Careys questions why sites are still open

The founders of one of London’s best-known subcontractors have ramped up the pressure on firms continuing to operate sites by saying it would never ask its staff to do something they wouldn’t do themselves.

The firm is working on a string of high-profile schemes in the capital including the One Nine Elms residential twin-tower scheme in Battersea, being built by Multiplex for Chinese developer R&F, and another Multiplex job, a mixed-use scheme at Marble Arch called Marble Arch Place being developed by Almacantar.

In a statement, the firm, which carried out concrete works on the 22 Bishopsgate tower (pictured) in the City of London and which is also carrying out work on the £1.1bn East Bank project in east London, said: “We started the Carey Group 50 years ago and believed then as we do today, that we would never ask another person to do anything that we wouldn’t do ourselves.

“To ask our people to continue using public transport, working on crowded sites and sharing welfare and canteen areas, was something we would not be willing to do ourselves. To expect others to do this would be in direct conflict of the values our business is built on.

“At Careys we will never ask our people to put their health, or that of their loved ones, at risk in the name of work.

“We continue to be proud members of this great industry and will work with partners and communities in the coming months to get the nation back on its feet.”

It was signed by brothers John, Tommy and Pat Carey.

The £575m turnover contractor celebrated 50 years in business last year.

Earlier this week, Multiplex became the first major contractor to say it was closing its sites until further notice.