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:

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

Worst Payers

These companies need to seriously address their payment behaviour:

1. TATA STEEL UK LIMITED - 9.77/100
2. RENOLD POWER TRANSMISSION LIMITED - 15.5/100
3. GUALA CLOSURES UCP LIMITED - 16.5/100
4. STOELZLE FLACONNAGE LIMITED - 18/100
5. 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'.