The UK is forecasting 6,000+ insolvencies in construction this year as the result of late payments and bad debts.

Unfair payment practices and insolvency are causing catastrophic mental health issues and discord in the industry — with suicide rates up +30% in the past decade.

Subcontractors must pull together to force the use of Project Bank Accounts (PBAs) and drive much-needed change in the industry.

A PBA is a separate account that holds all payments for a particular construction project, which means payments are ring-fenced and cannot be used for other purposes. The funds are jointly controlled by the client, main contractor, and the subcontractors — ensuring each party is paid on time and in full.

Project Bank Accounts have already been successfully adopted on public contracts across the UK. They ensure subcontractors are paid promptly, minimise reliance on borrowing, and lower the risk of insolvency. However, this has been exclusively for public contracts, meaning most of the industry cannot access mandatory ethical payment practices.

PBAs will save lives and bring transparency, compliance, and sustainable economic growth to the construction industry.

We call on the UK Government to make Project Bank Accounts (PBAs) mandatory for construction projects over the value of £1m.

Join thousands of subcontractors by signing this petition today.

To learn more about our petition, check out our video below: