The Chief Executive at BAM say the company is working hard to protect lives and livelihoods in an update on the impact of COVID-19 on its operations.
A statement from the company says its construction and FM teams continue to provide significant emergency support to the UK’s NHS, emergency services and local authorities as they work together to defeat COVID-19.
Construction teams are working 24/7 building the new NHS Nightingale hospital in Harrogate, supporting other such schemes at multiple locations around the country and rapidly completing coronavirus wards at several existing hospitals.
FM teams up and down the country are also working flat out helping essential public service clients like hospitals, emergency services and local authorities keep going.
The business has mobilised very quickly to enable people to work from home where possible, reduce the numbers of people working on construction sites and FM locations, and embed the new safety guidelines.
Currently a number of its construction sites remain closed. Those that remain open are operating in line with industry and Government social distancing guidelines by reducing operating levels, enhancing welfare facilities and changing work patterns to help our teams avoid public transport.
Teams continue to work closely with clients and sub-contractors to enable working where it is safe to do so, and the government has expressed its support for the industry’s efforts to keep going in these difficult circumstances.
FM teams are working incredibly flexibly to support clients as they battle to cope with the new demands being placed on them. In the statement the company particularly wants to thank its FM colleagues who have been amazingly adaptable, picking up different tasks to help our frontline public services. Cleaning, catering and supporting vital buildings puts its FM colleagues right at the frontline of our national effort.
As the construction work has declined, the company says it has needed to protect the future sustainability of the business and more than 400 BAM Construct UK colleagues are now furloughed.
Across the business they are also working quickly to avoid costs, reduce spending and protect the cash position. The Board and senior management have decided to reduce their salaries by 20% from the 1st of April and the Board has also chosen to forfeit its annual pay review for 2020.
This reduction in spending, focus on cash and adoption of the Job Protection Scheme are designed to help them through this challenging time. These are difficult decisions, and it is likely that in the coming months that further steps will be needed to be taken to protect the long term sustainability of our business.
The company says that its priorities are to protect the lives and livelihoods that will be so important for when the pandemic subsides and the country starts getting back to normal.
Chief Executive James Wimpenny said: “We are working hard to protect lives and livelihoods. I thank everyone at BAM for everything they are doing to keep themselves and their families safe, and for responding so well to rapidly changing circumstances. I also want to thank our clients and supply chain for being so supportive. We are all in this together.”
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