UK Manufacturing Payment Practices: A Mixed Bag in 2023

The Numbers

Companies analysed: 186
Average PaymentCheck Score: 51.7/100
UK average (all sectors): 50.0/100
Manufacturing average vs. UK average: +1.7 points
Top payer score: 90.3/100 (LIEBHERR SUNDERLAND WORKS LIMITED)
Bottom payer score: 9.77/100 (TATA STEEL UK LIMITED)
Highest regional average: 65.0/100 (North East, 5 companies)
Lowest regional average: Data not sufficient to call a clear loser

What Stands Out

While UK Manufacturing slightly outperforms the national average in payment practices, the narrow 1.7-point lead is frankly unimpressive and indicates room for significant improvement. The enormous gulf between the best and worst payers – an 80.53-point difference – underlines the inconsistent approach to supplier payments across the sector.

Best Payers

These companies set a positive example with their payment practices:

LIEBHERR SUNDERLAND WORKS LIMITED - 90.3/100
M GROUP SERVICES PLANT & FLEET SOLUTIONS LIMITED - 89.9/100
LINDE MH UK LIMITED - 89.6/100
KINDRED (LONDON) LIMITED - 89.5/100
MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES EMEA, LTD. - 88.6/100

Worst Payers

These companies need to seriously address their payment behaviour:

TATA STEEL UK LIMITED - 9.77/100
RENOLD POWER TRANSMISSION LIMITED - 15.5/100
GUALA CLOSURES UCP LIMITED - 16.5/100
STOELZLE FLACONNAGE LIMITED - 18/100
CROWN PACKAGING MANUFACTURING UK LIMITED - 18.5/100

Regional Patterns

The North East showed the strongest payment performance, averaging 65.0 across 5 companies, while the South West came in second at 60.5 based on data from 11 companies; we need more data from across the UK to draw stronger regional conclusions.

If you're facing late payments, you can use a late payment calculator to determine potential interest and compensation.

With the best payer at 90.3 and the worst at just 9.77, payment practices in UK Manufacturing are too inconsistent to call 'good'.