0203 772 0617

Weekly news 30/09

Weekly news 30/09

AFI Marketing
News

APF Show

The AFI had a fabulous 3 days at the APF show last week – some fiercely contested competition at The British Open Fencing Competition, sponsored by McVeigh Parker. Winners of the Speed Fencing were AFI members Front Row Fencing & Farm Fence Solutions and on the top of the podium for the British Open were more AFI members – AFA chair MJ Evans Fencing & NS Quan Fencing, with many of our members in the field and in the top three!! Very well done to all who took part- that hill looked tough!!
Don’t forget you can have expert advice from many of the competitors – and competition winners – at our upcoming Best Practice Day, sponsored by Tornado Wire Ltd & Scanpole Fencing – 19th October – deer and stock fencing being demonstrated, have a go sessions, rural crime prevention advice, trade stands and much more – tickets are only £10 and include breakfast and lunch!! Purchase yours here

ISG Administration

Last week saw Build UK Contractor member ISG enter administration, and the impact will be felt by almost 2,500 employees and throughout the supply chain. The administrators, EY, have confirmed in a statement that no further work will be undertaken on existing contracts and all known creditors will be contacted in writing. With construction insolvencies at their highest level for over a decade, there are serious questions being raised about the industry’s business model. Despite the recommendations for more collaborative and sustainable ways of working featured in every report since Latham, inappropriate transfer of risk and unsustainable profit margins are still commonplace, and we have to change the way the industry operates to prevent more companies ending up in this position.

Build UK is taking the lead in finding new employers to retain all of ISG’s new entrants within the industry, and thank you to all those of you that have already contacted us offering your support. If you are in a position to take on any apprentices or graduate trainees, please email Build UK. An organisation called BuildMyTalent is helping to match more experienced employees with employers, and anyone with opportunities can contact them via LinkedIn.

Improving Payment Performance

The Government has announced new measures to tackle late payment, with the aim of supporting small businesses and “unlocking their barriers to growth”. It plans to ‘step up’ enforcement of the Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations and introduce new legislation requiring large businesses to include this information in their annual reports. The guidance to the Regulations has also been updated to include the new reporting requirements on value of invoices paid and disputed invoices, which come into force from 1 January 2025. Build UK has identified some potential inconsistencies in the updated guidance and is working with the Department for Business and Trade to ensure that the required information will be reported correctly.

At a meeting with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds last week, attended by Build UK Chair Julie White, it was confirmed that a new Fair Payment Code will be introduced this autumn, replacing the Prompt Payment Code. This will include a number of payment standards for companies to sign up to, and they will be awarded gold, silver or bronze status depending on how quickly they pay their suppliers including small businesses.

Rachel Reeves promised to get Britain building again, which can only be good for Fencing!

See full conference speech here: https://labour.org.uk/updates/press-releases/rachel-reeves-speech-at-labour-party-conference-2024/

Recent Comments

    keyboard_arrow_up