While the manufacturing sector edges out the overall UK average in payment performance, the minuscule 1.2-point difference is hardly cause for celebration. The chasm between the best and worst payers reveals a significant disparity in how companies treat their suppliers, suggesting that some companies are prioritising their suppliers. You can use our late payment calculator to work out interest due on overdue invoices.
Northern Ireland tops the regional rankings, but this is based on a single company, making it statistically insignificant. The North East, with an average of 57.6/100 across 4 companies, surpasses London's 55.0/100 across 17 companies, showing a potential trend for better payment practices in the region.
The takeaway: The 80.2-point gap between the best and worst payers highlights that payment performance in UK manufacturing is far from uniform, despite the sector's marginally above-average score of 51.2/100.
© 2026 Payment Check Ltd
Registered Address: 3rd Floor Suite 207 Regent Street London W1B 3HH
Made by Alastair Campbell