UK’s Willmott Dixon Offers Early Payment Initiative to Supply Chain Members
UK construction, housing and property development company Willmott Dixon has launched a system that enables its ‘Category A’ suppliers to get access to their payments two weeks before the company’s standard payment terms.
The company’s EarlyPay scheme will enable those suppliers on 42 day terms to receive their payments 28 days after the valuation date. In the case of suppliers that have 30 day payment terms, they will be paid after just 21 days.
Companies that choose to sign up with EarlyPay will pay no more than 2.0% interest (annual percentage rate (APR) of 1.5% over the London interbank offered rate (Libor)) on the period between the new earlier payment date and their existing payment terms.
Willmott Dixon said the initiative was its latest move to support the cashflow of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) following its early adoption of the UK government’s prompt payment code and it already makes the majority of payments to subcontractors within 30 days.
The company has over 650 Category ‘A’ suppliers that are eligible to opt into the EarlyPay scheme, which is completely voluntary. There are no charges for signing up to EarlyPay and companies can choose to leave the scheme at any time in the future at no cost and return to their current terms.
Willmott Dixon added that it will progressively introduce the scheme, developed with Lloyds Bank, from May following a successful trial with a number of suppliers who have tested it and have given feedback. Similarly prior to the launch, the company has fully briefed a major trade body on its intended approach and is holding a series of road shows across the country to explain EarlyPay to Category ‘A’ suppliers and to answer any questions.
“It is absolutely in our interests that our supply chain partners are successful, remain liquid and are profitable,” said group chief executive (CEO), Rick Wilmott.
“Healthy cashflow is an essential element of our industry’s ability to operate and we have deliberately created an early payment system that is both transparent and advantageous to our suppliers should they choose to opt in.”