🏆 Final Few Weeks to Enter the UK Fencing Industry Awards!
The countdown is well and truly on! There are just a few short weeks left to submit your entries for the 2025 UK Fencing Industry Awards, and we want to see YOUR business in the spotlight.
Whether you’re proud of a recent installation, have a rising star on your team, or work with a supplier who always goes the extra mile — now’s the time to shout about it.
With new categories, a brilliant new venue at Mercedes-Benz World, and our newly revealed guest speaker – Perry McCarthy (the original Stig!), this year’s awards are shaping up to be something special.
⭐ Entries now close soon – so don’t miss your chance to be part of it.
👉 Click here to enter now
Let’s celebrate the best in fencing – and that includes you.
Employment Rights Bill Latest
The Employment Rights Bill continues to make its way through Parliament, with a final reading in the House of Lords expected to take place on 3 September before it returns to the House of Commons for a final vote, and Build UK Partner
Designed to help construction employers understand the impact on their businesses, the guide outlines each of the reforms which fall into three categories ‐ new rights and protections for workers; fair pay, terms and working conditions; and enforcement and trade unions ‐ and there is now a timeline showing the phased approach that will be taken to implementation.
Members are encouraged to prepare for the changes by reviewing their current processes, with a focus on more effective recruitment and induction of employees, and Citation is hosting a free webinar on Tuesday 19 August from 10:00am ‐ 11:00am to run through what employers need to know
Details of all the webinars offered by Citation can be found on the Citation website
FenceX 2025 – Big News Incoming… and a Big Prize Too!
We’re heading into the final stretch before FenceX 2025, and the excitement continues to build – with visitor numbers rising, the seminar theatre finalised, and destruction testing and live outdoor demos guaranteed to draw a crowd. But that’s not all…
🕵️♂️ We’ve got two exciting announcements — and here’s your exclusive preview:
🎁 First up… FenceX 2025 will be running a FREE PRIZE DRAW for all FenceX visitors!
One lucky winner will receive an amazing prize – this is definitely one you won’t want to miss!
📰 And watch this space for details on our new official media partner for FenceX – we’re thrilled to be joining forces with a publication that knows fencing inside and out.
🎟️ If you haven’t already booked your free ticket – or encouraged your colleagues and contacts to do the same – now’s the time:
👉 www.fencex.com
Latest Payment Results Published
Build UK has updated its payment performance table with the latest results published under the Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations. With the Government launching a consultation to tackle late payment last week, Build UK tier one Contractor members have improved their payment performance again over the last six months, now taking on average 29 days to pay invoices. All of them average 45 days or less, which will be the requirement for central Government contracts over £5 million from 1 October 2025.
For the first time, a number of members have reported data on value of invoices paid, alongside number of invoices paid, in line with new reporting requirements from 1 January 2025. This information will be included in the Build UK table in due course, and the full set of results for our tier one Contractor members will be available in May 2026 when they have all submitted their first reports with this data. New reporting requirements on retentions also came into force on 1 April 2025, and companies will be required to report information on their policy and the value of retention withheld from their supply chain. The financial year for the majority of members starts on 1 January which means their first reports containing this data will be published in July 2026.
Build UK is still the only trade organisation benchmarking payment performance, with our table showing the results for more than 130 of the industry’s largest companies to provide a consistent picture of payment practices across the sector.
Driving for Better Business Update: Seat Belts
Driving is for most people the most dangerous activity they can do.
We know that in the great majority of cases the initial cause of a crash is around driver behaviours – and drivers not wearing seat belts can of course massively change the outcome of an incident.
It’s fundamental that as an organisation and as a manager or owner that you are confident that your drivers know the important safety reasons as to why they should wear a seat belt, and their legal obligation.
Seat belts should be a mandatory fleet policy. Every driver should buckle up and be safe. It’s not just about being safe while driving – it’s a legal requirement. Failure to wear a seat belt could mean the driver may incur penalty points, and in the case of a serious incident, those consequences could also affect the company.
So how confident are you that your drivers are wearing their seat belts?
Legal Insight: Seat Belts
Seat belts – are you covering this in your driver policies?
Criminal motoring law liability will rest with the driver or adult passenger who chooses not to wear a belt, but if you are an operator of fleet vehicles or fleet manager, you should still exercise your duty of care to those who drive for their work.
Read this month’s insight on employer’s responsibilities on seat belts and driver safety here.
Changes to Immigration System
Build UK has updated its guidance on the Points‐Based Immigration System now that the first changes set out in the Immigration White Paperhave come into effect. Described by the Government as a ‘complete reset’ of the system, the changesinclude raising both the skills and salary thresholds for a Skilled Worker visa as of 22 July 2025.
The skills threshold to apply for a Skilled Worker visa has been increased from RQF Level 3 (A level equivalent) to RQF Level 6 (degree level equivalent), unless the occupation is classified as ‘Medium Skilled’ (RQF Levels 3 ‐ 5) and on theImmigration Salary Listor theTemporary Shortage List. The standard salary threshold for new skilled workers has increased from £38,700 to £41,700, with the discounted rate for occupations on the Immigration Salary List increasing from £30,960 to £33,400. Further changes to the system are due to come into effect later this year, includingincreasing the immigration skills chargeandraising the English language requirement.
Build UK’sflowchartprovides an overview of the process of employing a worker from outside the UK, and we have published detailed guidance onHow to Get a Sponsor LicenceandHow to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa.
BS 99001 Review
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