Subcontractors warned not to break in to sites and retrieve kit
Officials have confirmed that Carillion鈥檚 suppliers will not be paid for work carried out up to Monday when the firm went bust.
The news comes as the thousands of subcontractors caught up in the catastrophe were warned not to take matters into their own hands and break into idle sites and recover plant and equipment.
John Wevill, head of construction at law firm Boodle Hatfield, told firms: 鈥淒on鈥檛 take the law into your hands. The only legal way to retrieve the goods is to contact the keyholder of the site and retrieve them under supervision.鈥�
The warning comes as liquidator PwC confirmed subbies鈥� worst fears that they won鈥檛 be paid for work carried out for Carillion up to its collapse 48 hours ago at a meeting with industry groups at the Department for Business this morning.
I don鈥檛 think anyone will be rushing to enter these arrangements. Some are owed millions, they just may not have the resources to carry on
Rudi Klein, SEC Group
PwC was unable to confirm if invoices submitted after Carillion鈥檚 collapse would be paid but said it hoped to form so-called 鈥渟pecial relationships鈥� with companies to finish work on unfinished jobs.
The accountant, which is acting on behalf of the official receiver, has said it is looking for companies interested in special deals under which they continue to supply materials and work on site.
PwC has committed to paying these suppliers directly while it tries to appoint main contractors to Carillion鈥檚 former contracts. If companies do want to take up the offer, they have been advised by PwC to contact the Carillion management they normally deal with
But Rudi Klein, chief executive of Specialist Engineering Contractors鈥� Group, said he doubted many would find the 鈥渟pecial relationships鈥� attractive and added: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anyone will be rushing to enter these arrangements. Some are owed millions, they just may not have the resources to carry on. Some sites are closed, they will have to be mobilised again. Will that cost be covered? I think they鈥檒l be reluctant to go back.鈥�
For those that do want to enter these relationships, Klein said they need to make sure they secure rapid payments for the work they do.
The plight of Carillion suppliers unable to access millions of pounds worth of building materials and plant on Carillion sites that have been shut since Monday was also raised at today鈥檚 meeting.
Klein said: 鈥淭here are specialists who have just delivered plant to sites that is worth thousands of pounds. Total value could run into nearly quarter of a million on any one site. This is expensive kit and while it鈥檚 locked up, it can鈥檛 be used on another job.鈥�
PwC has said there will be a process for sorting out ownership of equipment on sites but would not commit to a timeframe.
The firm said it would be updating its today to include a list of questions and answers about the latest developments.
PWC website: Advice to suppliers
The Companies are continuing to trade.
Unless advised otherwise, all agents, subcontractors and suppliers should continue to work and provide goods and services as normal, under their existing contracts, terms and conditions.
You will get paid for goods and services you supply from 15 January 2018. Over the coming days we will review supplier contracts and we鈥檒l contact you concerning these soon. Goods and services you supply during the liquidation will be paid for. A letter will be sent to suppliers shortly containing further instructions. In the first instance, please speak to your usual contact at the Companies. Matters requiring the specific attention of the Special Managers can be sent to:
sharedservices.carillion@uk.pwc.com
In your email please state your name, your company name, the name of your usual contact at the group and any other information you think will be useful. This will allow us to answer your query as quickly as possibly.
Your co-operation will allow the Companies to continue trading with minimal disruption.
No comments yet