Build UK Daily Update
Source - Build UK
The Government has announced that coronavirus (COVID‐19) testing has been extended to anyone who goes into work because they cannot work from home and is showing symptoms of coronavirus. This includes construction workers, as well as people they live with who have symptoms, and there are two ways to arrange a test:
- Self‐referral ‐ enables workers and members of their households who have symptoms to book a test directly using the online system
- Employer referral ‐ allows employers to refer workers for a test via a secure portal. Employers will need to obtain a login by emailing portalservicedesk@dhsc.gov.uk with their organisation name, nature of their business, region, and names and email addresses for two users. Contractors may find it more efficient for clients already registered for their essential workers to request the test on their behalf.
Build UK Contractor members are continuing to reopen sites and reported this week that almost 70% of their sites are open in England and Wales. The majority are construction (81%) and infrastructure (78%) sites, with members that include housing in their portfolios confirming that less than half of their housing sites (46%) are open for business. Productivity on construction and infrastructure sites is averaging 67%, with London construction sites proving to be a particular challenge at just 56% output being achieved.
Information from Build UK Partner, Builders' Conference, which collects data on construction contracts across the UK, is showing the impact of coronavirus on the number and value of contracts awarded.