Both CITB and Government have set out the measures which they have put in place to support employers to maintain their apprenticeships in the light of coronavirus (COVID-19):

CITB

• CITB is paying apprenticeship attendance grants in advance, for second and third-year apprentices already subject to CITB grant support for the remainder of the year. These payments began on Monday 6 April and are expected to support 7,500 apprentices and provide an advance of up to £2,500 in attendance grants, per apprentice. Employers can apply for the grant on the CITB website.
• CITB has extended the advanced apprenticeship grant payment to include higher level apprentices in the final year of their programme close to completion in England and Wales, or at a key level in Scotland. This is to maximise the opportunity for these learners to qualify and add value to industry. Employers can apply for the grant on the CITB website.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and CITB have worked together to discuss funding rules on breaks in learning for apprentices and the ESFA has issued guidance for apprentices, employers and training providers. Further information can be found in the article Apprenticeship Levy – Response to Coronavirus.

• CITB has helped its apprentices return home from National Construction Colleges, with every CITB apprentice being contacted by their Apprenticeship Officer. Online learning tools, including functional skills videos, have been developed to support apprentices with their studies from home. These videos are available to all apprentices, not just those undertaking their studies with CITB.

Further information on how to register and access the videos can be found on the CITB website.

• CITB is urging all employers to contact its helpline before dismissing any apprentices and if you have any questions, please contact the helpline via email.

Government

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) is taking steps to ensure that where possible apprentices can continue and complete their apprenticeships, and  providers have the support they need in this challenging time. This includes:

• Confirming that apprentices ready for assessment, but that cannot be assessed due to Covid-19 issues, can have the assessment rearranged
• Allowing modification of end-point assessment arrangements, including remote assessments where possible
• Providing apprentices whose gateway is delayed with an extension to the assessment timeframe
• Enabling employers and assessment providers to report and initiate a break in learning where the interruption is greater than 4 weeks
• Confirming how to report breaks in learning, so that funding is not unnecessarily disrupted
• Confirming that for apprentices made redundant, ESFAwill support them to find alternative employment and continue their apprenticeship within 12 weeks
• Encouraging training providers to deliver training remotely and via e-learning as far as practicable.

Details on how to access the support outlined above can be found on the Government website or by emailing the Government’s dedicated helpline.

The ESFA has also published a video showing employers how to use pause & stop in the apprenticeship service to record a break in learning.  The video also explains to training providers how to record breaks in learning through the Individualised Learner Record (ILR).

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has published guidance on the apprenticeship levy in the light of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The guidance provides information on:

• Applying the policy on breaks in apprentice learning.
• Delays to end-point assessment (EPA).
• Alternative arrangements for EPA and external quality assurance.

It sets out details of specific support they are providing, which includes:

• Encouraging training providers to deliver training to apprentices remotely and via e-learning as far as is practicable.
• Allowing the modification of end-point assessment arrangements, including remote assessments wherever practicable and possible.
• Clarifying that apprentices who are ready for assessment but cannot be assessed due to coronavirus issues can have their EPA rescheduled. Apprentices whose gateway is delayed can have an extension to the assessment timeframe.
• Enabling employers and training providers to report and initiate a break in learning, where the interruption to learning due to coronavirus is greater than four weeks.
• Clarifying how to record breaks in learning so that funding is not necessarily disrupted.
• Confirming that, where apprentices are made redundant, finding them alternative employment and continuing their apprenticeship as quickly as possible and within twelve weeks.

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education has also published new guidance on the delivery of assessment.

The ESFA will be updating the guidance regularly and a helpline has been set up to assist with enquiries:

Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk

We are in exceptional circumstances, and are doing our utmost to keep construction sites operational wherever it is practical and safe to do so. Whilst the guidance from Public Health England may change in future, for the time being construction sites of any size that are operating during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic need to ensure they are protecting their workforce and minimising the risk of spread of infection.

To implement the Government’s social distancing recommendation, the Construction Leadership Council has now published Site Operating Procedures. We strongly recommend that these procedures are implemented by every operational construction site, with the aim of us having a standard approach across the industry that all firms and workers can adopt.

It is also vital that the health and safety requirements of any construction activity must not be compromised at this time. If an activity cannot be undertaken safely due to a lack of suitably qualified personnel being available, or social distancing being implemented, it should not take place.

View the full Site Operating Procedures.

Due to the urgency of the coronavirus pandemic, changes to IR35 legislation have been postponed by Government.

The proposed changes to off-payroll working rules will now be introduced on 6 April 2021, and will affect medium and large organisations in the private sector that employ workers through an intermediary.

Build UK has prepared A Practical Guide to IR35 Changes, setting out comprehensive guidance for construction companies who use off-payroll workers, allowing them to determine if they are required to apply the new legalisation and providing clear steps to ensure they remain fully compliant.

Please do get in touch via membership@builduk.org if you have any questions on the upcoming changes.

With schools and nurseries now closing across the country in order to reduce the spread of coronavirus, the government has asked parents to keep their children at home wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.

Schools are being asked to remain open to provide care for a limited number of children, including those whose parents’ work is critical to the country’s coronavirus response.

This list of ‘key workers’ has now been confirmed to include those required to keep transport, infrastructure and utility networks operational.

If workers fall within this category, they should confirm with their employer that their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service.

All training at CITB’s National Construction Colleges has been cancelled with immediate effect and the colleges closed. Current and advance-booked courses during the closure can be rescheduled or refunded. All CITB Employer Roadshows have also been cancelled.

CITB has confirmed a range of measures to reassure employers at this time, including:

• A comprehensive plan to support apprentices in the industry is being developed, with companies encouraged to continue employing any apprentices in the meantime. Information will be available shortly on the specific support that will be offered by CITB.
• Existing bookings of the Health, Safety and Environment Test can be rescheduled or cancelled at no cost.
• The introduction of a grace period for the renewal of SMSTS and SSSTS certificates for those unable to complete the refresher course before the expiry of their certificate.

Alongside this, CITB has relaxed the rules and sanctions that apply to Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) as follows:

• Extending the 10 day achievement upload rule within the Requirements for ATOs to 30 days.
• Extending the 30 day period in which ATOs have to submit self-assessment evidence against any full standards they wish to deliver to 90 days.

CITB has also published a list of preventative measures to help candidates combat the transmission of coronavirus.

Recent weeks have seen a growing number of confirmed cases of coronavirus, known as COVID-19, and an outbreak in the UK could affect the workforce and businesses across the construction industry.

Build UK partner Citation is providing ongoing guidance for members on managing the risks of coronavirus, covering some of the most commonly asked questions around HR, employment law, and broader health & safety concerns.

This is being updated on a daily basis and members are advised to regularly consult both sections of the page below to ensure they are receiving the most up-to-date guidance:

• Coronavirus – Your Questions Answered

Government Measures

The Government has announced a range of measures to protect people and jobs affected by coronavirus. These include making Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) available from day one rather than day four for employees advised to self-isolate, as well as offering a full refund to cover the costs of SSP for businesses with fewer than 250 employees, where staff have missed work for up to two weeks due to the virus.

A date for the implementation of these measures has not been set, as the legislation to allow them has not yet been introduced. Members will be updated as soon as the date is known.

View the full list of Government measures below:

• Budget 2020: Coronavirus Response

Monitoring the Situation

Employers have a duty to their workforce to assess the risks of travelling and working in affected countries or areas. Sharing pertinent information, such as specific advice for people returning from affected areas, is vital to prevent the spread of infection and encourage individuals to act responsibly.

As the threat of coronavirus spreading is a rapidly changing situation, employers across construction should make sure they keep up to date with government and medical advice available online.

The most up-to-date Government guidance for employers and businesses is available here, alongside an advice sheet on home isolation. Citation has also prepared a guide to temporary homeworking.

Hygiene control in the workplace

• Good working practices around hygiene in the workplace will help prevent the spread of infection. A checklist of best practice hygiene considerations would include:
• Providing hand-washing facilities and alcohol-based hand sanitiser where appropriate
• Ensuring work surfaces are cleaned daily
• Ensuring waste is removed daily
• Ensuring that heating and ventilation is maintained and in good working order

To reduce the risk of spreading illness at work, staff should also be reminded to:

• Cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or their sleeve (not their hands) when they cough or sneeze
• Put used tissues in the bin immediately
• Wash hands with soap and water often (or sanitiser gel where this is not available)
• Avoid close contact with unwell people
• Avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth with their hands if they are unclean

Build UK members can contact Citation on 0345 844 4848 or email for further advice and guidance, making sure they quote their Advice Card number in order to be authorised.

In light of the escalation of Coronavirus (COVID – 19) Open Doors Week 2020 is changing from being an onsite experience to a virtual one!

The mission of Open Doors has always been to welcome and showcase the industry to as many people as possible, but we need to make sure it is safe and responsible to do so.

Thanks to the wonders of technology, we are taking Open Doors Digital and offering a range of remote options for visitors to learn more about construction and explore sites across the country!

Here’s Build UK Project Manager Alice Cook to explain further!

We would like to ask all employers to explore “Open Doors Goes Digital” and encourage all visitors to look at the options outlined below. In particular, schools can still utilise the spot in their timetable scheduled for an Open Doors site visit to explore the fantastic career opportunities available in construction!

Open Doors goes Digital:

• Information for Employers
• Information for Visitors

We hope you understand the need for the change of plan and we will continue to share via social media and the hashtag #OpenDoors20 throughout next week, showcasing the great sites our industry delivers.

As always, if you have any questions please get in touch with the team.

CITB is keen to meet with Build UK members to share the impacts we have delivered, and to discuss our plans to continue that work.

The slide deck and notes included in this article provide a high level summary of the outcomes we have delivered for the construction sector, focussed on activity most relevant to the contractor members and specialist trade association/federation members of Build UK.

You will notice that lots of these projects have been sponsored and led by Build UK members, with funding support from CITB. This shows the close partnership that CITB and Build UK have developed to help meet some of industry’s needs. The slide deck also runs through the reforms CITB have implemented in response to the views expressed by Build UK in response to the previous consensus.

Over the next few months, CITB Levy-payers will have the opportunity to respond to our proposals for 2021 – 2024. Further information on this process is available in these slides.

If you would like to find out more about how we have worked with Build UK members over the past three years, or would like to provide any feedback please contact Andy.Barron@CITB.co.uk.

Mark Noonan

Industry Relations Director, CITB