By Scott Wright
THE boss of a Cumbernauld-based specialist glass company has hit out at the mixed messaging from the UK and Scottish governments over advice to close down construction sites to halt the spread of coronavirus, declaring that the inconsistency has “caused havoc”.
Jeanette MacIntyre, managing director of Indeglas, said her company has been caught between advice from the UK Government, which signalled its expectation for construction work to carry on, and conflicting orders from Scottish ministers to lock down sites.
Indeglas, which has designed and supplied bespoke glass products for buildings such as the Radisson Red hotel in Glasgow, has projects on both sides of the Border.
Ms MacIntyre said: “We’re trying to do it too quick, too late, and that has caused a bit of a problem for companies like ours that have work both in Scotland and in England.”
She added: “It is very unclear.”
Despite the UK Government’s advice, construction companies have begun to lock down sites in England.
This week, Indeglas began winding down a major project at Heathrow Airport, where it is working on a £1m-plus contract for Do & Co, a high-end catering company whose clients include British Airways.
The project, which was secured through contractor McLaughlin Harvey, has involved Indeglas creating on-off solutions for internal glass.
Ms MacIntyre said: “The complication for us was trying to get men back without using public transport as far as possible, and securing all the hired plant that was on the project.”
The situation facing construction companies this week is similar to the predicament pubs, cafes and restaurants were in last week. Without being ordered by the government to close, businesses fear they are unable to lodge insurance claims for disruption to trade.
Ms MacIntyre said: “This was exactly the same for the construction industry.”
The message from the UK Government was that it was “inconceivable” for the construction industry to cease operating, given its importance to the economy, Ms MacIntyre added.
This is despite the sector being “the least supported in terms of investment, and helping us get paid when we are due it”.
“There is not enough legislation in place to protect contractors and suppliers getting paid when that payment is due, and the late payment situation that is inherent in the industry,” said Ms MacIntyre.
“Money being held in case anything goes wrong a future date… that is antiquated and has needed review for some time.”
She added: “It is improving, but it has got a long way to go.”
Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, Ms MacIntyre told The Herald that company’s work on the University of Glasgow’s £1 billion expansion project had put in on target for a further year of revenue and profit growth.
Indeglas has landed a £1.13m contract to supply all of the internal glass screens to the Research Hub in the university’s Western Campus, which will provide a collaborative space for academics, post-graduate and PhD students across a range of disciplines.
The building is emerging from the site of the former Western Infirmary in the west end of the city.
Ms MacIntyre noted that a key objective of the project is to to ensure its ultimate occupants come into contact with as much natural light as possible, in order to enhance well-being. The project is the firm’s biggest to date and has put it on course to lift turnover by £1m to £4m this year. Profits are also expected to rise.
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