UK HR Sector Payment Practices Solidly Above Average in 2025, But Stark Disparities Persist

The Numbers

• Companies analysed: 91
• Average PaymentCheck Score: 82.0/100
• UK average (all sectors): 50.0/100
• Difference between HR average and UK average: 32.0 points
• Number of companies achieving a perfect score: 2
• Range of scores: 15.4/100 to 100/100

What Stands Out

The HR sector significantly outperforms the UK average in payment practices, suggesting a strong commitment to timely payments, which is somewhat ironic given their business (helping others get paid). However, the wide range of scores indicates substantial inconsistency across the sector: some firms are exemplary, while others lag far behind.

Best Payers

1. ID MEDICAL GROUP LIMITED - 100/100
2. PAYSTREAM MY MAX 3 LIMITED - 100/100
3. PAYQUEST GROUP LIMITED - 99.6/100
4. SANDERSON RECRUITMENT PLC - 99.6/100
5. VITAL HUMAN RESOURCES LIMITED - 99.6/100

Worst Payers

1. PTS GROUP LIMITED - 15.4/100
2. GSF CAR PARTS LIMITED - 21.7/100
3. GUIDANT GLOBAL UK LIMITED - 33.2/100
4. WILLIAMS LEA LIMITED - 37.3/100
5. MEDACS HEALTHCARE LIMITED - 43.3/100

Regional Patterns

There's a fair amount of regional variation, with the South West leading the way at an average of 95.0 across seven companies. The North West also performs strongly, averaging 92.2 from eleven firms. It's worth noting that the "Unknown" region comes in third with 90.2. You can use this late payment calculator if you're consistently struggling with late payments.

The substantial difference between the best and worst payers (84.6 points separating ID Medical Group from PTS Group Limited) highlights the urgent need for improvement within the sector.

2025: The Story

The Human Resources sector saw a notable uptick in payment performance in 2025, with the average score improving by 1.6 points to 82.0/100 among 91 companies. This positive shift was significantly driven by individual company transformations; notably, PAYQUEST GROUP LIMITED jumped 16.8 points to an impressive 99.6/100, nearly achieving perfect payment reliability. PULSE HEALTHCARE LIMITED also demonstrated a strong commitment to timely payments, with its score climbing by 19.8 points to 90.6/100.

However, the year also brought considerable declines for other key players. GSF CAR PARTS LIMITED experienced a sharp -8.5-point drop, landing at a concerning 21.7/100, while EXPERIS LIMITED fell 10.4 points to 50.3/100. The data also showed significant market dynamics, with 27 companies departing and 5 new entrants, including VITAL HUMAN RESOURCES LIMITED (99.6/100), reshaping the landscape. The widening gap between top performers and those struggling indicates that while the sector's average improved, payment consistency is far from uniform. Suppliers should closely monitor individual company trends, as broad sector averages can mask substantial variance.