Industry are uniting behind Peter Aldous MP’s efforts to reform damaging payment practices and abuse in the construction industry.

In the wake of the Carillion collapse an industry coalition of over 60 construction and maintenance trade bodies now back the ‘Aldous Bill;’ proposing cash retentions owed to the supply chain be held in trust.

By far the largest industry coalition ever formed on the issue of late and unfair payment, amid growing support and clear industry appetite for reform, there is also growing political support from MPs and Lords.

Growing support covers a broad cross section of the entire supply chain, including electrical, plumbing, heating, interiors, house building, roofing, scaffolding and demolition. Major trade bodies in support include the Federation of Master Builders and the Federation of Small Businesses (see Notes to Editors for complete list).

ECA Director of Business Paul Reeve said: “Quite simply, the time for major change to retentions is now. Putting retentions in trust would help to protect the supply chain from future upstream insolvency, and it would reduce the amount held in retentions when buyers see that they can no longer use suppliers’ cash to support their own business model.”

BESA Public Affairs & Policy Manager Alexi Ozioro said: “Levels of support for the Bill are very encouraging, and this is a real opportunity for government to show it can respond to urgent developments and legislate on more than just Brexit. It will take months, maybe years to feel the full effect of Carillion, and what this Bill will do is make sure thousands of people can enjoy a more secure future.”

Peter Aldous MP has said: “This coalition of support shows the urgent need for reform and unity of industry following Carillion. Support covers so much of the industry that we now have a golden opportunity to change construction for the better. I hope government gets behind industry and this Bill. We need action to protect SMEs before more millions are lost, and this Bill is about ensuring people’s money is safe so businesses can grow and invest in their future.”

Awareness of the Bill and support for Peter Aldous are being coordinated by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and leading electrotechnical and engineering services body ECA. Carillion collapsing, six days after the Bill’s first reading, has pushed payment abuse high up the political agenda. The Bill seeks to ensure payment retentions are protected in special ring-fenced deposit schemes, to minimise damage to the supply chain in the event of insolvencies.

The second reading of the Bill is Friday 27 April.

Supporting industry organisations (64):

Apprenticeships 4 England (App4Eng)
Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA)
Association of Brickwork Contractors
Association of Ductwork Contractors and Allied Services (ADCAS)
Association of Fencing Industries
Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS)
Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed (IPSE)
Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC)
British Blind & Shutter Association
British Board of Agrément
British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA)
British Drilling Association (BDA)
British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association (BEAMA)
British Flue & Chimney Manufacturers Association (BFCMA)
British Property Federation
British Refrigeration Association (BRA)
British Woodworking Federation
Builders Merchants’ Federation (BMF)
Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA)
Building Engineering Services Association (BESA)
Building Engineering Services Competent Assessment (BESCA)
Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)
Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE)
Confederation of Construction Specialists
Confederation of Roofing Contractors
Contract Flooring Association
Drilling and Sawing Association
Electrical Contractors Association (ECA)
Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland (SELECT)
Fan Manufacturers’ Association
Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA)
Federation of Master Builders (FMB)
Federation of Small Business (FSB)
Federation of Traditional Metal Roofing Contractors (FTMRC)
Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS)
Fire & Security Association (FSA)
Glass & Glazing Federation
Ground Source Heat Pump Association (GSHPA)
Guild of Architectural Ironmongers
Heat Pump Association (HPA)
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Association (HEVAC)
House Builders Federation (HBF)
Institute of Clerks of Works of Great Britain
International Powered Access Federation (IPAF)
Kitchen Bathroom & Bedroom Specialists Association (KBSA)
Lead Contractors Association
Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA)
Local Authority Building Control (LABC)
Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA)
National Access & Scaffolding Confederation (NASC)
National Association of Shopfitters
National Federation of Builders
National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC)
National Federation of Roofing Contractors
Painting & Decorating Association
Process Innovation Forum (PIF)
Property Care Association
Roofing Industry Alliance
Scaffolding Association
Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF)
Specialist Engineering Contractor’s Group (SEC Group)
Stone Federation of Great Britain
Structural Timber Association
Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA)

For information on the Bill, Carillion and Fair Payments campaign, please contact:

Alexi Ozioro, Public Affairs & Policy Manager at the BESA, on 0797 419 6699 (alexi.ozioro@theBESA.com)
Mike Giles, Head of Communications and Public Affairs, at ECA on 07545 209 284 (Mike.Giles@eca.co.uk)