London Payment Practices Outpace the UK, But Extremes Persist

The Numbers

• Data covers 1,000 London-based companies.
• Average PaymentCheck Score: 76.2/100.
• UK average PaymentCheck Score: 50.0/100.
• London companies average 26.2 points higher than the UK average.
• Top 5 payers all achieved a perfect 100/100.
• Bottom 2 payers scored 0/100.

What Stands Out

London firms are, on average, far better payers than their UK counterparts, indicating a stronger payment culture. However, the existence of companies scoring zero alongside others scoring perfectly reveals significant inconsistencies. The data suggests that size or profitability might not be sole determinants of payment behaviour, as evidenced by the varying scores.

Best Payers

The leaders demonstrate what's achievable. The companies with a perfect 100 PaymentCheck Score are:

1. TRADEWILL LIMITED
2. SLAUGHTER AND MAY SERVICES COMPANY
3. JOHN LEWIS PROPERTIES PLC
4. MOTABILITY OPERATIONS LIMITED
5. VALERO HOLDCO UK LTD

These companies span diverse sectors, showcasing that excellent payment practice isn't industry-specific.

Worst Payers

The tail end of the distribution paints a concerning picture. Here are the five companies at the bottom:

1. CSIB (NO.1) LIMITED - 0/100
2. CREATION COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED - 0/100
3. TATA STEEL UK LIMITED - 5.8/100
4. PETROFAC ENGINEERING LIMITED - 15.3/100
5. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL (MEDIA) LIMITED - 18.1/100

The fact that two companies achieved a score of zero suggests a complete disregard for prompt payment obligations. While not all are small businesses, the impact on their suppliers could be substantial. Struggling to get invoices paid on time? Use our late payment calculator.

Sector Breakdown

Sector performance is a mixed bag:

• Physical Health leads the way with an impressive average of 89.3, but this is only based on two companies, so is not truly representative.
• Financial Services scores a respectable 85.3 across 166 companies.
• Human Resources at 81.7 (21 companies) shows consistent, if unspectacular, payment practices.
• Sports (80.9 avg, 3 companies) and Waterways Travel (80.7 avg, 1 company) are statistically insignificant due to the small sample size.

The high Financial Services average likely reflects the sector's tighter regulatory oversight and emphasis on risk management.

One-line takeaway: While London’s average PaymentCheck score is 76.2, a stark contrast exists between the top 5 payers at 100 and the bottom 2 at 0.

2025: The Story

London's average payment score saw a slight dip in 2025, falling 0.7 points to 75.8/100, even as 519 companies exited the reporting landscape. While the overall trend was negative, individual companies showed dramatic shifts. Retail giant GAP UK Holdings Limited staged an impressive comeback, jumping 47.4 points to reach an near-perfect 99.8/100, demonstrating a clear commitment to timely payments. Similarly, The Financial Times (M-M UK) Limited boosted its score by an impressive 65.6 points to 95.6/100, marking a significant turnaround. In contrast, MITIE FM Limited, a significant player in facilities management, saw its score decline by 5.5 points to 64.1/100, indicating potential challenges. The influx of high-scoring new entrants like Fern Trading Group (100.0/100) and Macquarie UK Holdings (100.0/100) alongside notable improvements from established names suggests a growing split between top-tier payers and those struggling. Suppliers in London should continue to monitor individual company scores closely, as significant payment divergence highlights the importance of partner-specific due diligence.