Coronavirus update for construction: 28 May

Everyone in the industry will have a role to play in delivering the Roadmap to Recovery when it is published by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), and you can make a start right now!

To help understand the implications of a reduced workload on the construction workforce, including apprentices and graduates, the CLC is asking all employers to complete this short people survey. It should take no longer than 10 minutes and the information provided will be confidential with no company details required. The deadline is Friday 5 June and please share with your members and supply chains to provide us with industry-wide data.

Build UK Contractor members have reported this week that 93% of infrastructure and construction sites in England and Wales are now open, up from 86% last week. There has been a 13% increase in the number of projects running in London over the last seven days, rising to 94%. Output continues to improve and now stands at 79%, compared to 75% last week, with London making significant gains up from 68% to 77%.

Members that include housing in their portfolios have reported that 79% of housing sites in England and Wales are now open, a big jump from last week’s 67%. However, output remains a challenge on these sites at just 67%.

The situation in Scotland is still very different, with only 24% of projects open and output at 24%. The Scottish Government is due to publish guidance for the construction sector later this week as part of its route map through and out of the crisis which should support the reopening of more construction sites over the next few weeks.

The last couple of months have demonstrated that construction is a ‘people’ industry and we can clearly see that in this year’s Open Doors film report. Due to the impact of coronavirus, Open Doors 2020 went digital with a range of online experiences, from ISG’s virtual tour of Lords Cricket Ground to Willmott Dixon’s interview with their management trainees, showcasing the exciting range of careers available in construction. A huge thank you to all those Build UK members who adapted to the circumstances and helped make Open Doors 2020 a success.

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. 

There is a wide range of financial support available from government and, to determine which support your business may be eligible for, visit the government’s business support finder.