Pro Installer July 2024 - Issue 136 | Page 42

Business
42 | JULY 2024

Business

Read online at www . proinstaller . co . uk

TRADESPEOPLE LOSE OVER £ 1,000 A YEAR FROM WITHHELD CUSTOMER PAYMENTS

• Four in five ( 79 %) have experienced customers refusing to pay for work
• Almost a quarter ( 24 %) of tradespeople have written off withheld payments as losses
• More than a fifth ( 23 %) say withheld payments have led to difficulties paying employees
Tradespeople in the UK are losing thousands of pounds every year due to customers withholding payments , and the problem is getting worse , according to new research .
A study by IronmongeryDirect , the leading specialist supplier to the trade , surveyed workers across the country to discover the scale of the problem and how it is impacting businesses .
It found that almost a fifth ( 19 %) of tradespeople experience withheld payments five or more times a year , compared to just 12 % when the research was done before in 2021 .
Overall , around four in five ( 79 %) say they have encountered customers who refuse to pay .
On average , each individual loses £ 1,062 of income each year because of such reasons , but many lose far more . One in seven ( 14 %) miss out on over £ 2,000 a year .
Some tradespeople are more vulnerable than others to the problem . Young tradespeople
are more likely to be affected , with Millennial ( 25-34s ) and Gen Z ( 18-24s ) reporting the most instances .
Comparing trades , builders are impacted the most , with an average annual loss of £ 1,462 .
Withheld payments can have serious consequences for trade businesses . Almost a quarter ( 24 %) of tradespeople say they have had to write off some debts as losses , and a similar number ( 23 %) say that this has led to difficulties paying their employees .
Other repercussions include cash flow problems ( 18 %), delays paying suppliers ( 12 %) and difficulties taking on new jobs ( 15 %).
Ellis Osborn , Ecommerce Manager at IronmongeryDirect , said : “ Customers withholding payments from tradespeople is a real problem , and it can harm workers and businesses in a wide variety of ways .
“ The most common reason why customers don ’ t pay is that they have their own financial difficulties , but they should not be confirming work with tradespeople if
this is the case , as a lot of time , money and effort is wasted . It ’ s also against the law not to give workers the money they are owed , so we ’ ve partnered with a business coach to explain your rights .”
To read expert advice on how to handle unpaid customer invoices , visit : www . ironmongerydirect . co . uk / blog / expert-tips-for-handling-unpaidinvoices

VETERAN SARIN JOINS SALES

The firm behind the key window and door brands Silka and Apeer , New World Developments , has announced the appointment of 33 new members of staff in Ballymena ; an increase of around 20 % of its workforce ; mostly in the factory across the Apeer composite door and Silka aluminum window operations , facilitating the introduction of a night shift , increasing production and reducing lead times .
A notable appointment is that of glass , window and door industry veteran Roland Sarin , who will take up a role as Regional Sales Manager for South West England and South Wales . Roland lives in the area and has enormous experience of every aspect of glass and glazing and is well versed in the structure of the industry and especially in the nuances of home improvement retail markets .
NWD Sales & Marketing Director for England & Wales Andy Jones said : “ He is one of the most experienced field operators in the industry and he joins us at a most important time , especially for our customers .”
www . apeer . co . uk

“ We can only be as good as the suppliers we work with ”

Quickslide , a leading manufacturer and supplier of PVC-U sash windows , has signed a five-year contract with Epwin Window Systems to continue manufacturing its market-leading Vertical Sliding Sash Window .
The agreement further extends the relationship between the two businesses , which started in 2019 .
Ben Weber , Managing Director of Quickslide , commented : “ We are very selective about our choice of supply partner because we know we can only be as good as the suppliers we work with .”
Ben notes that the credentials of the Epwin Window Systems Vertical Sliding Sash Window were key to choosing the systems company as its supply partner . However , he says the true value lies in the strength of the relationship , which has significantly benefited Quickslide ’ s business .
He continued : “ We ’ ve been involved in numerous forums and had open dialogues with the senior management team to discuss continuous product developments and building regulation changes , which have helped us remain ahead of the curve for our customers .”
www . epwinwindowsystems . co . uk