The latest CLC People Survey is now live! Build UK is responsible for collating the results and we would be extremely grateful if all members could find 10 minutes to complete the online survey to help us measure the impact of coronavirus on the construction workforce one year on.
The deadline for responses is Friday 16 April and the results will help us to prioritise support for the sector.
Since the Grenfell Tower fire, companies in the construction industry have found it increasingly difficult to secure appropriate and affordable Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance. A recent CLC survey found that average premium rates were nearly four times higher at last renewal compared to the year before, and almost a third of companies were unable to buy the cover they want or need. Over 60% of companies had some form of restriction on their cover relating to cladding or fire safety, with the result that a third were prevented from undertaking remediation work on unsafe cladding.
To help the industry, Build UK has published a guide to PI insurance which provides an overview of what it is, why it is needed, and how it can be obtained in the current market.
FIS is reviewing options and has established a working group to look at provision in the Finishes and Interiors Sector, if you want to find out more about this work, please email iainmcilwee@thefis.org of call Iain on 07792 959 481.
The Prime Minister confirmed earlier this week that further coronavirus restrictions will be lifted as planned from next Monday 12 April, after the data confirmed that the Government’s ‘four tests’ had been met. He also confirmed that regular testing will be an essential part of ‘reclaiming a more normal way of life’ and everyone in England will be encouraged to take a free COVID‐19 test twice a week from this Friday (9 April) as part of a nationwide testing programme which includes:
Individuals taking lateral flow tests at home will have to register their results online and must self‐isolate if positive and get a PCR test to confirm the result.
Any members interested in offering workplace testing must register by Monday 12 April, and Build UK has produced a guide on how to set up and run a workplace test site.
The Department for Education has launched ‘An Hour to Skill’ campaign which aims to encourage employers and the nation to set aside just one hour a week for online learning by taking a free course from The Skills Toolkit.
Although this is primarily focused on encouraging people to develop for their next step in career progression, employers may wish to take advantage by using these free courses to train existing employees. Statistics show 94% of employees stay at a company longer if there is investment in their individual career development. At the time of writing there are nearly 90 courses available.
These high-quality, online courses aim to enhance individuals’ job prospects, giving them easy access to skills that could unlock job opportunities in a competitive market, or help them get ahead in their current role. The Skills Toolkit features more than 70 courses designed by some of the nation’s leading businesses and educational institutions including Amazon Web Services, Cisco, FutureLearn, Lloyds Bank, LinkedIn Learning, Microsoft, The Open University and many more.
Learn about:
The courses form part of the government’s Plan for Jobs, which aims to help boost the UK economy as it recovers from the impact of COVID-19.
FIS has created a dedicated resource to help companies within our sector source training. As well as our active network of Approved Training Providers, through the FIS you can access a range of Continual Professional Development (CPD) and eTraining to support development of people and demonstration of competence.
The results of the first industry‐wide People Survey, carried out by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) in June and reported in Retaining Talent in Construction, helped to secure funding for the Construction Talent Retention Scheme. To understand the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the construction workforce, the CLC has launched a second People Survey. Another great response from all sectors of the industry will help to prioritise the support required by construction employers between now and the end of the year.
Please complete the online survey which should take no longer than 10 minutes by Friday 2 October. The information provided will be confidential with no company details required.
Guidance for employers and third-party healthcare providers on the regulations and legal obligations of running testing programmes.
Some employers and third-party healthcare providers may want to introduce their own internal testing programmes outside of the NHS Test and Trace service. This guidance will help them ensure that their testing programmes are as reliable and effective as possible. It covers:
Important: The NHS Test and Trace service is for those who display symptoms of COVID-19 or who have been advised to take a test by a medical practitioner or public service. Employer and third-party healthcare providers wishing to provide a test to staff must not advise individuals without symptoms to get a test from the limited supply offered by the NHS Test and Trace service, but may offer alternative private provision, in accordance with this guidance.
This policy note reiterates Scottish Government policy on the inclusion of subcontractors in a Project Bank Account (PBA); and reinforces it in practice through a notice to subcontractors.
1. This Construction Policy Note reiterates Scottish Government policy on the inclusion of subcontractors in a Project Bank Account (PBA); and reinforces it in practice through a notice to subcontractors.
2. Information must be available to and accessible by subcontractors to enable them to join a PBA.
3. This CPN applies with immediate effect and covers all current and future contracts containing PBA provisions.
4. This note is intended for all relevant staff:
5. PBAs assure two things for subcontractors working on Scottish construction projects delivering built assets to the public sector:
6. The former is good for businesses and their employees. The additional assurance PBAs give on the latter also make them good for the economy and society. It follows therefore that where a PBA is implemented it must be available to and accessible by subcontractors.
7. Commissioning bodies can both facilitate and expedite subcontractors’ requests to join the PBA by ensuing that the main contractor receives and conveys a note of the information and associated guidance set out herewith at annex A. This annex shall henceforth be incorporated as appendix I – 1 of Scottish Government’s PBA guidance document.
8. Please bring this CPN to the attention of all those staff involved in the procurement of relevant construction projects.
Government brings in law to ensure furloughed employees receive statutory redundancy pay based on their normal wages, rather than a reduced furlough rate.
Furloughed employees who are then made redundant will receive redundancy pay based on their normal wage, under new laws being brought in today (Thursday 30 July).
Throughout the pandemic, the government has urged businesses to do right by their employees and pay those being made redundant based on their normal wage, rather than their furlough pay, which is often less.
The majority of businesses have done so, however, there are a minority who have not.
Today the government will bring in legislation to protect workers and ensure all furloughed employees who are being made redundant receive their full entitlement.
Employees with more than 2 years’ continuous service who are made redundant are usually entitled to a statutory redundancy payment that is based on length of service, age and pay, up to a statutory maximum.
This legislation, which will come into force from tomorrow (Friday 31 July), will ensure that employees who are furloughed receive statutory redundancy pay based on their normal wages, rather than a reduced furlough rate.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma said:
The government is doing everything it can to protect people’s incomes through our Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which is now supporting over 9 million jobs across the UK.
We urge employers to do everything they can to avoid making redundancies, but where this is unavoidable it is important that employees receive the payments they are rightly entitled to.
New laws coming into force today will ensure furloughed workers are not short-changed if they are ever made redundant – providing some reassurance for workers and their families during this challenging time.
These changes will also apply to Statutory Notice Pay, which is where employees must be given a notice period before their employment ends, varying from at least one week’s notice up to 12 weeks’ notice, depending on how long they have worked for their employer. During this notice period, employees must be paid.
This legislation will also ensure that notice pay is based on normal wages rather than their wages under the CJRS.
Other changes coming into force will ensure basic awards for unfair dismissal cases are based on full pay rather than wages under the CJRS.
In March, the government established an unprecedented package of support for companies of all sizes across sectors, to protect businesses, jobs and incomes during the pandemic.
Through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, more than one million loans have been approved.
We have also introduced a new Job Retention Bonus to encourage firms to keep on furloughed workers, with a one-off payment of £1,000 being provided to UK employers for every furloughed employee who remains continuously employed through to the end of January 2021.
The Government has moved to secure vital talent needed to build the UK’s recovery from Covid-19, protecting employment for thousands of people working in the construction sector.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, today (8 July) announced the launch of the Construction Talent Retention Scheme, a partnership between the Government and industry to secure essential talent in the UK construction sector.
The Construction Talent Retention Scheme, to formally launch later this month, will be an online portal that supports redeployment of staff at risk of redundancy across the sector, while also enabling temporary employee loans between businesses. The Scheme give displaced workers from other sectors a route to find new employment in construction.
Construction Leadership Council (CLC) co-chair Andy Mitchell added: “This is a great example of what we can achieve when we work collaboratively with Government and we look forward to continuing in this spirit when the proposals and recommendations of our broader Roadmap to Recovery are published. In the meantime we will work with our members and industry stakeholders to encourage the scheme’s use and success.”
Association for Consultancy & Engineering (ACE) chief executive Hannah Vickers said: “This is a proven solution with a strong track-record in other sectors, cross-industry support and pledges from our leading employers. It is vital we keep the skills in our sector to avoid a talent drain and is the only way we will be able to ramp-up activity to lead the recovery of the wider economy and deliver growth through new buildings and infrastructure.”
Group chief executive of Mace, and skills workstream lead at the Construction Leadership Council, Mark Reynolds, said: “The CLC’s Construction Talent Retention Scheme will offer a critical lifeline for the construction industry, it will help the industry retain and share our exceptional talent needed to deliver vital infrastructure and support the country’s recovery plan. The scheme is a great example of Government and industry collaboration during these challenging times for the construction sector. We are delighted to support the initiative as a real solution to protecting employment for thousands in our industry, continuing to build a better future.”
The not-for-profit programme now has funding secured until the end of the financial year, providing a free online platform for any organisation looking to hire, while ensuring that candidates’ skills and experience are given a prominent platform within the industry.
Businesses can register their interest in the scheme at: www.trs-system.co.uk/construction
Finishes and Interiors Sector CEO, Iain McIlwee added a note of thanks to the group who have pulled this together “Construction is one of the most people intensive business, but the erratic nature of the industry, poor planning and communication means that our talent funnel leaks. The underlying message from the CLC and behind this initiative is that people are at the heart of our industry and we must do all we can to retain the best of us to lead the industry forward. The challenge for any one business in an uncertain environment is how we flex and adapt as businesses around project and location. If we don’t start to work more effectively as a wider ecosystem to balance this then we continue to lurch from skills crisis to skills crisis and we will fail to get to the nub of the competency and emerging productivity challenge that we currently face. We look forward to learning more and working with our members and the wider sector to ensure that this platform works for the people and businesses in our sector.”
A Free Online course where you learn how to foster a culture of quality in construction with the CIOB.
Poor quality builds have a detrimental impact on the construction industry. On this course, you will tackle this problem with professional research and insight into the delivery of quality construction and development projects.
You will look at the current issues faced by the construction industry and how quality management has developed in construction and elsewhere. You will also address some basic practical steps that can be made to ensure construction quality. Upon completion of the course, you will become more confident at instilling a culture of quality on all your construction projects.
FIS Technical Director, Joe Cilia is one of the contributors:
“It was great to support the CIOB in the development of this course. The FIS PPP Quality Framework is central to all we do and it is great to get this opportunity to share it with the professionals from across the sector and promote these values more widely.”
Joe Cilia
For construction professionals requiring a more in-depth look at the topic and the practical tools and techniques to achieve quality, our 2 day course on Construction Quality Management is the perfect solution.
Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about this course:
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
For construction professionals requiring a more in-depth look at the topic and the practical tools and techniques to achieve quality, our 2 day course on Construction Quality Management is the perfect solution.
Martin McCabe MCIOB, C. Build E MCABE, CMIOSH, QTLS
Martin applies his years of experience in construction to create training that leads to real change. Chartered as a Construction Manager, Building Engineer and Health & Safety Practitioner, Martin has worked in a diverse range of roles across the industry and designed courses delivered around the world. He sits on the Chartered Institute of Building’s Education, Standards and Qualifications Committee and provides Quality Assurance for the CIOB and other awarding organisations. He consults in a variety of industry roles offering advice on Project Management, Health & Safety and Temporary Works. He has designed and run training programmes at the Royal School of Military Engineering. In 2017 Martin consulted on the lifting operations at London’s Natural History Museum for the blue whale main exhibit. Martin aims to facilitate learning that is relevant to each course delegate, so that the theory can be put into practice in the real world.
Today the Scottish First Minister (SFM) published the findings of a review by the COVID-19 Advisory Group on the 2 metre physical distancing rule. Their advice makes clear that the fundamental science around distance and transmission remains unchanged and that risk increases with proximity to an infected individual.
‘The risk of transmission will be increased if the physical distancing recommendation is reduced to 1 metre from 2 metres. This is not only because of the increased risk of direct transmission from respiratory secretions, but also because of increased surface contamination that would occur in indoor environments with higher occupancy.’
However in her update the SFM recognised that there is also a need to take into account the four harms as set out in our Framework for Decision Making. The framework made clear that, after the necessary condition of suppressing the virus has been met, decisions can be taken which seek to minimise overall harm viewed across health, the economy and broader society. What this means is that policy decisions are required that balance any increased transmission risk from changing the 2 metre requirement, given the current status of the epidemic, with the reduction in other harms that would stem from such a change to the 2 metre requirement.
‘In balancing these considerations, a value judgement must be taken as to whether reducing the physical distancing to 1 metre is a tolerable risk. If this is a policy decision, it must be accompanied by clear guidance on spacing in any indoor environment, emphasis on surface cleaning, hand hygiene and cough etiquette. Messaging must be clear that the virus is still present and a continued threat.’
In Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis: Update on approach to physical distancing in light of advice from the Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group, Published on 2 July 2020 the SFM sets out plans for exemptions and appropriate mitigations in certain sectors as Scotland moves to Phase 3 of the National Routemap (at present these do not include construction and will not impact on Construction Scotland’s Site operating procedures or additional guidance produced by the CICV Forum in Scotland).
Additional Downloads:
Advice Commissioned by the First Minister and Chief Medical Officer on Superspreading 2 July 2020
An update was also published yesterday from from Stephen Garvin, Head of Building Standards Division, on the Application of Building Regulations to Adaptations.
Letter re application of building regulations to adaptations, 30 June 2020
Advice note re application of building regulations to adaptations, 30 June 2020
FAQs re application of building regulations to adaptations, 30 June 2020
The Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has today announced a new industry qualification. The Drylining in Housebuilding qualification has been created by National Open College Networks (NOCN) to address the lack of a recognised qualification for the sector specific skill and support a more robust approach to training and measuring competence.
Housebuilding makes up approximately one third of the drylining marketplace with some businesses and individuals focused entirely on this market. The new qualification offers a flexible delivery approach and specific trained outcome to support both employers and individuals to by a step by step approach to demonstrate competence in a vocational setting. It ensures that those companies and individuals investing in training can be supported with funding even if they are not able to offer the full scope of experience required to meet the new English Drylining Apprenticeship Standard.
The FIS supported by industry partners created a working group to identify the skills and agree the level of training required to create a standalone qualification. The working group comprised Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) standards team, NOCN, Home Builders Federation (HBF) along with colleges and training providers.
The project objectives were to:
The outcome is an Office of the Qualifications Examinations Regulators (OfQual) registered training qualification that can be delivered on housebuilding sites at the point of installation with a formal trained outcome and national recognition. The training can be delivered in-house by a qualified instructor, this can be a suitably qualified employee (e.g. Level 3 Award in Education and Training (PTLLS), which can be achieved in 5 days) or an independent trainer. In order to ensure quality, sites will need the required resources as specified in the NOCN qualification criteria.
NOCN Executive Director of Job Cards and Services, Mark Buckton, said: “NOCN has been delighted to work with FIS on the drylining in housebuilding qualification. At NOCN we know that specialist trades are absolutely vital to the success of the industry and in accomplishing the aims of the nation, like achieving the Government’s housebuilding targets. The drylining in housebuilding qualification fitted perfectly into the new suite of construction training qualifications, where we have totally redesigned each trade’s syllabus and provided greater teaching and learning materials. NOCN is dedicated to ensuring we provide top quality qualifications for both specialist and the larger trades.”
This project clearly highlighted the need for a new qualification for dryliners in the housing sector. This is now complete and ready to deliver. With training providers and colleges working alongside contractors and individuals, together with the support of the FIS, housebuilders and the backing of CITB, it is unanimously agreed the form of qualification and method of delivery will provide a solution that the construction industry needs.
HBF Home Building Skills Partnership Manager, Sara Cartin, said: “The new qualification will help to deliver quality workmanship to industry-agreed standards for home buyers. It is another key part of our skills framework and, combined with the virtual skills cards we are developing, will ensure that training gaps are addressed”.
FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee, said: “It is vital that we move the conversation about skills onto supporting competence within our workforce. As part of this project, we interrogated the current training situation for the housebuilding market and it was clear intervention was needed to support change and help our community meet future skills needs. The key aspect of this is the flexibility that it delivers within a framework.
We often talk of sectors as though they are one harmonious constant, but this is not the case. From business to business and throughout the regions of the UK there are different practical considerations. Within this work we have been mindful of the employer-defined competency requirements. With the support of training providers, housebuilders, and specialist contractors, we have ensured this trained outcome can be adapted to meet specific workplace requirements.
We are grateful to CITB and particularly NOCN for their support in targeting and delivering this new qualification. We are confident that it will be a valuable, new asset to support the measurement and management of competence in the sector”.
The Drylining in Housebuilding Report can be downloaded here.
ENDS
Editor notes
FIS exists to support its members, improve safety, minimise risk, enhance productivity and drive innovation in the sector. As well as specialist publications, technical support and expert helplines, FIS is a dynamic network that brings the sector together through a range of events, awards and specialist working groups, all aimed at sharing best practice, setting standards and advising Government, that help its members to improve performance and win work. Members of the FIS are subjected to an audit and vetting process when they join and then again, every three years that underpins the values by which the organisation operates. To drive quality and ensure the future sustainability of the sector, FIS has a dedicated skills and training team and works with a number of Approved Training Providers to attract new people to the sector and deliver a fully qualified and competent workforce.
FIS is dedicated to collaboration in construction and a proud member of BuildUK, the Construction Products Association and the Passive Fire Protection Forum.
West Midlands B92 7AH
www.thefis.org
E-mail: georgeswann@thefis.org
Tel: +44 (0)121 707 0077
Mobile: +44 (0)7792 959481
The Drylining in Housebuilding Report can be downloaded from our Skills Hub:
Having identified over a 100 work items that are currently performed in the finishes and interiors sector where it was deemed difficult to maintain the two-metre working rule, a Task Group established through specialist trade body, Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) reviewed methods of work and assigned a ‘traffic light’ category (red, amber, or green) to each task. This has resulted in a Four Step People First COVID-19 Safety Protocol and supporting toolkit aimed at helping contractors manage their return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Four Steps are:
The Task Group set-out to review common tasks in the sector through a detailed survey, the results of which identified eight tasks (red) that cannot be done by following current methods and 32 tasks where significant change to the process is required in order to maintain the two-metre social distancing rule (amber). The Task Assessment Tool collates the data and against each task provides a suggested review of existing methods of working and controls for the two-metre rule.
Work is ongoing and the Task Group has been meeting virtually every few days and is supported by over 30 H&S experts from the sector through the COVID-19 H&S Task Group established through the FIS. Whilst new tasks can still be reviewed against the criteria, the focus of the group is now on developing clearer information on appropriate PPE, reviewing innovative ideas and exchanging and sharing best practice in order to support safer working across the sector.
FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee said “It is clear that the top down approach from the CLC needs to be supported by a bottom up approach through the specialist sectors, the devil is in the detail. Collaboration is critical at the moment. There is a lot of information out there, but it can be difficult to line up and lacks critical detail – this has the potential to lead to conflict and compromise. Some compromises could take us too far – our approach has to be people first. Beyond this, we are aware of the contractual pressures on our community and it is vital that companies have a formal review process to identify if people can get to site safely, the site itself is safe and that work that needs to continue can be managed safely. The easier we can make and the more we can support this review process, the less disputes there will be. The industry now needs to be better than it has ever been – for too long we have been overly contractual and this has led to risk avoidance rather than risk management. As we start to return to work we must leave the bad old days behind us, avoid the disputes, siloed thinking and tiered approach, instead focussing on finding ways to support one another, putting our energy into innovation rather than infighting”.
These resources are all available through the FIS website.
Howard Collins, Managing Director COBRA Insurance Brokers who has been working closely with the FIS added:
“The FIS Four Step People First Covid-19 Safety Guidance and Task Assessment Tool supports members and their employees with their risk management planning for returning to constructions sites. UK Employers’ Liability Insurance is designed to provide cover for an Insured’s legal liability for injury arising out of the Insured’s actions or failures to act where a duty of care is owed. The safety of workers is paramount in the minds of the association and its members, following the four steps protocol will help companies to protect their employees and demonstrate to their insurers that they have a considered approach to risk assessments.”
The four step protocol and task assessment tool can be downloaded from the H&S Toolkit on the FIS Website
Mike and I have been running Tapper Interiors now for 35 years, but this has, without doubt, been the toughest week yet – I am shell shocked.
The lack of clear guidance from Government has added to the pressure as we have desperately tried to follow advice and do the socially responsible thing, but increasingly mindful of the health and welfare of our people and their families. I think Iain summed it up well in the Telegraph yesterday when he said the ambiguity has made this feel like death by 1,000 cuts for businesses in our sector – that is certainly how I feel.
In the last 24 hours many more sites have closed, but not all – there seems to me to be little logic to this. Where safety concerns have been raised, we have seen instances where clients have reacted by threatening to impose onerous delay clauses.
I know FIS is feeding these concerns directly to Government (please send details in), but increasingly now working with members on individual cases and trying to support dialogue with clients and major contractors. The message from FIS is clear, if you cannot do it safely, don’t do it. If the necessary precautions are not being implemented on-site, concerns must be raised with client, but ultimately reported to the HSE via their whistleblowing service.
If you deem it unsafe to continue, refer to your contract and ensure that you provide the necessary notifications for delay or suspension – paper trails and communication are critical to protecting your business, but protecting our people is everything.
As a Director of Tapper Interiors, my first responsibility is to do what is reasonably practicable to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees (and other people who might be affected by our business). Get this wrong and beyond the human cost, what are the potential liabilities if we carry on regardless and people do get sick or worse?
I didn’t expect this mess when I agreed be FIS President, but I have never been more glad to be an FIS Member or proud of our organisation. They, guided by the Board and supported by our community have been a vital lifeline, helping to inform the decisions we as a business have had to make and even been that caring and supportive voice at the end of the phone. Together we are stronger.
Before this situation escalated, a theme of my Presidency was Rebuilding Construction and I want to leave you with some hope. As a sector we will pull through this and my hope is that it will present us with a new opportunity to rebuild.
I do believe a lack of clarity/understanding of our sector from our Government has intensified things, but we must also look to the contracts and behaviours and accept that the industry cannot and must not be allowed to continue in this way.
Stay safe and well, keep those in your care safe and see you on the other side!
Helen
Helen Tapper
Business Operations Director, Tapper Interiors Limited
FIS President
Construction industry chiefs have voiced their anger as firms scramble to understand if building sites should stay open.
Building work is being allowed to continue despite Boris Johnson ordering people to stay in their homes on Monday night. It has fuelled anger from workers who fear their safety is at risk, and from health staff concerned about overcrowding on public transport.
Several large firms including Taylor Wimpey and Travis Perkins have decided to stop working until the lockdown is lifted, highlighting the confusion ricocheting around the industry.
Iain McIlwee, chief executive of FIS, the trade body which represents fit-out companies, said: “We’re in limbo right now. Government communications have been absolutely woeful on this one.”
He said businesses were trying to understand how to balance their responsibility to keep people safe with the need to keep staff in work.
The message to builders has been to carry on operating until they are told to stop, Mr McIlwee added.
At the highest levels of Government, disputes were raging on Tuesday over why construction work was continuing.
London mayor Sadiq Khan said he told Mr Johnson builders should not be going to building sites except for essential safety reasons.
He claimed to have been overruled by the prime minister, who said he wanted “business as usual” wherever possible.
Mr McIlwee said: “For me it’s shocking that the Government didn’t give us a namecheck on Monday.
“Ultimately construction hasn’t had the clear guidance we need. It’s death by a thousand cuts.”
One piece of advice issued by the Government was for workers on site to ensure social distancin, where they stay apart from each other to stop the virus spreading.
But for many thousands of builders, the idea of maintaining a safe distance was laughable.
One construction worker said: “What about the canteens and [toilets] on sites, with 50 guys using two toilets and six tables? They’ve obviously not got a clue.”
Photos shared on social media of builders eating side by side in cramped canteens have generated angry responses from the public.
This close proximity has led large construction firms to shut down while social distancing rules are in force.
One of the UK’s largest construction projects – the nuclear plant Hinkley Point C – said on Tuesday afternoon that it would drastically reduce the number of staff it was asking to work on site.
Builders at Hinkley Point C were one of the groups pictured on social media, working in close quarters. Meanwhile, work on fellow megaproject Crossrail has been halted for now.
Even if the Government allows construction work to continue, many smaller firms will be forced to cease operations as they are unable to get hold of essential parts.
Gutterworks, a construction firm based in Redhill, Surrey, said that it is now unable to get important tools from builders’ merchants firms such as Travis Perkins, which decided to shut up shop after Mr Johnson’s announcement on Monday night.
Hossam Abougabal, a senior construction analyst at IHS Markit, said: “In the short-term, our view is that construction projects will be severely impacted by social distancing rules and restrictions on non-essential construction work.”
Mr Abougabal said that the outlook for the construction industry is likely to suffer from global supply chain disruptions, labour shortages and site shutdowns.
He added: “All this will compound a difficult year for the sector with delays, extensions and rising building costs likely to impact project delivery.”
This stress is already being felt. Housebuilders Redrow, Berkeley, and Crest Nicholson have all scraped or scaled back their dividends as the industry reels from chaos.
Some trade organisations have suggested that the construction sector has been allowed to continue because of the country’s housing crisis.
But Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said construction sites should close.
Plumbers and electricians can now only leave the house for essential jobs, such as burst pipes.
John Giazzi, marketing manager at the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC), said: “They understand their role as key workers in protecting public health, and they’re happy to do emergency call outs.”
“They want to do the right thing but also follow the Government’s advice.”
Mr Giazzi added that more support is needed for plumbers and electricians, many of whom are sole traders.
Published by The Telegraph
CITB Revise Support to Employers: 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. Heath and Safety test centre from Friday 20 March 2020 are temporarily closed they are working on alternative ways to test. All training at National Construction Colleges is cancelled. Skills and training fund will launch as planned on 01 April 2020. All spring engagements are cancelled, on-line alternatives will be issued soon. Although college provision will cease liaison with CITB Apprenticeship Offices will continue via electronic means. CITB Approved training Organisations are encouraged to relax cancellation and refund policies. 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 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.
News and decisions on Skills Build and WorldSkills are yet to be made.
All Ambassador events are postponed until the end of April 2020.
For more detail check: https://www.citb.co.uk/urgent-messages/
CSCS latest: CSCS are asking the industry to support the following temporary measures:
This is at the employer’s discretion until the situation has stabilised.
For more details please see: https://www.cscs.uk.com/applying-for-cards/covid-19/
Current position 11.1.21
Pearson Professional Centres continue to operate the HS&E test in England and Scotland. Due to social distancing measures the centres cannot run at full capacity and some are experiencing longer wait times than usual.
Testing in Pearson Professional Centres is currently suspended in Wales, this will be reviewed in line with any changes to the Government guidelines.
Please check your test confirmation email or letter for details of safety measures at the test centre including the requirement to wear face coverings, or for any changes to your scheduled appointment.
Visit CITB’s urgent messages page for further information on test centre availability across the whole of the UK.
CITB are working alongside their partners to increase the testing capacity, so please continue to visit the CITB website to check for availability and to book your test.
What steps are CSCS taking?
CSCS recognise that construction workers may face delays in obtaining a card while test centres cannot run at full capacity or are required to close. Therefore, tehy are asking the industry to continue to support the following temporary measures:
Keep informed
CSCS are issuing updates via the CSCS COVID hub here. Any enquiries related to this matter should be emailed to communications@cscs.co.uk
You can also visit the CITB website regarding the actions they are taking around the availability of the HS&E test and other industry training.
See full updates from FIS on the COVID-19 crisis on our daily updated page here
We will be exhibiting at Futurebuild from 3-5 March 2020 at the ExCel in London at stand C140 in Hall N8 in the Interiors area. We have some great membership and training offers lined up so come and see us and we will be delighted to talk to you. To find out more click here: https://lnkd.in/gZvfW9B
Find out how you can benefit from our Acoustic Verification Scheme which allows designers, architects and contractors to specify products, safe in the knowledge they will provide the acoustics performance claimed, eliminating any misinformation and misleading information.
Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/gffRK8B FIS members do come over and say hello and non members find out how we can help you.
Click here to find out more about FIS membership: https://lnkd.in/gbXY58b
In the next 12 months there are not one, but two, major changes for construction.
All construction businesses would be well advised to learn about them both. FIS members can read the update from JTC newsline November 2019.
FIS is delighted to announce the new Chair of the FIS Skills Board, Operations Director at Stortford Interiors (UK) Paul Leach
Paul will take up his two year non-executive role this month and will ensure that the views of the FIS membership are fairly represented through the Board and that our skills work is steered by and meets the needs of the wider membership.
FIS Sector Skills Engagement Manager Amanda Scott and FIS Chief Executive Iain McIlwee will confer with the Chair on matters such as:
Paul, a natural skills champion, has a deep understanding of the FIS skills strategy and has been at the forefront of FIS skills development including key collaborations in the construction of the Trailblazer Interior Systems Installer Apprenticeship, 22 new FIS Sector Skills modules, Project Futures and is a champion of skills competency in his organisation and the wider sector.
We are excited to be working with Paul and will capitalise and utilise his depth of talent, skills commitment, technical knowledge, competency and vast experience in our sector.
FIS Sector Skills Engagement Manager, Amanda Scott
With an eye on developing skills throughout the sector and helping others achieve competency in their roles, I am excited to be assisting and working with the FIS Skills Board and its members to achieve this, whilst putting something back into the industry that has served me so well over the last 42 years.
FIS Skills Board Chair, Paul Leach