Chris Bennett said he has suffered at the hands of late payment by main contractors.

And now he is taking an MSc in Construction Management at Liverpool John Moore’s University with payment abuse as one of his specialist subjects.

More than 100 firms have already taken part in the survey which is anonymous but will be used to inform future debate on how subcontractors are treated.

The initiative is being promoted by pressure group Streetwise Subbi.

Director Barry Ashmore said: Most, if not all, specialist contractors will experience payment problems of one form or another at some time in their lives.

“As a director of a joinery business, Chris Bennett, experienced first-hand the impact that late and non-payment had on his business.

“The results are already painting quite a stark picture.”

To take the survey click here