BUSINESS HELPDESK HELP DESK
THE CORONOVIRUS CONUNDRUM: TO OPEN OR TO CLOSE?
Builders merchants are a vital part of the construction supply chain, so should they remain open in order to supply their customers or close in order to limit the chance of exposure to the coronavirus by staff and customers?
T
he Builders Merchants Federation obtained some clarification from BEIS about the role that merchants can play in the construction supply chain
during the current coronavirus pandemic. They have a number of advantages. Firstly, they are environmentally friendly. Less paper is better when it comes to practicing sustainability and receipt paper is one of the easiest things to cut out of day to day operations.
During last month’s Construction
Leadership Council Taskforce briefing BEIS confirmed that merchants are a vital part of the construction supply chain and that it is important that they continue to support the construction industry to operate on sites, and to provide the link between product manufacturers and the firms and tradespeople that use and install the products they make.
The advice issued by BEIS stated:
• builders merchants should continue to operate, and to provide a key service to their customers, but do this taking account of the guidance provided by Public Health England; • online and delivery services can operate as normal, although drivers should seek to follow advice on social distancing, and avoid close contact with customers;
• where firms operate stores, they should consider how to manage ordering and collection systems and store operations to observe PHE guidance including social distancing, and on cleaning and hygiene, including of staff welfare facilities, to minimise the risks of transmitting coronavirus; and
• merchants open to the public should consider whether to continue to allow this during the period when restrictions are in place, and if this is necessary, should consider restrictions on the number of people in their stores at any one time, and how to improve cleaning and hygiene within stores to minimise the risk of transmitting coronavirus.
Most builders merchants, however, have closed their trade counters to visitors and
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
collect business, limiting sales to delivery customers who order by phone or online. The Builders Merchants Federation website,
www.bmf.org.uk, is a source of up-to-date information and sign posting to government websites for advice on what to do in a range of situations from VAT to furloughing as required. Members are also getting bi-weekly bulletins to help them make right decisions for their staff customers and business.
Merchants working together One of the things that merchants are set up to do is receiving goods inwards and delivering them somewhere else. It was that skill that Ray Stafford, managing director of plumbers merchant Williams & Co, thought could be brought into play to help people during the coronavirus lockdown.
“ Virus we can unite and make an impact fast, to
With Trades Again With Trades Against The
get donations to people in need.
Williams & Co and other members of the BMF across the UK have, therefore, joined forces to offer a united front in response to the COVOID-19 crisis.
‘Trades Against The Virus’ has been set-up to give tradespeople a recognised route to support vulnerable people in need, using the extensive merchant network to help replenish stocks in food banks nationwide.
Branches large and small have already pledged their support for the scheme. Companies including Jewson, Travis Perkins, Buildbase and PTS are among those signing- up to the cause, ensuring the length of breadth of the UK is supported by the initiative.
The idea was for all the participating April 2020 ”
merchants to act as drop-off points for their trade customers, including builders, plumbers, heating engineers, roofers and joiners, to bring store-cupboard basics, ready for transportation to a local foodbank.
Stafford said: “The idea is to boost the stocks in the nation’s food banks during this time of crisis. Many food banks have already run out of items, and others are struggling to help their clients, who are among the most vulnerable in our society. Recent supermarket shortages are also adding to the pressure. The country needs help quickly and effectively. With thousands of stores across the nation, vans, drivers and a strong customer base, the UK’s network of builders’ merchants is well- placed to deliver a targeted approach, quickly and effectively.”
Stafford and his team are directing those merchants taking part to their local food bank through the Trussell Trust website, https://
www.trusselltrust.org/ or suggesting they support facilities they know drawing on their own community knowledge. The merchants will then deliver the provisions, using
whatever social distancing protocols the food banks recommend.
He said: “In my experience, tradespeople are incredibly generous and will want to do their bit in these difficult times. With ‘Trades Against The Virus,’ we can unite and make an impact fast, to get the donations to people in need.”
John Newcomb, Chief Executive of the BMF, said: “The unique nature of the BMF network, with so many sites across the UK, transportation capability and community- minded staff and customers, puts them in pole position to make a difference to those people most in need at this difficult time. The initiative is also being supported by the Band of Builders, a charity set up by tradespeople to help members of the UK construction industry battling illness or injury. They are publicising the campaign to their 10,000 members.
More information is available at
https://tradesagainstthevirus.wordpress. com/2020/03/23/trades-against-the-virus/ BMJ
13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
