This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
News


ECA calls for prompt subcontractor payments


ECA GROUP CEO STEVE BRATT has called on the government to ensure subcontractors are paid on time when working on any public sector project. Bratt warns that time is running out for some smaller firms struggling to make ends meet as a result of damaging late payment practices in the construction supply chain.


Bratt commented: ‘In February this


year, the ECA carried out a survey of its membership and found that 75 per cent of respondents believe late payment is the single biggest factor holding companies back. ‘The impact of this on the wider economy could be disastrous – if companies aren’t paid on time, thousands of livelihoods are put at risk.’


While the government has already taken steps to ensure smaller firms get paid on time when working on central government projects, Bratt calls for this to be expanded to all public sector contracts, and applauds MP Debbie Abrahams’


efforts to bring the issue to the fore. He added: ‘In March 2010, the then Labour government introduced a requirement for central government, and non-departmental public bodies and agencies, to include a contract condition requiring its contractors to pay their subcontractors within 30 days – and other public bodies were encouraged to introduce the same conditions. This was a positive move, particularly at a time when it was commonplace for firms to extend the length of payments down the supply chain.


‘However, it is imperative that this requirement is extended right across the public sector to ensure that subcontractors have the same rights, irrespective of whether the end client is a local authority or central government body.


‘It cannot be the case that main contractors working on government projects are allowed to leave their subcontractors waiting for more than


CHINA FITS TO DRIVE UK PRICE CUTS


CHINA HAS ANNOUNCED a nationwide Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) scheme to accelerate the development of its domestic solar energy industry.


30 days to be paid for the work they have done – smaller firms simply don’t have the luxury of being able to wait. Britain’s SMEs are the lifeblood of our economy. They deserve fair payment, on time.’


HUHNE: CLIMATE SCEPTICS WON’T STOP RENEWABLES’ PROGRESS


The UK could soon be the largest market in Europe for offshore wind, climate and energy secretary Chris Huhne told a conference. Speaking at an event hosted by wind and marine energy association RenewableUK in October, Huhne said that the government strongly supported renewable energy, but criticised ‘climate sceptics and armchair engineers’ who he said were ‘selling the UK economy short’. ‘Renewable energy technologies will deliver a


third industrial revolution. Its impact will be every bit as profound as the first two,’ he added. Maria McCaffery, CEO of wind and marine energy association RenewableUK, said: ‘The secretary of state’s emphatic defence of the renewables industry will provide a welcome and timely boost for everyone working in this dynamic sector.’ She added: ‘We remain committed to driving down costs, and delivering a secure supply of clean electricity.’


The Chinese used FITs to develop the biggest wind power industry in the world and they intend to increase their solar capacity by 1,000 per cent over the next five years. ‘China has created a plethora of multi-billion pound clean technology companies and they are driving value and efficiency into the production of standard crystalline silicon modules at an unprecedented rate,’ explained Lee Summers, director of UK solar developer, EOS Energy. Summers went on to say that the good news for Britain’s solar developers was that the introduction of the Chinese solar FIT would have the effect of continuing to drive down prices of solar panels globally. He said: ‘The sheer scale of the manufacturing output of the Chinese solar industry is driving down prices. Currently more than half of all the solar panels produced in the world are made in China.’


6


ECA Today November 2011


DECCGOVUK


SHUTTERSTOCK/CHIYACAT


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72