Contractors urged to support suppliers and keep cash flowing

Contractors urged to support suppliers and keep cash flowing Companies that delay payments to clauses, when it should be the priority money moving in the sector and suppliers during the coronavirus of all clients and firms to sustain the vital that all businesses play their pandemic should remember one industry. Our actions at this time will part by maintaining payment and by thing: what goes around, comes be remembered. All firms should managing contracts responsibly.” around. think hard about how their reputation Industry leaders have issued a right thing.” thinly veiled warning that anyone looking to play hardball in the current He added: “Every business, large circumstances will find their reputation totally trashed by the time this is all and small, has a critical role in the making sure that cash continues Never miss an issue over. This is no time to play heavy or get legal, they warn. to flow throughout the industry. However, our construction industry Subscribe for FREE The Construction Leadership Council, trade associations] have brought to which includes representatives from our attention that there are number Whitehall and government as well as of businesses that have chosen to the industry, said that it was getting unilaterally delay payment or extend “increasingly concerned about the credit terms. We do not believe management of payment in the supply this is acceptable or appropriate chain, and the risk that clients and – particularly at this time of great firms will seek to invoke contractual stress.” clauses to the detriment of other could be damaged by not doing the task force colleagues [a coalition of firms”. Mr Mitchell’s statement on behalf of the CLC concluded: “Our common CLC co-chair Andy Mitchell, who enemy is Covid-19, and we need to is also chief executive of Thames unite, and work collaboratively to Tideway, said: “We are clear that resolve shared problems. We owe it all construction businesses should to our sector and the country to take continue to pay in accordance with all steps necessary to ensure that the agreed contractual terms. Similarly, industry is in good health to support firms should not be threatening to the recovery, when it comes. It is invoke penalty or other contractual everyone’s responsibility to keep

Midlands contractor celebrates appointment on £30 billion national central government framework Midlands-based contractor GF Crown Comercial Service supports Commercial Service framework, Tomlinson is celebrating its successful the public sector to achieve maximum another significant framework to selection on to the new £30 commercial value when procuring add to our growing portfolio, which billion Crown Commercial Service common goods and services. In is testament to the quality of our Construction Works and Associated 2018/19, CCS helped the public sector staff and processes, which were Services agreement, a major national to achieve commercial benefits worth thoroughly tested as part of the framework for the delivery of public £945million – supporting world-class robust competition process.” sector construction. public services that offer best value for taxpayers. “National and regional public The new agreement, which runs frameworks are an important part for seven years, can be accessed Operating within the Midlands for of our business. Securing a place by all public sector bodies to over 128 years and with offices in on the North of England lot aligns procure a variety of construction Derby and Birmingham, this is the perfectly with our strategic objectives projects including schools, hospitals, second national, central government to continue to be the ‘contractor of universities, prisons, office buildings framework secured by the regional choice’ for all public sector clients and housing. G F Tomlinson has been contractor, following its current within our area of operation.” selected for the North of England appointment on the Department of region, which includes the East and Education’s Construction Framework, GF Tomlinson is one of only 135 firms West Midlands, to deliver projects building on the company’s reputation appointed nationally to the CCS valued between £3 million and £10 for delivering best value outcomes for Framework. million. clients on quality, cost, programme The framework will also provide public sector frameworks. sustainable opportunities for G and social value through collaborative F Tomlinson’s local supply chain Chris Flint, director and general partners, helping to generate social, manager of G F Tomlinson Building economic and environmental benefits Ltd, said: “We are delighted to have within the surrounding communities. been selected onto the new Crown