11 April 2018
Government launch new measures to help smaller businesses win government contracts
The government have announced proposals to help smaller businesses bid to win government contracts.
Suppliers will have to advertise subcontracting opportunities via the Contracts Finder website, and provide government with data showing how businesses in their supply chain are benefitting from supplying to central government.
Proposals also include excluding suppliers from major government procurements if they cannot demonstrate fair and effective payment practices with their subcontractors. Subcontractors will also have greater access to buying authorities to report poor payment performance as government commit to improving payment practice in the UK.
Build UK Chief Executive, Suzannah Nichol MBE commented:
“Improving business performance across the industry is one of Build UK strategic priorities. By benchmarking our Contractor members payment performance, supporting the Construction Supply Chain Payment Charter and developing a roadmap to zero retentions, we intend to change the industry’s payment culture.
Build UK has been very clear that in order to improve payment practices, we also need the support of Government both as a client and a regulator. We have met with Oliver Dowden and will be working with the Cabinet Office to implement its good intentions through robust and effective procurement practices that have the potential to change payment practices for ever.”
For more information on governments proposals, please see the full press release. For information on Build UK delivering zero retentions by 2023, please click here.