Ad
Monday, March 9, 2026

PM tells construction to get back to work

ADVERTISEMENT

Prime minister Boris Johnson announced to the nation last night it was time to re-open construction sites.

He said in the televised address that members of the construction and manufacturing industries must be ‘actively encouraged’ to go back to work.

Johnson also relaxed some lockdown restrictions including allowing us to do unlimited outside exercise, sunbathe in parks, drive to the countryside and play sports with members of our own household.

He said: “This is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week. Instead, we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures. And the first step is a change of emphasis that we hope that people will act on this week.”

He said: “We said that you should work from home if you can, and only go to work if you must. We now need to stress that anyone who can’t work from home, for instance, those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work.”

“And we want it to be safe for you to get to work. So you should avoid public transport if at all possible – because we must and will maintain social distancing, and capacity will, therefore, be limited.

“So work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can’t work from home.

“And to ensure you are safe at work we have been working to establish new guidance for employers to make workplaces covid-secure.

On the other hand, the Scottish Government has not changed its advice that all but essential construction sites should remain closed.

ADVERTISEMENT

Popular Categories

Latest news

NASC warns scaffolding skills gap could leave 40,000 roles to fill

NASC has warned the UK scaffolding and access sector could need around 40,000 roles filled, as it published its Skills Gap Report 2026 based...

Construction industry says Spring Statement lacked measures to boost building

Construction leaders have offered a mixed response to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement, with industry bodies warning that the government missed an opportunity to...

ScaffPlan partners with Leach’s to expand access to scaffold design software

ScaffPlan has formed a strategic partnership with Leach’s, the UK’s largest supplier of scaffolding consumables and equipment, in a move designed to widen access...

Training provider reports disruption as Gulf tensions escalate

The escalating conflict in the Middle East is beginning to affect construction and safety training activity, with early disruption reported to training schedules in...

Subcontractors stay upbeat despite seven-year low in project volumes

Subcontractors across the UK and Ireland remain optimistic about the year ahead despite a tightening construction pipeline, according to a new annual report from...

Doka supports Denmark’s Storstrøm Bridge as 3.8km crossing nears completion

Denmark’s new Storstrøm Bridge is entering its final construction phase, with the 3.8km crossing set to become the country’s third-longest bridge when it opens...

If we achieve AGI, will we still need scaffolding?

Many scaffold firms worldwide are already using AI to analyse inspection records, flag anomalies, and reduce the administrative burden for site managers. It is...

IASA strengthens Asian presence as Taiwan and South Korea join global body

The International Access & Scaffolding Association has announced that the Taiwan Scaffold Development Association and the Korea Temporary Equipment & Engineering Association have joined...

Labour’s 1.5 million homes target faces scaffolder shortage warning

Labour’s pledge to build 1.5 million new homes over the course of this Parliament is facing fresh pressure amid warnings of a shortage of...

Subcontractor pay dips as weather hits sites but wider pressures loom

Self-employed tradespeople earned an average of £1,000 per week in January, according to analysis by Hudson Contract, which manages the industry’s largest payroll for...

Latest news

Magazine

Winter Issue #28 | Past issues >>

Popular

Training provider reports disruption as Gulf tensions escalate

The escalating conflict in the Middle East is beginning...

ScaffPlan partners with Leach’s to expand access to scaffold design software

ScaffPlan has formed a strategic partnership with Leach’s, the...

Construction industry says Spring Statement lacked measures to boost building

Construction leaders have offered a mixed response to Chancellor...

NASC warns scaffolding skills gap could leave 40,000 roles to fill

NASC has warned the UK scaffolding and access sector...

Subcontractors stay upbeat despite seven-year low in project volumes

Subcontractors across the UK and Ireland remain optimistic about...

Related articles

Latest topics

Young workers least likely to discuss mental health, research shows

More than one in three UK tradespeople say their...

NASC warns scaffolding skills gap could leave 40,000 roles to fill

NASC has warned the UK scaffolding and access sector...

Construction industry says Spring Statement lacked measures to boost building

Construction leaders have offered a mixed response to Chancellor...

ScaffPlan partners with Leach’s to expand access to scaffold design software

ScaffPlan has formed a strategic partnership with Leach’s, the...
ADVERTISEMENTS