BiKBBI introduces online COVID status checker

It clarifies the status for residential and construction installations for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

12 Jan, 21

The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) has launched a COVID status checker on its website to provide clarity to tradespeople about trading restrictions.

BiKBBI introduces online COVID status checker

It can be found on the BiKBBI news page which clarifies the status for residential and construction installations for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The COVID status checker is free to access, will be reviewed daily and updated upon new guidance.

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The website also links to the relevant pages within the respective government websites to aid understanding of responsibility.

CEO at The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation, Damian Walters said it was in response to “mixed messaging from the devolved governments in relation to Coronavirus restrictions placed upon tradespeople”.

He has also raised this topic at a meeting with the newly appointed Secretary of State at The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Kwasi Kwarteng.

Installers are allowed to work in homes in England, Northern Ireland and Wales using safe operating procedures, whereas in Scotland fitters can only work if its considered “essential”.

Walters said: “Whilst I think it’s fair to say that the government have done a great job in many respects relating to this pandemic, the lack of cohesion between England, Scotland and Wales, especially on the subject of the differences in social restrictions has been less than satisfactory.

“Messaging for the thousands of tradespeople out there needs to be clearer, more consistent and better aligned between the devolved powers, or else this pandemic will not only have health implications, but also impact greatly on SME livelihoods”.