Late Payments Consultation

Kier Starmer (PM) and Jonathan Reynolds have called on tougher measures to protect electricians.

Respond to the consultation and get your voice heard!

The Department for Business & Trade has opened a consultation seeking views on a package of proposed legislative measures to address late, long and disputed business to business payments.

This consultation expressly tackles the issue of reform of cash retentions – a battle ECA has fought for 30+ years and is therefore the most pivotal Government intervention since the Construction Act in 1996. It is vital that industry coalesces around one solution: abolition or protection.

With the launch of this new consultation, ECA has developed a template response to help Members input in it.

All you need to do is download ECA's template, copy and adapt to your business and then send. It's that easy!

Download the template here >

You can then either complete the consultation via:

online form or
email your response to: promptpayment@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Respond by 23 October 2025

“

From… electricians to freelance designers and manufacturers—too many hardworking people are being forced to spend precious hours chasing payments instead of doing what they do best – growing their businesses. It’s unfair, it’s exhausting, and it’s holding Britain back. So, our message is clear: it’s time to pay up.

”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer