We often hear from our Members that cash retentions create serious problems for their cashflow. 2023 saw a big push forward in NFRC's work putting pressure on government to make change, by abolishing or reforming retentions, to free up the £300 million kept out of roofing contractors' pockets by the practice. Pressure from the industry, including from NFRC, is now making an impact. In November, the government announced that large businesses will now have to report to government on whether they hold retentions and how effective they are at paying it back on time. This will highlight the companies who are failing to adhere to agreed terms, and will allow roofing contractors to easily identify which clients use retentions. But it's a small step forward, and that's why this is only the beginning. Building the case Campaigns like this need to be backed up by data, acting as hard evidence of the problem, and NFRC Members have helped us by providing information about their experiences. Nearly 100 Members filled out the full Member Retentions Survey or the version piloted in Yorkshire and the North East, and around the same number gave information about their experiences dealing with cash retentions specifically on local authority projects. Thank you in particular to Karl Austerfield, Chair of NFRC's Yorkshire and North East Region, and to Andy Turnbull for their help in piloting the 2023 Retentions Survey. Taking it to Parliament On 5 July 2023, NFRC held an evening reception on Terrace Pavilion at the House of Commons entitled ‘Retain skills not cash', with parliamentarians, NFRC Members, and representatives from other industries. Our host was Andrew Lewer MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on SME Housebuilders, who was introduced to the retentions issue by NFRC. Andrew made a speech to guests, as did Neil Harrison of NFRC Member BriggsAmasco. This event allowed NFRC to gain an audience with interested parliamentarians, and led to a number of productive meetings later in the year for James Talman, NFRC CEO, and Catherine Oxley, NFRC Policy Officer, with MPs as well as a member of the House of Lords on how the issue can be taken forward in terms of government policy. Helping MPs and Lords to speak out Further work with Andrew Lewer MP and Lord Aberdare led to the retentions issue being raised in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords in the weeks following NFRC's event, and throughout the year as it continued. NFRC's evidence and information allowed them to learn more about the issue and build the necessary knowledge to raise this in Parliament. Our communication with them continues.
