Amey, Morrison Utility Services, ISG, and Costain rank as construction’s fastest-paying main contractors settling subcontractor and supplier invoices in less than 20 days.

Latest returns from submissions to the Government’s Duty to Report on Payment Practices and Performance indicate a slight improvement on past years.

The controversial self-reporting data, which is collated and published by trade body Build UK every six months, has been challenged by subcontractors who complain it is open to gaming because it is based on the number of invoices paid rather than value.

This means that if many small sums are paid promptly, large payments could still be delayed without seriously impacting payment records.

One told the Enquirer: “We know one main contractor is pushing through payments under £15,000 but is paying more slowly on larger sums.”

Main contractor payment performance – source Build UK

Average payment days
% not paid
to terms
% paid
within 60 days

Amey
10
13
99

Morrison Utility Services
16
13
95

ISG
17
21
98

Costain
18
9
99

Lendlease
21
0
100

Canary Wharf Contractors
23
1
99

Ferrovial
23
22
96

Murphy
23
12
94

Bouygues
24
19
97

Galliford Try
25
15
97

Morgan Sindall
25
3
98

Mace
26
12
95

Novus Property Solutions
27
18
95

VolkerWessels
27
23
97

Sir Robert McAlpine
27
5
96

Willmott Dixon
28
12
99

Colas
28
28
94

BAM Nuttall
28
12
96

Laing O’Rourke
28
16
94

FM Conway
28
11
97

Wates
29
18
98

John Sisk & Son
29
15
98

Multiplex
30
16
93

Vinci
30
18
93

McLaren Construction
30
28
95

Osborne
30
40
93

Bowmer and Kirkland
30
28
95

Henry Boot
31
15
96

Wilson James
31
15
96

Kier
32
24
91

BAM Construct
32
23
95

Tilbury Douglas
32
23
96

McAleer & Rushe
33
4
95

Balfour Beatty
34
13
97

McLaughlin and Harvey
34
24
95

Skanska
34
13
92

Robertson Construction
34
34
97

Seddon
36
3
98

Graham Construction
37
6
95

Eurovia
42
16
86

EQUANS
48
1
77

Watkin Jones
49
9
86

Northstone
51
53
78

The top 43 main contractors are taking on average nearly 30 days to pay, a day faster than a year ago.

Also the average percentage of invoices not paid within terms improved from 19% to 16.5% compared to six months ago.

Specialist contractors

Average payment days
% not paid to terms
% paid within
60 days

Concrete

J. Reddington
23
6
89

Expanded Structures
25
12
90

FP McCann
27
10
98

Carey Group
29
21
87

Getjar
37
8
90

Morrisroe
38
7
91

CJ O’Shea
43
3
93

Byrne Brothers
49
1
89

Tamdown
61
28
64

Piling

Cementation Skanska
32
10
98

Bachy Soletanche
35
23
93

Keller
36
22
95

Roger Bullivant
47
4
86

Van Elle
60
11
56

M&E

Crown House Technologies
26
17
82

SES
33
36
95

Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil
36
17
90

NG Bailey
37
9
98

Dalkia Engineering
41
38
74

Dodd Group
49
8
46

TClarke
52
10
52

Dalkia Operations
52
24
63

Gratte Brothers
55
7
60

Briggs & Forrester
60
24
47

Fit-out

Stanmore
12
0
99

Overbury
20
4
98

ISG Fit Out
24
53
96

Portview
26
6
96

Willmott Dixon Interiors
30
12
98

BW Interiors
37
12
97