Covid-19 vs. Construction 2020: how we’re tackling the coronavirus crisis

Nathan Priestley, CEO of Priestley Construction, talks about what the coronavirus means for construction – and how it’s being handled across Priestley-operated sites nationwide.

Just a few months ago, Brexit dominated the 2020 forecast for construction businesses operating in the UK and Europe. Every conversation we had with clients, contractors, suppliers and staff centred on supply and demand, potential labour shortages and how we were handling international trade.

At Priestley Construction, Brexit was accounted for, right down to the last detail. All it took was a little insight, some forward-thinking and a concrete plan. Little did we know that within a matter of weeks, we would be presented with a whole new set of challenges – this time on a global scale.

Here at Priestley Construction, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality schemes with efficiency, on time and within budget. We’re taking all the necessary precautions to keep our employees and clients safe during the coronavirus crisis, in line with Government advice. Where it’s safe to do so, we’re currently operating business as usual across some sites.

Social distancing measures

We’ve introduced strict social distancing policies on projects still up and running. While health and safety is already a key consideration in construction nationwide, we’ve expanded our messaging to include advice around handwashing and minimising the spread of germs on-site.

We’re dedicated to protecting the livelihood of our employees, as well as our wider supply chain. We’ve been working closely with all of our partners in this uncertain time, going above and beyond to help where we can. This has even meant paying some of our partners earlier than usual. In short, we believe it’s critical that workforces support each other throughout this strange time.

Everyone at Priestley Construction knows there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. We’re keeping our chins up, and continuing to drive works on key developments, including our flagship scheme, Conditioning House in Bradford.

We’re also still on-site at Lambert’s Yard in Leeds, a £3million development of 19 high-end apartments that was recently awarded to Priestley Construction to deliver, demonstrating the industry’s commitment to keep pushing forward in the face of adversity.

In the meantime, we would like to thank the NHS for the brilliant work they continue to deliver day-in-day-out and hope our partners, clients and suppliers keep safe and well in this unusual time.

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