Latest update from SELECT MD Alan Wilson
As we begin the sixth week of lockdown, I thought it would be useful to update Members on some of the many activities we have been undertaking to assist you.
SELECT advice
Employment advice has again been to the fore, with a huge amount of information, guidance and template documents prepared and issued to help employers. Most recently, we have created a suite of letter templates for employers who are furloughing workers. The letters cover four separate stages – notification of furlough, keeping in touch, notice of extension and returning to work.
Online training
Our first online Wiring Regulation training courses have now been held and voted a great success by everyone who took part. Additional training on a whole range of subjects is also available – you can find more details on all our online courses by clicking here.
Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum
SELECT led in setting up the CICV Forum which now has 17 member bodies and more than 70 individuals working across seven sub-groups, all of whom are focused on assisting construction businesses survive and prosper.
The Forum has already had a number of successes, including securing places on the Scottish Government’s Industry Leadership Forum and Recovery Task Force, both of which are being led by the Housing Minister, Kevin Stewart MSP. This gives us a direct voice into government.
In addition, SELECT played a key role in developing an animation that offers clear and practical advice to contractors and customers during emergency domestic work. Watch the video and find out more here.
The Minister is also quoted in a press statement issued by the Forum on protecting key workers who are still required to carry out emergency repairs and maintenance. We are also working on developing promotional material to help identify businesses carrying out such work and details will be issued shortly.
Clap for our Carers
Hopefully, you will have seen the staff, office bearers and Members saluting the NHS and key workers by putting their hands together in a special film to mark the weekly Clap for our Carers. Watch it and read the full story here, and thank you to everyone who took part.
Health and welfare
As always, times of stress also bring great challenges for our mental health and welfare and our dedicated COVID-19 hub now has links to NHS and Scottish Government mental health advice, including a depression self-help guide, coping with money worries, struggling with stress and your mental wellbeing. Find out more here.
Daily updates
Our rolling news update and dedicated COVID-19 hub are both updated daily with the latest news and developments. New information is being added around the clock, so please keep logging on to see the what’s happening at SELECT and beyond. We are also now issuing our e-newsletter every two weeks to ensure you are kept up to date.
Digital drop-in
SELECT will soon be hosting an online drop-in session via Zoom, where Members will be able to ask questions and discuss ongoing issues regarding Coronavirus with SELECT staff. Full details will be revealed next week.
SELECT general update Our campaign to regulate the industry via Protection of Title continues and we have added another two politicians to our Wall of Support – Alan Brown MP and Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP. The new updated wall will be launched soon.
We are also working with all SELECTcert users to ensure that the system delivers the best possible service for users. We have established a Facebook page and our Technical Advisors are calling all users to get feed-back from Members. We will also be issuing a new eNewsletter to all SELECTcert users to keep them updated.
In the meantime, if any Member has any questions or issues they want to raise, our offices are still open (albeit in a virtual sense) and you can contact us in a number of ways.
Stay safe,
Alan Wilson SELECT Managing Director