The new Bounce Back Loans scheme, announced by the Chancellor on Monday, will allow businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 and access the cash within days. Loans will be interest free for the first 12 months, and from Monday 4 May, businesses can apply online through a short and simple form.

The Government, which has been consulting extensively with business representatives about the design of the new scheme, will provide lenders with a 100% guarantee for the loan and pay any fees and interest for the first 12 months. No repayments will be due during the first 12 months.

The loans will be easy to apply for through a short, standardised online application. Loans should reach businesses within days – providing immediate support to those that need it as easily as possible.

The scheme will launch for applications on Monday 4 May. Firms will be able to access these loans through a network of accredited lenders. The government will work with lenders to ensure loans delivered through this scheme are advanced as quickly as possible and agree a low standardised level of interest for the remaining period of the loan.

Langley, supported by CIC, has produced a short video that demonstrates safe and responsible guidance for workers on construction sites operating during the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic, to ensure the protection of the workforce and minimise the risk of spread of infection.

This guidance advises how consistent measures on sites, of all sizes, can be responsibly and safely undertaken with adherence to the Government’s recommendations on social distancing.

To help ensure the safe operation on site within the construction industry , it has worked to develop site operating procedures, published by the Construction Leadership Council.

A new online learning platform to help boost the nation’s skills while people are staying at home, has been launched today by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

Free courses are available through The Skills Toolkit. The new platform gives people access to free, high-quality digital and numeracy courses to help build up their skills, progress in work and boost their job prospects.

These are the skills which are highly valued by employers and sought after in a wide range of jobs. With more people expected to be working and studying remotely in the coming months, the platform offers a great opportunity to learn new skills to help to get ahead online and gain the knowledge we’ll all need for the future. The platform also offers employees who have been furloughed an opportunity to keep up their skills development while they are at home.

Courses on offer cover a range of levels, from everyday maths and tools for using email and social media more effectively at work to more advanced training. Individuals will be able to access courses helping them to create great online content developed by the University of Leeds and the Institute of Coding, to understand the Fundamentals of Digital Marketing from Google Digital Garage and to learn how to code for data analysis from the Open University. All courses are online and flexible, so people can work through them at their own pace. Find out more information here.

Register to join a free webinar hosted by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy at 11am on Monday 4 May to find out how small business can access the coronavirus business support measures that have been made available to UK businesses.
The webinar will cover:

• Eligibility for small business grants
• Applying for a loan
• Tax
• Claiming for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

You will have the opportunity to ask questions during the webinar.

The View a recording of the HMRC webinar here.

The government has announced an unprecedented package of measures to provide the critical support needed by individuals, families and businesses, through the economic disruption caused by COVID-19. Find out more here.

The Construction Industry Council will be launching its Low Value Disputes Model Adjudication Procedure (CIC LVD MAP) on 1st May 2020 via a webinar at 2pm.

The webinar will feature presentations by Rt Hon Nick Raynsford Chairman of CICAIR, Niall Lawless Chair of the CIC ADR Management Board and Fergus Harradence, Deputy Director for Construction, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Please click here to find out more and register.

Business Loans and finance (Wednesday 29 April 2020, 12.00pm)
ACE Advisory Board member, former banker, and special advisor to the Chancellor Alistair Darling, Geoffrey Spence joins Hannah Vickers to discuss the new financial support made available to businesses, as well as some traditional finance options.

Improving cashflow through tax credits (Wednesday 6 May, 12.00pm)
Mark Smith, Innovation Incentives Partner of ACE affiliate Ayming joins us to discuss how R&D tax credits can release the hidden cash trapped in your working capital, helping your business through the weeks and months ahead.

What does recovery look like? (Tuesday 12 May, 12.00pm)
Andy Mitchell, chief executive of Tideway and chair of the Construction Leadership Council and Alasdair Reisner, chief executive of CECA join Hannah Vickers to discuss what a future recovery looks like for our industry, Government and society.

Support the fight against coronavirus

The Construction Leadership Council is in touch with NHS London Hospitals Trust to help the NHS with urgently needed PPE.  A summary of the equipment required is as follows:

• FFP3 Respirator Masks
• Full Face Visors (disposable)
• Full Face Visors (reusable)
• Safety Goggles/Glasses
• Hand Sanitiser
• Full Body (Hazardous Material) Suits
• Logistics/Transport support

If you are able to provide some of these essential pieces of equipment, please get in touch with Graham Watts (gwatts@cic.org.uk).