News

Changes to the planning system have been announced to help support 'safe' construction. These changes include allowing developers to agree more flexible construction site working hours with their local council, to make it easier to follow public health guidance on-site and stagger builders’ arrival times, thereby making public transport less busy.

Over £300,000 has been raised so far by the construction industry in response to the recent cry for help from the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity.

HM Revenue & Customs has announced that the purchase of personal protective equipment will be zero-rated for VAT for three months from May 1 until July 31, 2020.

Most firms in the construction sector have avoided making apprentices redundant so far, according to a recent survey by the Construction Industry Training Board.

After the intervention of the Competition and Markets Authority, SIG has abandoned the planned sale of its Building Solutions cladding business.

The Conflict Avoidance Pledge helps to drive behavioural change in the construction industry.

The CLC’s Product Availability Group, which comprises key manufacturers, merchants, Tier 1 contractors, SME builders and housebuilders, meets weekly online to help build confidence, dispel rumours and minimise supply and demand constraints.

SIG chief executive Steve Francis has brought in venture capitalist investors to inject £85 million into the business in exchange for a 25% stake.

Made for Trade, like most other businesses in the industry, is carefully managing its way back to operation, due to the lock-down measures forced upon the company by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Safe Return and Restart document is designed to underpin the Safe Operating Guidance released last week and produced in collaboration between Construction Scotland, Scottish Government and across industry.