NFRC Welcomes Small Business Strategy and Fair Payment and Skills Reform Recommendations

The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) has welcomed the publication of the Business and Trade Committee’s Small Business Strategy.

The roofing trade association supports the strategy’s key recommendations on late payment, procurement, skills, and SME administrative burden.

The cross-party report: Small Business Strategy published by Parliament’s Business and Trade Committee reflects NFRC members’ evidence provided to last year’s inquiry, which was used to inform recommendations.

Gray Gibson, Policy Officer at NFRC, said: “The government should give serious consideration to the Committee’s proposals and translate the strongest recommendations into practical reforms that support the SMEs delivering housing, retrofit, and economic growth across the UK.

“NFRC welcomes this report and the Committee’s focus on the real pressures facing SME construction firms. The recommendations on fair payment, skills, procurement, and admin burdens are sensible and practical.

“We were pleased to contribute evidence to the inquiry alongside our members and other industry bodies, and it’s encouraging to see several of the issues we raised reflected in the Committee’s recommendations.”

Fair Payment

In the report, the Committee recommends that the Fair Payment Code should become the minimum expectation for large firms until legislation is strengthened, rather than remaining voluntary.

Additionally, the report commends accelerating late payment laws to make 30-day payment terms mandatory by the end of this Parliament. Backing the proposal, NFRC had recommended it as supported by their members to Department for Business and Trade officials during last year’s consultation on late payment.

Gray Gibson adds: “Late, partial, and non-payment continues to exert unfair pressure on our members’ cash flow. Stronger and clearer payment expectations would bring immediate improvement across construction supply chains, accelerating the UK’s growth and built environment goals.

“We encourage government to consider these recommendations carefully and implement them as it develops its response to last year’s consultation on late payment.”

Skills and Careers Focus in Schools

NFRC also welcomes the Committee’s emphasis on the need to improve careers advice and strengthen links between schools and local skills systems.

Better alignment between early education and industry needs will help more young people recognise roofing as a skilled career path, says NFRC. It says it is particularly important that “government embed primary and secondary schools’ career services into Local Skills Improvement Plans”, which is another of the strategy’s recommendations. NFRC points to its members who engage with schools sharing inspiring success stories and their community impact and wants to see such initiatives scaled up.

Other recommendations on procurement and SME administrative burden were commented on and supported by NFRC. However, further recommendations on VAT reform must consider construction supply chains, NFRC cautions.

NFRC Thanks

NFRC has thanked Paul Brain, Managing Director of Ashcroft Services and Chair of NFRC’s South West Committee, and Josh Clarke, Director and Contracts Manager at Clarke Roofing Southern Ltd and a member of NFRC’s London and Southern Counties Committee, for contributing their time and industry insight to the Committee’s inquiry. They helped to ensure the practical experience of SME roofers was heard by the inquiry.

NFRC says it will continue to engage with government as the Small Business Strategy develops. The trade association will continue to advocate for practical measures that improve cash flow, skills access, and operating conditions for SME construction firms.

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