Construction industry fears over maintaining output

17/03/2020 | DOMINIC BROWNE

The construction industry is working with the Government on how best to maintain critical output throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

A spokesperson for business department BEIS confirmed that government was in dialogue with the construction industry about the potential impacts and how to mitigate them.

The spokesperson said: 'The UK is extremely well prepared for these types of outbreaks; we are taking all necessary precautions to protect the public, including engaging with industry and the business community to discuss their preparedness planning.'

Government is advising businesses to build their own resilience by reviewing their business continuity, developing an understanding on the potential impacts to their supply chains or other factors critical to their operations and following the advice for employers available on GOV.UK.

Speaking to Transport Network, Alasdair Reisner, chief executive of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), outlined the dangers facing the sector.

'The priority, of course, is to look after workers. Clearly, it's important we recognise when workers are infected or potentially infected and support their isolation. This is very much a developing situation. We are trying to co-ordinate activities across the sector,' he said.

'There is a big challenge to maintain productivity; how and if we can.'

The infrastructure sector is a £100bn industry in the UK alone; however its contractors do not tend to hold large reserves. If 'business critical' worksites close down, even large companies face a torrid future.

'Any halt in output will have a pretty devastating effect. We are in a different world to anything we have experienced before. It is not like 2008.'

Business critical work is distinct from 'safety critical' projects, which are seen as vital to the nation.

Together with Build UK, CECA has already asked the Government to identify 'safety critical work on the infrastructure network that is essential and must be continued'.

It also is seeking confirmation of 'arrangements and prompt payment for this work'.

No official advice appears to have been released yet; however CECA is working to provide guidance to the Government, which has an established and significant workstream on critical infrastructure.

'Government does consider how it will maintain infrastructure in the case of extraordinary events, and a global pandemic will be on that risk register,' Mr Reisner said.

The amount of financial support the infrastructure sector might need is currently hard to estimate but would almost certainly run into billions.

Mr Reisner said: 'We are currently doing work on what the financial support will be. The reality is the ask is so huge it's difficult to know.'

He suggested that the kind of actions taken by Frech president Emmanuel Macron would probably be necessary.

President Macron impressed last night in his live address, where he described the situation as a 'war' and promised a £300bn cash injection to the French economy and the suspension of payments on bills such as utilities.  He also vowed that no business would go bankrupt.

The Government said it is closely monitoring developments in relation to potential economic impacts on the UK economy and individual businesses and supply chain and we are keen that businesses feedback any specific concerns via their business relationship managers.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Senior Civil Engineer - Major Projects x 4

£45,894.00 - £54,952.00
We are looking for experienced engineers to help us progress a number of key projects and programmes Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Technician - Maintenance

£31001.0000 - £36471.0000 per annum
Essex Highways is responsible for managing and maintaining one of the largest highway networks in the country
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Highways Contract Engineer

£46,731 - £49,764
The team helps provide a safe road network that operates efficiently and effectively.  Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Principal Transport Planner

£46,731 - £49,764 (pro-rata)
We are looking for an experienced professional to join us on a six-month temporary contact as a Principal Transport Planner. Kettering, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Highways Maintenance Operative Broughton, Brigg
Recruiter: Amey

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
The team includes approximately 60 directly employed HCC people Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council

Principal Construction Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Principal Construction Manager Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Quality Technician

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Quality Technician Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)

£42679.0000 - £50211.0000 per annum
Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)Permanent, Full Time£43,960 to £51,718 per annum*Location
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Project Manager (Major Projects)

£44,711 - £47,754
Are you an experienced project professional or engineer with looking to take the next step in your career? Halifax, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Roads

£45,894 - £54,952
Are you an experienced engineer looking to support the Scottish Government’s national objectives. Scotland
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Project Team Manager

£55,147 to £60,676 per annum
We are pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for a role as Design Team Manager Norwich, Norfolk
Recruiter: Norfolk County Council

Clerk of Works

GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Assistant Projects Engineer

GRADE 06 (£29,093 - £32,654),GRADE 07 (£33,366 - £37,035), GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Principal Engineer - Traffic Management

£45,718 - £48,710 per annum
At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose – to improve people’s lives. Bath, Somerset
Recruiter: Bath & North East Somerset Council

Vehicle Technician - Improver

£28,624 - £30,060
Transport Services is responsible for all aspects of transport and related services Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Programme Delivery Office Administrator

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services to make them fit for the future Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Support Officer - Highways Asset Management Systems

£31,586 - £34,314
We are a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to maintaining and improving our highway infrastructure. Lincolnshire
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Electrical Engineer

Grade 9 £34,314 to £37,938 - Grade 10 £37,035 to £40,476 - Grade 11 £39,513 to £43,693 - Grade 12 £42,708 to £46,731 p.a.
The Construction Consultancy Services (CCS) team provide client-side construction consultancy services across a range of professional disciplines to d Durham
Recruiter: Durham County Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW