Covid-19 Update: 24 April 2020

Introduction

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 crisis for our sector.

Business Support finder

The UK government has published a 'support finder' tool to help businesses and self-employed people across the UK to quickly and easily determine what financial support is available to them during the coronavirus andemic.

The finder tool asks business owners to fill out a simple online questionnaire, which can take minutes to complete, and they will then be directed to a list of all the financial support they may be eligible for.

Coronavirus Testing

The UK government has published guidance on accessing coronavirus testing. Testing is available to essential workers, including some roles in the utilities and transport sectors where those involved are responsible for ensuring networks remain operational. Details can be found here.

Electrical wholesalers

The Electrical Distributors' Association has published details of which of its wholesaler members are operating during the Covid-19 crisis. Details can be found here.

Implementation of faster payment

The Construction Coronavirus Task Force is researching the effectiveness of measures to support the industry through the current crisis. One welcome intervention by the UK government has been the publication of Procurement Policy Note 2/20 Supplier Relief due to Covid-19, which asks all public sector clients to review their supply chain and put in place measures to support cash flow for at risk suppliers.

This may include accelerated payment, forward ordering and payment in advance. The note also calls for any payment made to be cascaded down the supply chain.

We are keen to understand how widely these recommendations have been implemented. Please can you provide details of the public customers that you work for and whether they have put in place these measures. 

All individual responses will remain confidential, and will be used to support cross-industry work to help businesses during the current crisis. 

Please provide details to CECA chief executive Alasdair Reisner alasdairreisner@ceca.co.uk

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.