Up-to-date compliance records protect against risk and prevent lost opportunities, according to a new report.
One in five (21%) construction businesses have lost out or been marked down on tenders because they didn’t have compliance data prepared.
The finding in the UK Construction Compliance Index 2026 comes despite the vast majority (64%) recognising documentation gaps posed moderate or major risks.
Delays of 24 hours or more due to gaps have been experienced by 59% of businesses in the past 12 months. Some 51% of firms also experienced payment delays for this same reason.
Just 13% of those surveyed were able to provide a same-day, audit-ready, supplier compliance pack.
The research by unified software platform provider Xpedeon was conducted via an online survey of 500 senior professionals within UK construction companies with a turnover greater than £50m – with 75% having a turnover above £100m.
Opportunities can be lost
Vivek Sharma, executive director and founding member at Xpedeon, said: “Contractors may have the right experience, delivery capability and commercial offer, but if they cannot demonstrate supplier readiness quickly, opportunities can be lost before a project has even begun.
“Construction businesses shouldn’t have to rebuild supplier compliance every time they bid for work. Keeping supplier records connected throughout the project lifecycle puts organisations in a much stronger position to respond quickly and compete more effectively when new opportunities arise.”
Sharma added: “The issue for many contractors is that approvals, certifications and supporting evidence are often spread across different systems and managed by different teams. When procurement teams ask for that information, it frequently has to be pulled together manually against a deadline.”
The report said that when compliance is not consistently managed, pressure builds in the system, and exceptions are made.
While some 43% require mandatory documentation for mobilisation or payment, 30% said flexibility could be applied to prevent delays. However, while exemptions may feel proportionate in the moment to keep a project on track, the report stated, over time repeated exceptions can start to bake in risk to a business.
The report discovered a fragmented reporting environment undermining consistency and immediacy, with just 27% using a single platform or process to manage supplier documentation, 38% using a mix of platforms, and 28% managing documentation via email, spreadsheets and shared drives.
