Industry leaders petition No 10

UK: A petition on fair payment and retentions, representing over 355,000 businesses, was delivered yesterday to Theresa May, the prime minister.

Supporters of the Aldous Bill and the petition on fair payments also gathered outside the gates of Number 10, including business owners directly affected by the collapse of Carillion in January.

In addition to Peter Aldous MP, the delegation of industry leaders included new BESA CEO David Frise, alongside Federation of Small Businesses national chair Mike Cherry, Federation of Master Builders chief executive Brian Berry, director general of the Institute of Directors Stephen Martin and Electrical Contractors’ Association CEO Steve Bratt.

Coordinated by trade bodies BESA, ECA and SEC Group, the petition urges the Government to back reform of payment practices and retentions. This Friday (April 27) the so-called Aldous Bill, which proposes cash retentions be held in trust accounts to protect the supply chain, receives its second reading in parliament.

The Bill is supported by over 120 MPs and 76 industry trade bodies, representing over 355,000 companies and many self-employed professionals. Cross-party support for reform includes Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, SNP, DUP, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party. Support has also been given from across the construction supply chain, including house building, roofing, scaffolding, electrical, heating, plumbing, interiors and demolition.