CLC Roadmap to Recovery
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published a Roadmap to Recovery to secure the future of construction businesses nationwide, while setting the industry on a sustainable path towards recovery.
The strategy aims to increase the level of activity across the construction ecosystem, accelerate the process of industry adjustment to the new normal, and build capacity in the industry to deliver strategic priorities, including: increasing prosperity across the UK; decarbonisation; modernisation through digital and manufacturing technologies; and delivering better, safer buildings.As well as the safe return to work, the retention of skills and people are a key focus in the immediate stages.
CLC survey
To help shape the industry and support plans going forward the Construction Leadership Council has opened a short People Survey to collect high level, cross industry data on the impact of Coronavirus on employment levels. The results will be used by the CLC to inform the actions under the Roadmap to Recovery. All information provided is confidential and cannot be attributed to individual companies. The deadline for completing the survey is 4pm on Friday 5 June
Majority of construction sites open says Build UK
The latest Build UK Contractor survey at the end of May showed that 93% of infrastructure and construction sites in England and Wales are now open, up from 86% the previous week. The number of projects running in London had risen rising to 94%. Output also continued to improve rising to 79%, compared to 75% the week before, with London making significant gains up from 68% to 77%.
The number of housing sites in England and Wales open rose from 67% to 79% but output remained a challenge at just 67%. In Scotland, only 24% of projects are open and output is at 24%.
However, Build UK partner Builders’ Conference has highlighted the significant impact of coronavirus on contracts awarded and tender opportunities. Pre-coronavirus between May 2019 and March 2020, the number of contracts awarded each month averaged 608. This fell to 524 contracts in April 2020 and just 359 contracts in May 2020. This is 41% below the average and a decrease of 52% compared to May 2019.
Thee value awarded in May 2020 dropped by 60% to £3.9 billion. This is 35% lower than the monthly average of £6 billion between May 2019 and March 2020 and 24% below May 2019.
There was a slight increase in the number of tender opportunities available in May, compared to April. The number of projects open for tender increased by 16% from 272 in April to 312 in May. However, this is still 55% below the monthly average of 689 projects available for tender between May 2019 and March 2020 and 66% lower than May 2019.
Scotland outlines routemap for recovery
On 21 May the Scottish Government released its Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for decision making – Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis, which set out its phased approach to recovery. From 29 May, the construction sector is expected to be able to implement the first phase in its restart plan but will only be able to move to ‘phase 2’ following consultation with government to ensure it is safe to do so in line with public health advice.
The Scottish Government published a Construction Policy Note (CPN) CPN 3/2020on 29 May which set out matters for contracting authorities to consider when making preparations in readiness to implement procurement procedures for new projects and reopen public construction sites which are currently closed due to Covid-19 restrictions
This noted that this there was no instruction to re-open closed sites or to begin work on new sites, other than those previously defined as essential sites. It recommended that contracting authorities should take the steps necessary to review and reconsider their procedures for project initiation, procurement and contract management in order to be able to commence the restart of the delivery of construction projects to the public estate immediately upon receipt of such guidance from Scottish Government.
Advance Apprenticeship Grants
Since March, CITB has been paying, in advance, apprenticeship attendance grants for current second and third year apprentices to help keep skills in the construction industry amid the COVID-19 crisis. This was one of several ways that CITB has been relieving cash flow pressure on employers, including the suspension of levy collection.
These advance attendance payments will continue to be available for current second and third year apprentices but, will not be extended to those current first year apprentices entering their second year. The usual Grant funding and other support will of course continue.
Accommodation for construction workers
Build UK has teamed up with UK Hospitality to identify accommodation providers with space for essential workers. The Open Doors site provides details of accommodation providers that have space, as well as sites currently in need of accommodation.
WEBINARS
- Firex International webinars: Coronavirus and the Fire Safety Sector, Niall Rowan, ASFP CEO, & Life after Grenfell, Dr Andrew Taylor, ASFP Technical Officer
- Fire Safety Event Webinar: Government proposals on construction products & the impact of Coronavirus on the construction industry – Niall Rowan, CEO, ASFP
- BESA daily webinars
- Building webinar: COVID-19 and Continuous Improvement On-Site, 8 June, 11-12pm
- The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) is running a number of webinars which can be accessed
- Construction Industry Council Low Value Disputes Model Adjudication Procedure (CIC LVD MAP) launch webinar, 1 May
- The Construction Industry Council have collaborated with Langley Waterproofing systems to produce a guidance video on safe operation for small construction sites
- The National Federation of Builders (NFB) has released a video of the Minister responsible for construction, Nadhim Zahawi’s address to the Large Contractors Forum on 22 April 2020
INDUSTRY RESOURCES AND UPDATES
- British Safety Council
- Build UK Daily Updates
- Build UK construction survey results
- Builders Merchants Federation suppliers status
- Builders Merchants Federation merchants status
- Builders Merchants Federation/CLC Branch Operating Guidelines
- CITB COVID-19 Checklists and Guidance
- CLC Site Operating Procedures ver4
- CLC Roadmap to Recovery
- CLC Advice on Employment Schemes
- CLC Plan to sustain the construction industry
- CLC Travel to Work letter
- Construction Response to Covid-19 Website
- RICS/RIBA/RTPI letter
- CIC Post-Lockdown Survey
- Ireland’s Construction Industry Federation Guidelines
- The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is offering a range of free resources on its Coronavirus Hub
- Make UK, the umbrella trade body representing all UK manufacturing is also providing Coronavirus advice for manufacturers.
- TUC guidance on workers’ rights
- Unite Union campaign to keep construction workers safe
- Unite Union health and safety and risk assessment advice
- FIS health and safety advice
- Open Doors accommodation website
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE FOR EMPLOYERS
- Employers & Businesses
- Decontamination in Non-Healthcare Settings
- Public Sector Procurement in Response to COVID-19: Procurement Policy Notice
- Households on Self-Isolation
- Government England OUR PLAN TO REBUILD: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy
- Government England guidance on safety during coronavirus, which includes updated guidance on construction and other outdoor work, and guidance for factories plants and warehouses
- Government guidance for people using transport or working in the transport sector
- How to apply for testing
- PHE Social distancing in the workplace during coronavirus (COVID‐19) – Construction guidance
- Building Safety Programme guidance on remediation and Covid-19
- Scottish Government construction sector guidance
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for decision making – Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis
- Scottish Government Construction Policy Note (CPN) CPN 3/2020
- Welsh Government guidance on Taking all reasonable measures to maintain physical distancing in the workplace
- The HSE has also released a number of Coronavirus updates including:
- HSE statement on maintaining its regulatory functions
- Coronavirus: A joint statement between HSE, the TUC and the CBI ;
- Social distancing, keeping businesses open and in-work activities during the coronavirus outbreak;
- RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) reporting of COVID-19
- HSE Toolkits
PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACT GUIDANCE
- CLC statement on payments and contracts
- CLC guidance on contractual best practice
- CICV Contractual and Commercial Considerations for the Return to Site
- Cabinet Office Policy Procurement Notice (PPN) 02/20
- Cabinet Office construction-specific guidance to PPN 02/20
- Cabinet Office responsible contract behaviour
- CMA guidance outlining temporary measures to relax competition between businesses
- Build UK Guidance on Contractual Issues caused by Coronavirus
GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT
- Consolidated financial support information
- Corona Virus Bill and Statutory Sick Pay Provision
- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, step by step guide for employers, and online calculator
- Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
- Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme
- Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant
- Bounce Back Loans
- Government Trade Credit Insurance support
- Business Support Finder
- Scottish Government Support for Businesses
- Welsh Government Support for Businesses
ASFP ONLINE LEARNING RESOURCES