Build UK’s update the industry amid the covid-19 outbreak 

Cash flow remains a key issue for the construction supply chain as the industry recovers from the impact of coronavirus. A new report shows that compliance with prompt payment rules on central government contracts has increased significantly since a new policy was introduced almost a year ago requiring suppliers to pay 75% of their invoices within 60 days. The government is intending to raise the requirement to 95% over time, and more than half of Government spending in 2019 was with suppliers that met this target, up from less than a third in 2018. On average, Build UK Contractor members pay 92% of their invoices within 60 days, and the latest payment results for more than 100 of the industry’s largest companies can be found on the Build UK website.

The government is keen to support SMEs recovering from the effects of coronavirus and is investing £20m in two free training programmes:

  • The Small Business Leadership Programme, which will be delivered virtually over 10 weeks, will equip business leaders with confidence and leadership skills
  • The Peer Networks Programme will help business owners that want to grow and develop their businesses to improve their problem-solving skills by focusing on common business issues.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is leading a UK-wide project to develop a digital waste tracking service aimed at tackling the illegal disposal of waste. The project is looking for contractors to assist in trialling the system and interested companies can sign up to the virtual panel.

The government’s list of travel corridors is constantly under review, and Belgium, Andorra and The Bahamas have recently been removed, meaning passengers arriving in England from these countries must now self-isolate for 14 days. From today (11 August 2020), Brunei and Malaysia have been added and people can arrive without having to self-isolate.

Transport for London (TfL) has updated its toolkit for the construction sector, setting out the latest travel advice for the workforce on sites across London, now that more workplaces are opening up.

Businesses should continue to follow the most up-to-date government guidance and for the latest updates please follow Build UK on Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any construction-specific queries or feedback on what is happening within the industry, please contact Build UK. 

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