Building after Brexit: an action plan (Feb 2019)
The CPA has partnered with Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and four other leading construction trade organisations – CECA, CLC, FMB and HBF – to detail specific steps the construction industry, government and CITB must take to lessen the impact of Brexit, particularly to help brace the sector for tighter migration controls after Brexit. The publication Building After Brexit: An Action Plan identifies the need for construction to adopt a twin-track strategy: growing investment in the domestic workforce and driving up productivity, while working with Government to agree how to maintain access to migrant workers to give it the breathing space to adapt.
No deal contingency planning report: labour and skills recommendations and actions
Following on from the Brexit Transition Conference last month, Mark Reynolds, the CLC Workstream lead established a working group to provide recommendations and actions to ensure that the sector faces as little disruption as possible should there be a ‘No Deal’ Brexit. The working group convened to examine in detail the specific skills and labour issues presented to the sector by a ‘No Deal’ Brexit, taking on board comments and concerns from private businesses, trade bodies and other organisations. Their recommendations are set out in the report being published today.
Download the report here.
Build UK Guide
The UK is expected to leave the European Union (EU) on 29 March 2019. Build UK has produced a simple guide to help members prepare for Brexit by summarising the latest available information.
Partnership Pack: preparing for changes at the UK border after a no deal EU Exit
This partnership pack is designed to help you support businesses preparing for day one if we leave the EU without a deal.
CE Marking and new UK Conformity Assessed Mark (UKCA)
The Government has launched the new UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) mark, which subject to Parliamentary approval, will replace the CE marking for certain goods if the UK leaves the EU without an agreement.
It is likely that in future the EU will not accept a CE mark issued by a UK certified body, or a new UKCA mark on it’s own. The EU will continue to accept a CE mark issued by an EU certified body. SPRA members are encouraged to consider using EU certified bodies for all future CE marking. The UK will continue to accept all EU CE marked products for the forseeable future.
Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Brexit Conference – January 2019
The CLC hosted this conference for over 100 industry leaders to develop contingency plans for a No Deal Brexit. You can access the following information:
Can you register for simplified import procedures if the UK leaves the EU without a deal?
In the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal, from 11pm GMT on 29 March 2019, many UK businesses will need to apply the same procedures to EU trade that apply when trading with the rest of the world. Currently, under import processes for trading with the rest of the world, goods are not released from customs control until you make a full import declaration and pay the duty owed in full. HMRC has put in place transitional simplified procedures to make it easier for you to import goods from the EU using roll on roll off locations like Dover or the Channel Tunnel.
For more details and to find out if you can register to use transitional simplified procedures to import goods into the UK, visit the Government website.
Brexit Preparations: data protection
The CPA has been engaged with a number of government departments to formulate and relay information to help our members get ready for Brexit. As preparations in the case of a ‘no deal’ exit gather pace, the government has established a Task Force to assess and support business readiness in respect of data protection, including:
- GDR compliance
- The extent to which members are reliant on data transfers to and from the EU and EEA
- Awareness of no-deal Brexit risks and management strategies in place
- The right organisations to approach for more detailed conversations
For further information please use the following links: Gov.uk GDPR guidance in the event of no deal Brexit, Helpful guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). In addition, if you wish to share or inform the government’s preparations in this area, please contact john.beaufoy@culture.gov.uk.
Port of Tilbury – expansion approved
CPA are pleased to report that CPA Associate member, the Port of Tilbury, obtained approval from the Planning Inspectorate to build a new terminal on a 152-acre site adjacent to the current port in Thurrock. The proposed new port, known as Tilbury2, will act as a satellite of the main port, comprising of a:
- Roll on/roll off ferry terminal for importing and exporting containers and trailers
- Construction Materials and Aggregate Terminal (CMAT) for importing, processing, manufacturing and distributing construction materials
- New nationally strategic rail and road connection into the site
The Port of Tilbury is already the main UK import location for forest products and one of the largest for construction materials. The Port offers “Brexit-ready” supply chain solutions for CPA manufacturers and distributors, and has briefed government and industry on its provisions. CPA members are encouraged to contact Commercial Director Peter Ward to learn more at peter.ward@potll.com.