Industry briefing | Covid-19 – 2 April 2020

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

Updated Site Operating Procedures

The Government has confirmed that construction sites should continue to operate during the current Coronavirus pandemic. Alok Sharma, the Secretary of State for Business Energy & Industrial Strategy, confirmed that the Site Operating Procedures published by the Construction Leadership Council are aligned with Public Health England (PHE) guidance that must be implemented in the workplace. In response to feedback, the Site Operating Procedures Version 2 has now been published to include:

• Clarification that where it is not possible or safe for workers to distance themselves from each other by 2m then work should not be carried out
• The request from Transport for London to avoid using the tube network during peak times
• Updates from Public Health England to reference:
  • those living with someone who has shown signs of Covid-19 infection
  • those living with someone who is shielding
  • 60%+ alcohol-based hand sanitiser
  • keeping groups of workers together to minimise transfer of infection across the workforce
• The need to monitor implementation of the procedures

A copy of the updated Site Operating Procedures can be found here

CLC advice on employment

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has produced new guidance on the employment issues raised by the coronavirus crisis. The document provides the industry with everything it needs to know on furloughing staff, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-employed Income Support Scheme.

A series of in-depth FAQs are also included in the guidance for the two major employment schemes designed to protect jobs whilst the economy is in partial suspension.

CLC Letter to Prime Minister

The Construction Leadership Council wrote to the Prime Minister yesterday (1 April) setting out essential actions to secure the future of the sector:

• Suspend PAYE and CIS tax due to HMRC in April and May
• Defer/cancel Apprenticeship Levy payments
• Government to advise all public sector clients, regulated utilities, and firms in the private sector to expedite cash flow throughout the supply chain
• Support the directors of micro-businesses
• Direct all Government bodies to release retention monies
• Extend the £25,000 SME business continuity grants scheme to the construction sector.

A copy of the letter is available here

CITB update - Skills and Training Fund

CITB’s Skills and Training Fund has been refreshed and now has two strands supporting: micro and small companies (up to 100 employees), and medium-sized businesses (up to 250 employees) to become a wider offer for employers. CITB has adapted to the COVID-19 situation by amending the scope of activity that will be supported offering more flexibility on what businesses can apply for. The fund comprises of two streams:

• A Skills and Training Fund for small and micro-sized businesses where businesses can apply for a maximum of £10,000 (full details and how to apply) depending on the size of the employer
• A Skills and Training Fund for medium-sized businesses where employers with up to 250 employees are eligible to receive up to £25,000 (full details and how to apply).

Based on employer need, the fund will allow businesses to define then address their particular challenges. The focus has broadened from productivity and innovation, to helping employers with business sustainability and skill retention – key concerns for the construction industry in the extraordinary circumstances we find ourselves in at the moment. Employers are encouraged to contact their CITB advisor to discuss how they can access this support.

Mental health and wellbeing

Advice and information on how employees can look after their mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The Briefing has been prepared in collaboration between the industry’s leading trade and representative bodies: Association for Consultancy & Engineering, Builders Merchant Federation, Build UK, Chartered Institute of Building, Civil Engineering Contractors Association, Construction Industry Council, Construction Plant-hire Association, Construction Products Association, Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), Federation of Master Builders, National Federation of Builders, and Institution of Civil Engineers. We are grateful to Building, Construction Enquirer, Construction Manager, Construction News, Highways, Infrastructure Intelligence, and New Civil Engineer for support in distribution to the wider industry.

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