Trade bodies representing specialist subcontractors and major contractors have confirmed they are merging to create a single body.
The National Specialist Contractors Council and UK Contractors Group agreed the move following weeks of talks.
Both sides will formally rubberstamp the move next month and the new organisation will be operational from September.
The merged body will be led by current NSCC Chief Executive Suzannah Nichol.
Chairman of UKCG James Wates said: “This is a huge step forward for the supply chain and, whilst there are some undeniable anxieties about how the new organisation will function, all our discussions to date have been extremely positive.”
Specialist subcontractors and majors have attempted several times to speak with a single voice over the years. But worthy efforts to offer Government a united front have always foundered around the issue of payment.
A cohesive voice representing the interest of tier 1 to tier 3 contractors would present a powerful lobbying voice to Government at a time when prompt payment and funding better training are serious concerns for industry’s major employers.