Event Moderator for Causeway Technologies | Corporate Event in the UK

Causeway Technologies hosted a high‑level panel discussion on the UK’s forthcoming 2029 e‑Invoicing mandate, bringing together senior voices from across finance, procurement, and construction to explore what the legislation means in practice — and why the shift represents far more than a compliance exercise.

Moderated by Juliette Foster, the session featured insights from:

• Joe Sellwood, Finance Manager – Head of Source to Pay, Amey Group
• Ellen Leith, Founder & Director, Purchase to Pay Network
• Tim Cole, Digital Business Advocate, Causeway Technologies

Together, they unpacked the operational, technical, and cultural implications of mandatory structured e‑Invoicing for one of the UK’s most complex and fragmented sectors.

1. Why e‑Invoicing Matters: Beyond Compliance

The panel began by stripping away the jargon to focus on the real value of e‑Invoicing for construction. While compliance with the 2029 mandate is unavoidable, the speakers emphasised that the true benefits lie in:

• Real‑time visibility across multi‑tier supply chains
• Improved data quality, reducing errors and disputes
• Faster, more accurate processing
• Better alignment with the Fair Payment Code, which rewards 30‑day payment performance
• Structured data that enables automation, analytics, and AI

A recurring theme was that businesses often believe they have an “invoicing problem” when in reality they have a data problem. Structured, machine‑readable data was described as the foundation for everything from matching and reconciliation to predictive analytics.

2. The Reality: Challenges on the Road to 2029

The panel acknowledged that while the deadline is fixed, the roadmap is still evolving — and construction faces unique hurdles:

• Long payment cycles and deep subcontractor chains
• SMEs still reliant on PDFs or paper
• The cost and complexity of onboarding Tier 3 and Tier 4 suppliers
• The risk of running old and new systems side‑by‑side during transition
• Increased cybersecurity exposure as systems become more interconnected

Joe Sellwood highlighted that Tier 1 contractors expect the biggest pain points to be supplier onboarding and system integration, not the technology itself. Ellen Leith noted that SMEs’ concerns about cost and training are valid, but manageable with the right support and clear communication.

The panel agreed that if implemented well, e‑Invoicing — combined with the Fair Payment Code — could help stabilise a sector that has seen insolvencies rise nearly 50% in recent years.

3. The Future: Global Alignment, AI, and Competitive Advantage

Looking ahead, the speakers explored how e‑Invoicing could reshape the sector:

• The UK is catching up with more than 60 countries that already mandate e‑Invoicing.
• Real‑time invoice data could eventually automate VAT reporting.
• Early adopters will gain competitive advantage through efficiency, transparency, and improved cashflow.
• Structured data unlocks meaningful AI use cases, from anomaly detection to forecasting.
• E‑Invoicing data may become part of tender qualification or proof of Fair Payment compliance.

The panel stressed that 2029 should not be treated as a “finance project” or a last‑minute scramble. It is a strategic transformation that touches finance, IT, procurement, commercial teams, and the entire supply chain.

4. Key Takeaways

Across the discussion, several messages were clear:

• Start early — the businesses that plan now will avoid disruption later.
• Engage suppliers, especially SMEs, with simple, structured onboarding.
• Align finance and IT — this is an operational shift, not just a technical one.
• Don’t rely on PDF extraction — it won’t be future‑proof under the mandate.
• Treat e‑Invoicing as an opportunity, not a burden.

The session concluded with a lively audience Q&A, reflecting strong interest in practical implementation, supplier readiness, and the evolving government roadmap.