NFB warns Government of cash-flow crisis amid continuing construction

April 2, 2020

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) is warning the Government of an impending cash-flow crisis in the construction industry as its members continue to wait to hear when the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will open and be available to make payments.

The Treasury had previously pledged that the portal, set up to support businesses in paying furloughed workers, would open the week beginning 30 March 2020. However, the portal is still not operational and is not scheduled to be so until the end of April, with no date as to when payments will be made.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, commented:

“The Government must speed up the opening of the CJRS otherwise those in the construction industry who have had to shut down and furlough staff will face a cash-flow crisis that will lead to closures. At the very least we must have clarity as to when the scheme will become operational and make payments”

The Government’s position is that construction sites can remain open but the NFB is calling on members to take a values-led, risk-managed approach in continuing to operate sites.

Beresford added:

“Construction sites remaining open should have the support of the client and where a site or contractor wishes to suspend construction, the client should support closure and remobilisation costs. No contracting business wants to suspend activity but the safety of staff and their families is paramount.

Where sites wish or need to remain open and operational, they must operate in a safe manner by following Public Health England (PHE) guidance, the Site Operating Procedures (SOP) and ensure the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).”

The warning comes as the NFB joins with industry colleagues in the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), writing to the Prime Minister to set out the urgent action that needs to be taken to ensure the survival of the industry.

National Federation of Builders

The National Federation of Builders is a United Kingdom trade association representing the interests of small and medium-sized building contractors in England and Wales.

You May Also Enjoy

Home and Living

Signs of Outdated Wiring in Older Tulsa-Area Homes

Tulsa has a lot of beautiful older homes. Brookside bungalows, Maple Ridge tudors, the postwar neighborhoods that fill out Midtown and East Tulsa. They were built well, but most were built before central air, before microwaves, before two-car households with two laptops and a dozen phone chargers. The electrical systems inside them were designed for…
Read More →
LIVING BY THE SEASIDE 2022
Breaking News

Britain’s seaside price hotspots revealed

New analysis from the UK’s largest property platform Rightmove reveals Britain’s seaside hotspots where prices are rising the fastest Bootle in Merseyside leads the way, with average asking prices up 11% year-on-year, followed by Crosby in Liverpool (+9%) and Penarth in South Glamorgan (+9%) Other coastal locations including Llantwit Major in South Glamorgan (+8%) and Llanelli, in Carmarthenshire (+7%) are also seeing strong price growth Average asking prices are currently 0.3% lower in Great Britain compared to last year, with some seaside hotspots outpacing the…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Hertfordshire emerges as strongest performing London commuter county

New research from UK Property Development reveals that while London property prices fell by more than -3% in the past year, prices in some of the capital’s surrounding counties have enjoyed positive growth, none more so than the premium commuter county of Hertfordshire.   In the past year, London’s average house price has fallen by…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Second homes losing appeal among the rich

New Survey Reveals Ongoing Maintenance Is the Biggest Barrier to Second Home Ownership   62% say upkeep and hassle would stop them from buying a second home, even if money were no object   A new survey conducted by luxury co-ownership platform Equity Residences has revealed that the practical realities of owning a second home…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

How to build a property portfolio with buy-to-let mortgages

One of the reasons property is such a popular asset choice for investors is that you don’t need to invest all the money yourself; you can leverage funds from the bank. Here’s a very simplistic example of how borrowing via a buy-to-let (BTL) mortgage allows you to multiply your returns versus owning a property all-cash:…
Read More →
Home and Living

2026’s Fastest-Growing Bathroom Trend Is the Wet Room

“Wet rooms have become one of the standout bathroom upgrades of 2026, moving from luxury extra to everyday renovation choice as more homeowners prioritise space, style and easy cleaning. The momentum is only building as spa‑style bathrooms stay in demand.” “Wet rooms used to be a niche request,” says Ant Langston, Marketing Manager at Heat…
Read More →