CPA Bulletin

14 CPA Bulletin > February/March 2021 www.cpa.uk.net In what was the most challenging year professionally most of us have ever experienced, I thought given the fast-moving pace of events in an already crowded news agenda, (as I type this it is early January) looking at what the first few months of 2021 for construction and plant-hire might look like would be, would be an ultimately fruitless exercise. Yet, learning from the events of last year and how the construction industry has developed and evolved in the last 12 months, provides an opportunity to at least, have an indicator for the coming year ahead. It is important to remember that, while the pandemic had a major impact on the economy and touched on most industries and sectors in one way or another, construction is one of the few sectors to carry on and operate, albeit on an emergency basis in Scotland for most of the Spring and early Summer. Plant-hire companies took immediate steps to make their depots, workshops, and hire shops COVID-19 secure, with guidance and information provided to clients on how to reduce infection and operate safely. Throughout the rest of the year, CPA members were able to demonstrate that they were able to continue to play a key role in the construction industry and provide a first-class service to their clients and colleagues. Building and maintaining on this progress through the difficult winter months ahead will be important in keeping construction open for business. Already there are concerns from some sub-contractors around being able to maintain social distancing requirements and we know that the authorities are keeping a closer eye on the levels of infection rates that can be sourced and identified as coming from construction and building sites. Given the continued pressures on the NHS and the rising levels of infection, there is a need for construction to demonstrate it is doing everything it can to continue to comply with COVID guidance and legislation, while also working efficiently and effectively. But dealing with COVID-19 is one thing - what comes next? The government has made it clear through its announcements across last Summer, that the infrastructure sector and the government’s ambitious plans for new homes, will remain key drivers of growth. While good news for construction and a welcome sign that the sector remains a part of the government’s levelling up agenda, that did not mean the sector was able to keep hold of its latest construction minister. Although Nadhim Zahawi’s new ministerial role in charge of the rollout of the UK’s COVID-19 vaccines is clearly important, it meant Kwasei Kwarteng became the 18th minister to hold the role since 2001, swiftly followed by Anne-Marie Trevelyan who took over in early January following the former’s promotion to the Business Secretary role. As the industry emerges from the pandemic and starts to resume working in a more normal way, forming a strong, collaborative relationship with the new minister is critical at such a delicate moment in the UK’s wider economic recovery and response. We look forward to working with the new minister over the course of the year. It was reassuring to see that the new business secretary has already taken the opportunity to write to the construction sector and praise its role in keeping the country moving and driving economic growth. Among the top items in the minister’s in-tray will be the need to work with construction on the new Energy White Paper, published in December. The paper revisits a lot of former commitments and pledges from former announcements, but it provides context and the structures needed to meet our government’s net zero future by 2050. The paper was broadly welcomed by the business community, with the Confederation of British Industry saying: “The Energy White Paper will give business further confidence to deliver new infrastructure, including electric vehicle charging, renewable power generation and low-carbon upgrades to people’s homes.” The challenge for the government is to work closely with construction in setting out the challenges and the opportunities in the net zero future. For construction plant-hire companies and manufacturers, this involves the development and introduction of technology that runs on alternative fuel sources and moves the industry away from fossil fuels. As part of this work and the government’s desire to be the ‘greenest ever’, the government set out its plans in last year’s Budget to remove the rebate for red diesel from construction plant by April of next year. At the time of writing, the government has yet to respond to the red diesel consultation which closed at the start of October. The CPA has led the industry reaction in setting out the challenges already facing the industry and why a measured approach is needed in removing the rebate. While companies are ready and willing to play their part in lowering emissions (something CPA members have already been doing), we need support and action from government in recognising the challenges, extra costs and risks this move will put onto plant-hire companies. With all four nations of the UK remaining in some form of lockdown, it is vital government recognises these additional POLICY: 1 POLICY After COVID-19: What next?