Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on the UK Construction Sector

This case study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK construction sector, using Morgan Sindall Group as a specific example. The research utilizes secondary data to analyze the crisis faced by the construction industry during lockdowns, including supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and economic recession. The study highlights challenges in maintaining contracts and the financial losses incurred by companies and contractors. It also discusses remedial measures such as maintaining social distancing, complying with government guidelines, wearing safety equipment, workplace sanitization, and alternate duty arrangements. The research concludes that the pandemic has significantly damaged the construction industry and emphasizes the need for companies to adapt and implement strategies to minimize unemployment and ensure economic stability. Desklib offers a range of similar case studies and solved assignments for students.

Research

Table of Contents
Introduction.....................................................................................................................................3
Introduction to the company..........................................................................................................3
Aims and objectives.........................................................................................................................3
Research analysis.............................................................................................................................4
Discussion.........................................................................................................................................4
Conclusion........................................................................................................................................7

Introduction
The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has caused problem for different places in this
globalised world. The construction and engineering industries have also faced lot of issues
and crisis due to this pandemic (Bsisu,2020). The construction work was temporarily closed
across the world. Due to this, industries which are working in construction are not able to
make a single penny out of the construction work. It had negatively impacted upon
economies of various countries. Several construction companies have gone through financial
recession. Due to this, they are laying of several workers and employees from their company.
Countries like China, UK, USA, India, Australia and Russia have also been impacted in
construction sector due to COVID 19 pandemic.
Introduction to the company
Morgan sindall group is a leading British construction company. This company has more than
6000 employees who are operating in regulated, public as well as private sectors. This
company is dealing with different sectors including partnership housing, investments, urban
regeneration, property services and construction (Ogunnusi,et.al,2020). At the time of
COVID-19 pandemic, this company has to face decline in sales as well as profits.
Aims and objectives
The aim of this project is - To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on construction
sector of UK. A case study of Morgan sindall group
Objectives
 To evaluate crisis faced by construction sector due to covid 19 pandemic
 To analyse challenges faced by construction companies during lockdown
Research analysis
For conducting this research, secondary data is used in order to gather data associated with
COVID-19 pandemic and construction sector of UK. Different articles and journals as well as
websites are used for collecting the data and interpreting it as a discussion. All the online data
chosen in this research is valid and authentic. All the sources used in this research are
providing validation to the information gathered.

Discussion
At the time of COVID-19 pandemic, the victims were increasing every day. There is great
impact upon construction industry due to the COVID-19 (Pamidimukkala and
Kermanshachi,2021). There was disruption in supply chain because of government
lockdown, labour shortage. There are several organisations of construction industry which
have faced economic recession. There was trouble in developing and keeping various
contracts.
In context of supply chain, there was disruption due to presence of data in various parts of the
world. The construction materials required during the lockdown were not transported from
one country to another. This created problem for working on construction sites. It hampered
all the activities that have to take place at construction project (Pamidimukkala,
Kermanshachi and Jahan Nipa, 2021). This has also damaged livelihood which is bringing
factories and vehicles to make the damaged buildings.
Construction industry of UK
In context of transportation in the country, there was disruption because of lockdown initiated
in different countries. It was not easy to bring material ofthe construction sector. Some
workers have provided work from home and that is why it was not convenient to work at
field or site.
The main issue was oflabor shortage. Several workers were unable to reach the field or
workplace because transportation system was not working. Most importantly, this spread of

infection was the major fear among workers. That is why several workers willingly stopped
to come at work.
Another issue is their financial problem. There were several companies which were not able
to make profits because of work stoppage in different companies. In context of construction
companies, they have to bear loss because projects were not completed on time. These
companies are also incurring losses because of suppliers who are not able to provide required
amount of material (Stiles, Golightly and Ryan, 2021). At the time of closure, the supply
chain was shut down and factories which are producing goods have also stopped production.
Because of factory produced goods, there was closure regarding construction sector.
Government was unable for collecting taxes from different places and it was having direct
impact on GDP of the country. Overall, global economy was badly impacted. It is consistent
that there was a bad clause because of the force measure. This means that there were rules
and regulations mentioned in several clauses and epidemic is one of them. There are different
contractors who were involved in managing and putting different tools are different places for
managing the machinery construction sector. Because of the lockdown, this equipment are
not transported from the particular place to the project work area. Such companies are having
contract for working with this equipment on the basis of money and if force measure occurs
then there is no compensation provided to the contractor by agency because of delay. That is
why there was loss of major finance to the contractors who have stopped working.
Unemployment is also an important aspect that has to be focused when it comes about issues
faced by construction sector at the COVID-19. It was seen that several companies were not
able to pay employees right amount of money. Different companies are also involved in
laying oftheir workers. All this was done due to the crisis and loss of money. It is very
important for the company to focus upon Managing this situation properly so that all workers
will be provided benefits which they seek.
There are some remedial measures which can be followed by construction sector industries in
order to standstill and manage economic development. Some of these are mentioned below:
Maintaining social distance: the construction sector industries must increase awareness about
maintaining social distance at work. It is their duty to encourage and motivate workers in
order to complete The assigned projects on time.
Complying with guidelines of government: as there was no vaccine initiated for coronavirus
at initial stage (Zamani,et.al, 2021). For avoiding infections, workers and employees have to

follow guidelines provided by government in order to manage the stoppage of spreading of
this virus.
Wearing safety equipment: it is very important for the workers ofthe construction sector to
need safety types of equipment like safety shoes, helmets, masks, sanitisers, PPE kits so that
they can avoid any type of infection. This will help them to protect against retransmission of
virus. Sanitizers and masks should be available at the construction site and they must be
distributed to all the individuals present over the field.
Workplace sanitisation: this means that at agent every place of workplace, there must be
proper sanitisation and cleanliness. There is requirement of keeping sanitisation machines so
that each time the workplace is properly disinfected.
Alternate duties: this means that vocals will be provided to come at field of workplace an
alternate manner. In this way, companies are able to share responsibilities for employees. The
assembly will be less and every employee has to come attfield thrice or twice a week. In this
way project work will be not stopped and it will be completed on time.
Arrange to stay: employees and workers who are living away from the construction site have
to come to work after opening of the company. As they have to travel from far places, and
public transport Was not working, it was duty of companies to arrange accommodation for
such employees near construction site. This will be beneficial for both workers as well as
project managers to complete the assigned project on time.
Allowing goods transportation system: at the initial construction work, there is requirement
of goods. Several companies have to travel goods from foreign countries in order to get good
supply. It is very important for government to make regulations and allow transport goods for
certain conditions.
medical facility: It is very important for construction companies to make medical
arrangements so that people can work at sites properly. Workers must be able to work
properly and manage the duties and responsibilities of project. There must be initiation of
thermal scanning test. Moreover, level of oxygen and body can be seen through pulse
oximeter which must be present at office. Some general check-up for employees can be
initiated by the company occasionally so that it is easy to track whether there is spread of
virus among any employee.

Conclusion
From the above research, it is concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic has provided lot of
damage for society. Moreover, economic development of countries has also been declined by
this. Spread of this disease is so fast that government have to initiate lockdown. Due to this,
construction work, transportation system, supply chain disruption all have to shut down. This
has created lot of trouble 2 common man as well as government. Construction companies
have to focus upon their own working and improvise their work so that unemployment will
be minimised.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bsisu, K.A.D., 2020. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Jordanian civil engineers and
construction industry. International Journal of Engineering Research and Technology, 13(5),
pp.828-830.
Ogunnusi, M., Hamma-Adama, M., Salman, H. and Kouider, T., 2020. COVID-19 pandemic:
the effects and prospects in the construction industry. International journal of real estate
studies, 14(Special Issue 2).
Pamidimukkala, A. and Kermanshachi, S., 2021. Impact of Covid-19 on field and office
workforce in construction industry. Project Leadership and Society, 2, p.100018.
Pamidimukkala, A., Kermanshachi, S. and Jahan Nipa, T., 2021, June. Impacts of COVID-19
on health and safety of workforce in construction industry. In International Conference on
Transportation and Development 2021 (pp. 418-430).
Stiles, S., Golightly, D. and Ryan, B., 2021. Impact of COVID‐19 on health and safety in the
construction sector. Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service
Industries, 31(4), pp.425-437.
Zamani, S.H., Rahman, R.A., Fauzi, M.A. and Yusof, L.M., 2021, February. Effect of
COVID-19 on building construction projects: Impact and response mechanisms. In IOP
Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 682, No. 1, p. 012049). IOP
Publishing.
Online
https://www.globaldata.com/data-insights/construction/the-uk-construction-sector-sees-a-
strong-rebound-post-covid-impact/