HMRC reimburse 80% of furloughed workers wage costs, up to a cap of £2,500 per month via a grant to business. HMRC are working urgently to set up a system for reimbursement. Existing systems are not set up to facilitate payments to employers. Our understanding at this stage is that the employer can choose to top up, but is not obliged.
More information from Citation is available here (whilst we await formal clarification)
Insurance
In terms of cover for Business Interruption, for cover to exist members would need to have purchased an extension called “Notifiable Diseases Extension” as the government has declared COVID 19 a notifiable disease. This extension is usually only offered/bought in the leisure sector by Hotels, Restaurants, Sporting Venues etc, where profit is driven by foot fall. It is rare for this extension to have been purchased in the construction/manufacturing/wholesale sector.
Travel Advice
ACAS has published information for employees and employers, including information on simple steps to help protect the health and safety of staff, sick pay and absence from work
Request for business intelligence: How is COVID-19 impacting businesses?
The FIS is closely monitoring developments in relation to potential economic impacts on our members and supply chain and we are keen that businesses feed back any specific problems. FIS is feeding this information directly into The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and through Build UK and the Construction Products Association business intelligence on how COVID-19 is impacting our members.
The current position of BuildUK and the Construction Leadership Council is: “keeping construction sites operating is key to many businesses survival and that is our current priority“, this has been reinforced in a letter to the PM
If you are being impacted by site closures, please do send details to iainmcilwee@thefis.org
We are also working to identify gaps in the Government response and interventions that could support you. Over and above the announcements in the Budget, we have already fed in on only holding companies to common and manageable SSP and lay-off responsiblities (recognising that it may be difficult for some to meet requirements if they have gone above and beyond), tax holidays in line with announcements across Europe and accelerating processes to help businesses benefit from these measures.
If you recieve any legal or practical advice that you would be prepared to share or have specific questions, again email iainmcilwee@thefis.org
FIS COVID-19 Strategy
FIS is dedicating all of our resources to supporting members through this difficult time. Our strategy is focussed on:
- Inform: Targeted, accurate, clear and tight information based on filtering and abridging official sources and helpful information shared through the FIS. Delivered through website, daily bulletins and social channels.
- Engage: Reach out members on the phone to see how they are coping, check if our guidance is getting through and whether they have any specific needs we can meet. To ensure that they know we are there to help, to listen if they want to talk things through and reassure that they are not alone.
- Develop: Creating new resources, tools and template resources to help members to develop their own business continuity plans and spare their resources to deal with the day-to-day.
- Influence: Continue to feed intelligence in to the civil service and umbrella bodies to ensure that they are acting on the very latest information and feed in ideas around how support could be targeted for our sector. Critical is keeping sites open for as long as is practical and safe, should sites close the focus is emergency support for businesses.
- Re-enforce: Amplify all through social media and ensure that we get critical and targeted help to as many people in as many businesses as is possible
- Community: We are reaching out to the supply chain looking at how we can work together, sharing best practice and collating helpful advice and specific issues related to availability of products and logistics.
- Network: Finally we are reaching out to our wider network, working with other trade bodies to share resources and with members of our community to develop a programme of targeted expert webinars and resources that we will roll out over the coming week.
You can access our latest daily update here