On Tuesday 11 October, Anderson Strathern sponsored and hosted NSCC’s (National Specialist Contractors Council) launch of the NSCC No Retention Policy in Scotland. Over 40 contractors, clients, architects and suppliers attended the event which included a seminar on ‘Protecting Your Money’.

The NSCC No Retention Policy, which has the support of NSCC’s 32 member organisations, aims to eliminate cash retentions by providing Specialist Contractors with the support they need to resist retentions. NSCC Chief Executive Suzannah Nichol MBE explained how Specialist Contractors could say, ‘no’ to cash retentions using the guidance and tools provided by NSCC.

Delegates also heard from Karyn Watt, Head of Infrastructure at Anderson Strathern and legal advisor to NSCC who spoke about changes to the Construction Act that are due to come into force in Scotland on 1 November. The revised Construction Act will make it easier to get paid and will empower Specialist Contractors to take the payment process into their own hands if the main contractor fails to issue payment notices.

The launch of the No Retention Policy in Scotland marks another key milestone for the NSCC Fair Payment Campaign with the Scottish Government having already committed to 30-day payment throughout the supply chain on public contracts and its Construction Procurement Manual stating that: “Cash retentions or other traditional means of assurance should not prevail purely by default or without adequate analysis…hence, the Scottish Government does not prescribe the use of cash retentions.”

NSCC Scottish Committee Chairman Iain Robertson said: “NSCC continues to demand fair payment throughout the supply chain and the success of the ‘Protecting YOUR Money’ Seminar demonstrates increasing recognition by the supply chain that by working together we can improve payment practices. NSCC is creating the framework and providing the practical support; it is Specialist Contractors that will make it happen in practice.”

The NSCC Fair Payment Campaign website has a dedicated section on retentions at www.no-retention.co.uk. NSCC has also developed a ‘No Retention Policy’ app that provides the key information when it is needed most.

For more information please contact:

Karyn Watt, Partner E: karyn.watt@andersonstrathern.co.uk T: 0131 270 7700
Emma Aitken, Marketing Manager E: emma.aitken@andersonstrathern.co.uk T: 0131 270 7791