15 November 2012

Last week we saw late payment and the Prompt Payment Code, hosted by the ICM for BIS, rise rapidly up the political agenda. Business Minister Michael Fallon wrote to the Chief Executives of all FTSE100 and 250 companies that have not signed up to the Prompt Payment Code, urging them to do so and advising that he plans to publicly name those who don't.

Then, last Thursday, there was a debate in the House of Commons on 'Stimulating growth through better use of the Prompt Payment Code' where the impact of late payment was discussed in detail. The ICM's press release following the debate can be found here.

This recent activity coupled with the implementation of the revised EU Late Payment Directive by March 2013 means that credit management, as one of the most effective ways to avoid and deal with late payment, is also firmly on the agenda. Credit management is key to ensuring healthy cashflow and there have now been over 370,000 downloads of our Managing Cashflow Guides aimed at helping small businesses to get the basics right.

Let's make sure we make the most of this opportunity to demonstrate and promote the value that credit professionals bring to their businesses and ultimately to the economy as a whole. Now is the time to stand up and be counted, be noticed, and be proud.