Framework awards appear to reward poor payment practice

November 12, 2019

NFB has reacted to the Government’s recent announcement of the successful contractors to win places on the £30bn framework for public sector construction. Chief Executive, Richard Beresford, commented:

“What’s disappointing is that despite the Government knowing how late payment can seriously damage smaller businesses, as many NFB members will testify, these awards show that late payers are still winning public sector contracts. With small businesses paying the price for the Government’s inaction, the Crown Commercial Service must ensure that that it champions best practice and doesn’t give late payment another free pass.

“Despite small and medium-sized enterprises training four in five construction apprentices, being the UK’s predominant rural employers and making up 99% of the construction industry, only 44% of contract winners were SMEs. While this is an improvement on recent years, with seven lots still to be awarded, the Government must do more to make sure a greater number of construction SMEs are able to compete for work.”

National Federation of Builders

The National Federation of Builders is a United Kingdom trade association representing the interests of small and medium-sized building contractors in England and Wales.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Interest rates matter, but asking price is still what sells a home

Homes priced right first time find a buyer in around five weeks, while overpriced homes take three months longer, and new LRG research shows what buyers are looking for. The Bank of England’s latest decision to hold interest rates is welcome news for buyers and sellers, providing greater stability and confidence for those considering a…
Read More →
Tips when buying at property auctions
Breaking News

Three-bedroom homes dominate Britain’s quick-sale market

The latest industry insight from the House Buyer Bureau reveals that the East and West Midlands are Britain’s quick sale hotspots, with three-bedroom homes proving the most common property type when it comes to quick-sale activity. House Buyer Bureau’s internal data* shows that in 2025 the company had contact with, and made a firm offer…
Read More →
Breaking News

£3bn tenant deposit shake-up on the cards

Tenant deposit money could be affected by plans to abolish insured deposit schemes   The latest research from The Letting Partnership has revealed that more than £3bn worth of tenant deposits are currently protected via insured tenancy deposit schemes across England and Wales, highlighting the scale of the transition facing the lettings sector should the…
Read More →
Breaking News

Brexit housing market winners and losers

England can’t keep pace with the other home nations And the south of England falls well behind the north   The latest research from Yopa has revealed a stark regional divide in house price growth since the Brexit referendum (June 23rd 2016), with Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and northern England recording some of the strongest…
Read More →
Breaking News

The Rental Market is Rebalancing

But 78% of Tenants Still Can’t Find What They’re Looking For Nine in ten landlords believe the balance of power in the rental market has shifted in favour of tenants over the last two years – yet a quarter of tenants still feel landlords hold the upper hand, according to new research from LRG. The…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

Dispelling the top five biggest letting agent myths

Sophie Danes, Group Director of Property Management, Lomond   This year has seen the introduction of the seismic Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) as well as other changes affecting the private rented sector (PRS) coming into force, such as the rollout of Making Tax Digital (MTD). As a result, more than ever before, there is a lot of information and speculation surrounding the sector making…
Read More →