CPA Bulletin

www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > February/March 2021 15 POLICY: 2 challenges. The next Budget, scheduled for early March, will hopefully provide some context and ideas around how the Chancellor wants to develop plans to remove the rebate for red diesel on construction equipment, while also helping plant-hire companies remain competitive. In the wider context, the Chancellor acknowledged to Parliament that the UK economy is likely to experience a double dip recession in the first quarter of 2021 as the latest lockdown takes effect. While the rollout of the vaccine and hopes for greater normality in the Summer remain strong, navigating a way through the present challenging economic circumstances is critical if the government’s wider plans for the recovery and construction’s role in it is to be fulfilled. Recovering from the COVID pandemic is one thing - dealing with the continued fallout of the UK’s departure from the EU will also take up a great deal of business resilience and effort to remain competitive for those companies who work with clients in the EU. The full ramifications of what the new rules and trading regulations mean for businesses are still to be fully understood. The CPA has already organised two webinars for members dealing with this issue and it is something we are looking to explore further as the months progress and more members move goods and equipment overseas. What is clear from initial research and discussion with members, is that more guidance and understanding is needed from government and the authorities to make the new systems work as seamlessly as possible. Members are clear that the EU remains an important market and sector to operate in. It is testament to the professionalism and reputation of the UK’s plant-hire industry, that EU based clients remain keen to hire from our industry. It is important to identify and overcome any potential barriers to trade that remain in line with the agreement the UK and EU achieved at the end of last year. Whatever happens over the coming year, there is much to celebrate and build on. The pandemic has thrown all sorts of challenges and issues that many of us never thought we would have to deal with. It is testimony to the resilience and character of our industry that it continues to operate in such unusual circumstances. The challenge for policymakers and the wider industry, is to build on much of the goodwill and collaborative working that has been developed across construction through the pandemic. Only by working together can we facilitate the lessons learnt in the pandemic and grow once normality returns. TOWER CRANES UK LIMITED www.towercranesuk.co.uk 2-3 Little Burrow, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 4SP 020 8238 7000 info@towercranesuk.co.uk