UK Manufacturing Payments: A Mixed Bag in 2025

The Numbers

• Companies analysed: 156
• Average PaymentCheck Score: 53.1/100
• UK average: 50.0/100
• Northern Ireland average: 65.9/100 (2 companies)
• East of England average: 61.4/100 (11 companies)
• South East average: 58.6/100 (34 companies)
• South West average: 55.1/100 (12 companies)

What Stands Out

Manufacturing's average PaymentCheck score of 53.1 is marginally above the UK average of 50, but let's be honest, it's hardly setting the world alight. The spread between the best and worst payers is huge – Tata Steel scores a dismal 5.8, while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries EMEA hits a respectable 92.47, showing there's no sector-wide standard.

Best Payers

1. MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES EMEA, LTD. - 92.47/100
2. ATLAS COPCO LIMITED - 91.7/100
3. DE LAGE LANDEN LEASING LIMITED - 90.6/100
4. STANNAH LIFT SERVICES LIMITED - 89.9/100
5. M GROUP SERVICES PLANT & FLEET SOLUTIONS LIMITED - 88/100

Worst Payers

1. TATA STEEL UK LIMITED - 5.8/100
2. SCHOELLER ALLIBERT LIMITED - 19.7/100
3. GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED - 21.8/100
4. COVERIS LOUTH LIMITED - 24.4/100
5. ZF LEMFORDER UK LIMITED - 25.7/100

Regional Patterns

Northern Ireland stands out with an average PaymentCheck score of 65.9, significantly higher than other regions, although this figure's based on just two companies, so it's hardly conclusive; the South East has the most companies recorded and scores 58.6, higher than the average of 53.1.

If you're waiting to get paid, see if our late payment calculator can help.

Takeaway: With a sector average of 53.1 and a massive range of scores, payment practices in UK manufacturing are far from consistent, highlighting the need for suppliers to do their homework on individual companies.