Aluminium Extra
CAB EVOLVES KEY WEBINAR
SUPPORT PROGRAMME
CAB CEP Justin Ratcliffe looks at the need for flexibility
and adaptability in the current pandemic environment
Geraldine Fleming Driver Trett will be presenting a series
of CAB 1 hour webinars on contractual awareness
» THE IMMEASURABLY
challenging times that we face
have created a level of uncertainty
across the whole of the UK
Construction sector as companies
urgently seek clarification of
various pieces of government
advice and information
surrounding the Covid-19
pandemic. First and foremost is
the need for companies to keep
staff and customers safe. There
has also never been a greater need
for clear, concise information and
communication.
For its part, CAB has focused
on communicating a wide variety
of information to members in the
form of a hub on its website and
a major series of regular webinars
with leading speakers in the
absence of face to face networking
events.
Developing a detailed
contractual awareness webinar
series has been key in supporting
aluminium in building sector.
The series presented by Geraldine
Fleming, Operations Director,
Driver Trett has proved incredibly
successful with nearly 140
members logging on for the
sessions to date which have
considered areas such as:
• Covid-19 - Key Contractual
Perspectives
• Covid-19 and NEC 3
• Payment Issues
• Record Keeping
The series has been especially
popular because events have
Prof. Noble Francis
Economics Director
moved so quickly in March
and April and future topics will
look at Covid 19 – Contractual
Updates, Essential Knowledge
for preparing Claims and a
Contractual Awareness Question
Time.
One of the many issues that
members have raised in the
lively Q&A sessions online has
been that of how difficult it is
for estimators to price work at
the current time. It has been
suggested that this will inevitably
lead to companies time limiting
their quotes. Where previously
this might have been 30 days,
this could easily become only 7
days in the current conditions.
Inevitably with social distancing
being introduced in the
workplace, certain types of work
will take longer to complete. One
of the key roles of any Association
is to provide and share best
practice as widely as possible
amongst members.
40 » M AY 2020 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
CAB works closely with the
key umbrella organisation,
The Construction Products
Association and their Economics
Director, Prof Noble Francis
was an enlightening speaker
on a webinar in mid-April on
‘Economics & Construction –
Where do we go from here?’.
While there are some positive
forecasts that the construction
can make up significant lost
ground by the end of the year,
there is also concern at the
vulnerability of businesses in cash
flow terms as the sector tries to
claw its way out of the problems
created by almost shutting down
for over 2 months due to the
pandemic.
To add to contractual
awareness and economics, the
Association ha also considered
how members should deal with
crisis communications and social
media in general during this
period. Sessions have been lead
by David Glenwright, Head of
Training and Special Projects at
JC Social Media, who highlighted
in ‘Planning for the Unexpected’
how important it is to continue
a market presence and
campaigning, even while some
customers may be shut or only
partially working. He highlighted
several ways in which companies
could communicate through
social media in a highly positive
manner that they were returning
to work after a short close down
or period of running a skeleton
staff. One of the key areas social
media can be employed is to try
to allay the fears of customers
and suppliers by highlighting
that government safety guidelines
and social distancing are being
rigorously adhered to. However,
there is also the opportunity to
celebrate any staff who might
have undertaken voluntary work
while in furlough or important
health sector related projects that
have been worked on in recent
months
Key projects such as moving to
a full Closed Loop Aluminium
Recycling Scheme from the initial
pilot project will continue to
be promoted as the Association
looks to increase the volume
of metal recorded from the
current 3,000 tonnes. Increasing
the competence of the current
workforce is also crucial and
CAB will continue its partnership
with GQA Qualifications to
launch a new CAB Curtain
Walling Installers Card (CSCS).
While these projects have been
delayed, they are still crucial in
both promoting the sustainability
credentials of our 21st Century
material – aluminium, and in
reducing the levels of snaggings
onsite which cost valuable time
and money to rectify.
For further information
on CAB and its activities
contact Justin Ratcliffe at
[email protected] or
[email protected]