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Construction contracting update

Secretary of State for Housing Robert Jenrick announced major changes to the planning system in an article for The Telegraph recently. The reforms will introduce simpler and faster processes to deliver the homes and places needed in areas designated for

Further easing of COVID-19 restrictions good news for employers

The latest government update on the easing of lockdown restrictions in England, issued on 31st July and following a rise in the number of coronavirus cases, includes the following: whilst there are local restrictions on household contact in certain areas,

Affordable Homes Scheme Will Support Construction Sector

The Affordable Homes Guarantee Scheme 2020, approximated at £3 billion, will increase investment in providers of affordable housing and support the delivery of a significant number of new affordable homes. The contract for a delivery partner to operate the scheme

Executive summary of the NICPP 2020/21 published

Build UK has published an executive summary of the National Infrastructure and Construction Procurement Pipeline 2020/21 to help the industry understand recent Government announcements on the delivery of £37 billion of economic and social infrastructure projects. Build UK is a

FASET plans to secure worker safety for the new ‘workspace’

FASET plans to secure worker safety for the new ‘workspace’ With a mass shift to remote working since late March 2020, a number of FM experts and commentators are speculating that COVID-19 will bring an end to the office as

Scotland moves to Phase 4 of Construction Restart Plan

Scotland moves to Phase 4 of Construction Restart Plan Construction sites in Scotland have been given the go ahead to progress to Phase 4 of the Construction Restart Plan, with physical distancing being maintained or controlled close working with PPE.

CSCS introduces Prepaid Accounts Facility

CSCS introduces Prepaid Accounts Facility The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) has launched a new Prepaid Accounts facility. Prepaid Accounts can be loaded with credit and then used to pay for CSCS card applications. This means that CSCS card applications

“The biggest challenge to building safety for 40 years”

The government has finished drafting the Building Safety Bill, which it describes as containing the biggest changes to building safety for 40 years. The draft bill brings in new regulations in the wake of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire and

CLC issues three new guidance documents for construction companies

CLC issues three new guidance documents for construction companies The Construction Leadership council (CLC) has published three new guidance documents to help companies in the construction sector to manage the impact of COVID-19 on their business. The first of these,

New Government guidance on Apprenticeships

New government guidance on apprenticeships Apprenticeships are the lifeblood of the construction industry and it is vital that the next generation of workers has access to the latest skills, training and guidance to ensure they can perform all disciplines of

Government publication indicates commitment to ‘Build Build Build’

Build, build, build Following the publication of the National Infrastructure and Construction Procurement Pipeline 2020/21, the government appears to have made a solid commitment to ‘Build Build Build’. This is obviously welcome news for the construction industry and supply chain,

“Be Safe, Don’t Fall, Stay Alive”

“Be Safe, Don’t Fall, Stay Alive” The No Falls Foundation – the UK’s only charity devoted exclusively to the work at height sector – has launched a new initiative called ‘Be Safe, Don’t Fall, Stay Alive’. Despite the pressures to

The HSE announces a fall in working at height fatalities

Last week, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released its ‘Workplace Fatal Injuries in Great Britain 2020’ annual statistics. Headline figures from the report are: 111 workers were killed in 2019/20 RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations)

The government announces new plans to get Britain building again

Measures to help the construction industry to boost building and return to work safely are being introduced this week (commencing 22nd June). The announcement from Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick MP stated that planning permission deadlines will be extended, planning appeals

Easing of guidelines good news for safety systems industry

On 23rd June, Prime Minister Boris Johnson described Britain’s “long hibernation period” as edging towards its end. He was, of course, referring to the gradual relaxing of guidelines for living with the coronavirus over the last few weeks and in

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: a guide

The government has announced that from 1st July 2020, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is changing. The new document is available here: Claim for your employees’ wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: a step by step guide for employers