BUSINESS HELPDESK HELP DESK COMMUNICATIONS CRISIS


As the trade body for the industry the BMF has made it its mission to represent members’ views and provide information they need to get through this crisis.


AT TIMES LIKE this the value of strong, proactive trade association becomes clear. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown the BMF has been one of 12 construction trade bodies working as a Task Force to co- ordinate the industry’s response. The Task Force, which represents large and small contractors, product manufacturers, merchants and associated professional services, was convened by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) to facilitate communication between the industry and Government via daily briefings. Its objective is to sustain the industry through the current period when restrictions are in place and to ensure that the industry is able to drive economic growth and prosperity in the UK once the virus has been beaten.


We are keeping members updated through our regular email bulletins and the dedicated Covid-19 area of our website, with more detailed guidance downloadable from the members area, for example new Branch Operating Guidelines setting out additional precautions for builders’ merchants’ staff to


follow. Prepared in consultation with merchants and the CLC and incorporating Public Health England social distancing and hygiene procedures, the new Guidelines are helping merchant members to re-open or expand their operations to support essential services and customers who are returning to site.


Collaboration


The BMF is also working with the Construction Products Association in heading up the CLC’s Product Availability Group to monitor the manufacturing and distribution of our respective members in order to meet the needs of construction trades in a safe and sustainable way. The Group is meeting every two weeks to keep a watching brief across the whole construction industry supply chain and will work together to resolve any challenges. Early shortfalls in plaster and plasterboard supply were the first to be flagged up under the monitoring system and steps are being taken to resolve this.


One of our earliest successes working within the CLC came following reports of delivery


drivers’ being stopped by police as the lockdown began. We secured a template letter confirming their Essential Worker Authorisation to continue, and our contacts at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) also liaised with the Home Office to ensure the police were briefed on this Government guidance. Another template letter that we have made exclusively available to BMF members is being used with great success to support applications to individual local authorities for business rate relief. The letter was drawn up after our BEIS contacts had established that local authorities could take the view that merchants may be included in the 12 months business rates holiday available to retail businesses in England if they are accessible to the public, rather than trade only. The letter has already helped to generate in excess of £30m worth of savings, which is a big win for BMF members.


In April, we held our first virtual Forums on Finance and HR, with over 130 people attending online to find out more


about furlough arrangements, tax deferrals, remote working and returning to a new kind of normal.


Our industry has suffered from public misconceptions about the work we are doing. A new Task Force website www. constructioncovid19response. co.uk is showcasing the role the whole construction industry is playing, providing vital resources to those on the frontline, safeguarding construction workers and helping local communities. If you have a great story to tell, please email details to me at john.newcomb@bmf. org.uk


These are unprecedented times, but please be assured that the BMF will continue do our utmost to ensure our industry is not only able to perform a vital role during the COVID-19 crisis but will also play a full part in the economic recovery once we have beaten the virus.


To find out more about the BMF’s Covid-19 support, its full range of services and the benefits of membership visit www.bmf.org.uk


BMJ


10


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net May 2020


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