by Clair Mooney | Oct 16, 2020 | Main News Feed, Material Shortages
The impact of coronavirus has caused significant disruption to international supply chains and resulted in a substantial reduction in stocks of wood and timber products. The UK is currently experiencing long lead times, with limited availability for immediate sale, and structural timber and plywood are of particular concern. Members are advised to identify all elements of work that use timber products, contact suppliers, and look at how delays may impact project timelines following the end of the transition period.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 16, 2020 | Main News Feed
With 80 days until the end of the Brexit transition period, Business Secretary Alok Sharma has written to more than 600,000 businesses urging them to act now and make sure they are prepared. Regardless of whether the UK reaches a trade agreement with the EU, there will be guaranteed changes from 1 January 2021, including the ways in which businesses import and export goods and hire people from the EU.
In order to minimise any disruption, businesses can use the Government’s checker tool which will set out exactly what they need to do. There is also a free construction webinar on Wednesday 28 October at 11:00am, which will provide sector‐specific information on the actions businesses in construction should take.
by Iain McIlwee | Oct 15, 2020 | Main News Feed, Transformation
Last week was UK Construction Week, which is a great opportunity to step back and reflect on what has been achieved by the CLC in the past year. One thing that is very clear to me, is that as a result of the Covid19 pandemic, the profile of both construction and the CLC has increased significantly. I was particularly pleased to hear the Construction Minister, Nadhim Zahawi, highlighting examples of our work including the Talent Retention Scheme during his keynote speech at the conference.
The CLC has of course been transformed as a result of our response to Covid-19. We have reformed our structure and organisation; we have increased the tempo of our work in response to the crisis and we are working hard to deliver an Industry Recovery Plan agreed jointly between government and industry last summer.
Yesterday we published a progress review of work on the Recovery Plan. As co-chair, I think that it is useful for me to share my thoughts on the key milestones. Before I do that, I also want to highlight why the plan is so important. Firstly, it is a really positive reflection of a joined-up industry that is thinking collaboratively and strategically about our role in the Covid-19 recovery. Secondly, its content reflects the effective relationship that we have developed with government over the past five years, supporting key objectives that are as diverse as net-zero carbon, skills, and productivity. Thirdly, and most importantly, the plan is being implemented successfully in partnership, and it is making a difference.
Turning to the review itself, I find it a really useful summary of a plan that has many moving parts, all of which play a role in driving the wider recovery. Most of the focus is rightly on our ‘reset’ activities that are supporting the industry to get back on track. Many of these measures, including the Site Operating Procedures, the extension of Right to Buy and flexibility on site working hours are all pragmatic measures that have enabled firms in the sector to work as productively as possible in difficult circumstances. Collaborative work on payment terms and contractual best practice also appears to have made a practical difference to the way in which money flows around the sector. However, I am clear that the biggest achievement of the CLC during the reset phase has been the establishment of the Talent Retention Scheme. As Covid-19 has an inevitable impact on both firms and the people working in our industry, I have a feeling that the TRS will prove to be a real asset as we look to retain our skills base.
Whilst our focus necessarily needs to be on the here and now, I am also really encouraged to see progress on the longer-term Reset and Re-invent phases of the plan which aim to support the longer-term transformation of the sector. Probably the highest profile initiative at the moment is the forthcoming Government Construction Playbook, which will support a stronger and more sustainable relationship between our sector and our government clients. However, there is also great progress being made on initiatives associated with innovation in collaboration with the Construction Innovation Hub, and with building safety, net-zero carbon, and skills.
I am immensely proud of the work that has been achieved by my colleagues on the CLC over the past year. Through a common purpose and tremendous collaboration, I believe that we have taken decisive steps towards our wider transformation to becoming more productive, efficient, sustainable, and safer sector. By taking these steps we will be in a position to consistently deliver value to our clients. I encourage you to read our status report and our plan and to reflect on how you can engage with our programme to not only embed our recovery, but to accelerate our transformation as well.
Blog from Andy Mitchell CBE, Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council
CEO Thames Tideway Tunnel
You can read the Building Winter Resilience – New Guidance from the CLC here
by Clair Mooney | Oct 15, 2020 | Main News Feed
The COVID-19 pandemic had and continues to have a significant impact on UK construction, the sector’s finances, and its productivity but the industry has responded well. Prompt, collaborative, and creative action has shown that both individuals and businesses can restart and reset on a path to recovery. However, as we have seen across the UK, COVID-19 continues to pose risks to construction operations, even where sites are following government guidance. It is essential that firms and employees remain vigilant, continue to follow national and local guidance, and plan for disruption to operations, working collaboratively with clients and firms in the supply chain.
As the risk of disruption due to the weather increases and adds to these risks, it has never been more important for the sector to manage the uncertainties of the second wave of COVID-19 and the end of the transition period after Brexit.
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) now urges construction businesses of all sizes and types to strengthen not only their own, but whole supply chain winter resilience. Businesses are encouraged to ensure they understand, prepare, manage and adapt for potential challenges ahead.
- Safeguard people and assets whilst maintaining business operations – Implement and keep up to date with evolving COVID-19 Site Operating Procedures including the use of face coverings and local COVID alert levels. Encourage all to download and use the NHS COVID-19 App and ensure QR codes are displayed prominently on sites and in workplaces. (see FIS COVID Hub for more details)
- Recalibration and collaborative administration of contracts – Responsible and fair behaviour in contractual arrangements impacted by COVID-19 will support the performance and viability of contracts and supply chains. Recalibration of productivity under evolving safety systems and accommodating the impact of COVID-19 in existing and future contracts, ensuring cashflow is maintained and collaboratively settling disputes and financial distress will be essential for a sustainable industry recovery. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure payments flow down the supply chain, and vital that all businesses play their part by maintaining payment and by managing current and future contracts responsibly to preserve industry competence, capability and capacity. Extensive guidance can be found on the CLC website (sign the RICS Conflicts Avoidance Pledge here)
- Protect and retain skills of the sector – Firms should seek to ensure that as many of those in the construction workforce as possible continue to be employed during these difficult times. Subject to eligibility, government support will be available through the Job Support Scheme and Job Retentions Bonus. Support is also available to employers who hire new apprentices until 31 January 2021. Where redundancies are unavoidable, firms should take action to help their employees find new roles, in order to retain their knowledge and skills within the industry. Firms should register to use the Talent Retention Scheme, and use this where possible, as well as encouraging their employees to do so.
- Prepare for the end of the transition period on 31 Dec 2020 and beyond – Businesses should understand and prepare to maintain business continuity as we advance towards transitioning out of the European Union at the end of the year. Significant issues to consider and prepare for include the movement of people, movement of goods and materials, standards and alignment and data adequacy. Use the online GOV.UK checker to get started and keep up to date with CLC specific construction guidance and online seminars including the construction event on 28 October. Companies in the Finishes and Interiors Sector can also access the FIS Brexit Toolkit here.
- Updates on guidance – Construction businesses should register to receive updates from government in relation to COVID-19 and transition business readiness. This can be done by registering on GOV.UK.
FIS continues to support a number of workstreams through the Construction Leadership Council, including work on pipeline (through the Local, Social and Commercial workstream), movement of labour, standards and regulation and fair working practice.
You can find out more about the work of the Construction Leadership Council here.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 15, 2020 | Main News Feed
CITB has extended the grace period for expired Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) and Site Supervisors’ Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) certificates until 30 November 2020. Workers whose certificates expired after 15 March 2020 now have until this date to successfully complete the relevant refresher course; if a certificate is not renewed in time, the full course will need to be completed.
The Skills and Training Fund, which was expanded to include skill retention and sustainability projects during the coronavirus pandemic, will revert to supporting productivity and innovation projects only from 1 December 2020. There is detailed guidance for both small and micro‐sized and medium‐sized businesses on how to apply.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 15, 2020 | Main News Feed
CITB has asked for employer feedback throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to enable them to support the construction industry where it matters most and to shape the work they do. This is an opportunity to say where CITB funds are directed in order to make the most difference for you.
As part of the review of the support CITB offers, they are inviting organisations and their employees to share their views on training and the Grants Scheme. Employer feedback matters and this is your opportunity to help develop what CITB offers in the future. Please complete the feedback form, which should take no longer than 10 minutes, by 5pm on 2 November 2020.
