IPAF
For the first time ever, the Summit of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) will be held as a virtual event, along with a digital prize ceremony for the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs) on March 18. The event will focus on sustainability in powered access, digitization and technological innovation for safer working at height, and the challenges and opportunities the industry will be faced with as the world reemerges after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The line-up for the event includes:
Suzannah Nichol, CEO, Build UK, who will look at the opportunities and challenges facing major contractors in maintaining safe and sustainable worksites, and how enhanced accident reporting, digital innovation, and working closely with partner organizations like IPAF will play a key part in achieving shared objectives.
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Construction firms face disruption to their cashflow over the next three months as the long-planned reverse-charge VAT rules come into force.
From today, subcontractors will no longer receive VAT payments for their services, unless they are working directly for the end client. Instead, they will reverse charge it on invoices with only the main contractor actually collecting the VAT from the client to pay on to HMRC.
The new rules could see cashflows heavily affected over the next few months. DRS Bond Management director Chris Davies said: “From speaking with our clients, a typical contractor with around £100m revenue is expecting a cash hit of £2m to £3m.” He said this impact will have the biggest hit over the next two to three months.
The industry’s skills shortage means the UK could be unable to achieve a zero-carbon economy by 2050, a group of industry leaders has warned.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) think tank has warned that policies are needed to address the 750,000 construction workers that could retire or be on the verge of retiring over the next 15 years.
The letter, signed by industry leaders on the back of IPPR’s research, has called for increased funding and further education along with expanding apprenticeships. The recommendations also ask the government to legislate to improve pay and conditions for workers, to make construction careers more attractive to jobseekers, and create a new National Infrastructure and Construction Skills Demand pipeline.