FINANCE & SPEND
Small Business Commissioner, Emma Jones CBE, whose office recovered three times more overdue invoices in 2025 than in 2024, added that the reforms will“ reduce the hours spent chasing debt,” allowing firms to focus on more productive growth.
This focus on stability is echoed by small business owners like Debbie Williams, Co-Founder of John Williams Heating Services:“ As a family-run business that has served our community for more than 20 years, we see first-hand the strain that late payments place on small companies. Cashflow pressures don’ t just affect the balance sheet, they impact our ability to take on apprentices, invest in training and continue providing reliable service to local families.
“ We welcome the Government’ s focus on tackling late payments, as timely and fair payment practices are essential for the stability and growth of businesses like ours.”
Strategic supply chain resilience From a procurement perspective, the reforms signal a move toward more resilient, less cost-driven networks. Sapna Amlani, Supply Chains Industry Practice Lead at Moody’ s Analytics, suggests that enforced limits will prevent viable suppliers from failing due to liquidity strain rather than underlying demand weakness.
“ Late payment represents a material financial risk within UK supply chains,”
90 May 2026