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

Whilst the construction sector has been working throughout the coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic, a lot of other businesses have remained closed. The prime minster has now confirmed that the government is intending to move onto step two of its covid-19 recovery plan, which will include outdoor markets and car showrooms re-opening on 1 June, with non-essential retail shops to follow on 15 June, as long as they are covid-19 secure. Any further easing of the lockdown restrictions remains conditional on the ‘five tests’ set out by the government continuing to be met.

Goods and materials imported for use on construction sites are not expected to be affected by the introduction of new measures at the UK border from 8 June 2020, designed to protect against a second wave of coronavirus infections. While anyone entering the UK will be required to undergo 14 days self-isolation, the shortlist of exemptions includes road haulage and freight workers to ensure that the supply of goods is not impacted, as well as anyone moving from within the Common Travel Area, covering Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. The new measures will apply across the UK – although each of the four nations will determine how they are enforced within their jurisdiction – and will be reviewed every three weeks.

Following publication of its guidance on covid-19 contractual best practice, which supports Build UK’s guidance on contractual issues caused by coronavirus, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) is keen to receive feedback on its implementation in practice and any suggested amendments that would be useful. Comments should be submitted to construction.enquiries@beis.gov.uk.

The CLC is expected to publish the industry’s Roadmap to Recovery next week, setting out the plan to ‘restart, reset and reinvent’ the sector, and we will share it as soon as it is available.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is running a series of webinars on making workplaces covid-secure, including:

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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