Covid-19

Construction sector specialist lawyer Shona Frame discusses some of the pressures the industry has come under since the COVID-19 outbreak, the potential contractual issues arising from this and provides some advice on how companies can take practical steps to protect their position. Last month the c

The Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) has reassured the industry that electrical apprenticeships and training are in safe hands following the introduction of a range of emergency measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. As well as offering ongoing help and guidance to all apprentic

Fraser Mitchell, planning partner at Shoosmiths in Scotland, considers the impact of COVID-19 on Scotland’s planning system and notes that significant challenges remain to maintain an effective planning system during the lockdown and beyond.   The COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to presen

The Scottish Government has announced new measures to protect business tenants during the current coronavirus pandemic, with the notice period for commercial leases extended from 14 days to 14 weeks. The notice period before a commercial lease can be terminated for non-payment of rent has been exten

Chartered accountant and business advisory firm Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP (AAB) has been collaborating with the Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC) to deliver a series of webinars aimed at helping businesses to mitigate the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. (from left) Graem

HFD Construction managing director David Shearer shares his thoughts on COVID-19 and what it means for an eventual return to work. Over the past weeks, construction has, like many other sectors, come under the spotlight as the world comes to terms with our new ‘normal’ amid the COVID-19

Mates in Mind has published a call for donations to its COVID-19 Relief Fund to will allow the charity to continue to respond with vital support programmes.

Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity CEO Bill Hill speaks about the current pandemic and how the government should be doing much more to support our construction workforce. In an industry where two construction workers take their own life every single working day and where 20% of all work absenc

Lyn Calder, a managing partner of Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP (AAB), has called on the government to implement a series of wide-reaching measures aimed at helping businesses to survive the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lyn Calder, who is also the firm’s head of deals f

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has set up a Facebook support page for furloughed workers in the building services sector.

Whilst Scottish surveyors were upbeat about the outlook for the housing market before last month, it is now clear that the current lockdown situation will have a significant impact for the rest of the year, according to the March 2020 Residential Market Survey from the Royal Institution of Char

Interserve Construction will today complete the new Nightingale Hospital Birmingham supported by 60 Gurkhas who are providing essential labour and distribution delivery, as well as helping to put the beds in place.

Morgan Sindall has stopped work on its Sighthill project in Glasgow after the Scottish Government ordered the immediate closure of sites unless they are supporting crucial work during the coronavirus pandemic.

Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey is to make advance payments to self-employed subcontractors under a new scheme aimed to help workers forced to stay home by the coronavirus lockdown. The company has allocated £5 million to its ‘Pay It Forward’ scheme which will pay out £600 a month

More than 400 staff at BAM Construct UK have been placed on furlough while the board and senior management have agreed to reduce their salaries by 20%. As its construction work declines with the coronavirus lockdown measures, BAM said it needs to “protect the future sustainability” of it