The Fair Payment Champions are drawn from across the industry and include Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude MP, who is determining fair payment policy at the highest level within Government, and high profile clients such as Andrew Wolstenholme from Crossrail and Stephen Blakey from Network Rail.

Several specialist contractors, who are members of the National Specialist Contractors Council championing the industry Fair Payment Campaign are also recognised for successfully implementing fair payment within their businesses.

Since the launch of the campaign five years ago, there has been significant progress in improving payment practices, particularly in the public sector where six out of 10 specialists are securing retention-free contracts and 44% are paid within 30 days.

The Government is continuing its drive for prompt payment and Business and Enterprise Minister Michael Fallon MP recently delivered a warning to big businesses that they will be publicly named for failing to sign up to the Prompt Payment Code.

NSCC President Kevin Louch said: “The achievements of the Fair Payment Campaign to date would not have been possible without the commitment of individuals like our Fair Payment Champions to making a difference.”