North East Payment Practices Report 2022
North East Businesses Buck Payment Trend, Outperforming UK Average
A new analysis of 133 companies in the North East of England reveals a surprising trend: they're paying suppliers significantly faster than the rest of the UK.
The Numbers
- Companies analysed: 133
- Average PaymentCheck Score: 60.9/100
- UK average: 50.0/100 (North East is 10.9 points above)
What Stands Out
The North East's average PaymentCheck score is a whole 10.9 points above the UK average, suggesting a stronger payment culture in the region. However, this positive regional picture obscures some significant disparities between top and bottom performers.
Best Payers
The top performers in the North East are demonstrating exceptional payment practices. Topping the list is TOGETHER FOR CHILDREN SUNDERLAND LIMITED with a near-perfect score of 99.05/100. Everflow Limited (97.3/100), Nigel Frank International Limited (96.9/100), Sunderland Care and Support Limited (96.8/100) and Helston Garages Group Management Limited (94/100) also showcase commendable payment ethics.
Worst Payers
At the other end of the spectrum, some companies are struggling to meet payment obligations. EDF EN UK LIMITED scores a concerning 12.45/100, followed by Arriva Rail North Limited (14.9/100). GAP GROUP LIMITED (29.83/100), Dorenell Windfarm Limited (30.2/100) and EDF Energy Renewables Holdings Limited (30.9/100) round out the bottom five, indicating potential cash flow issues or a disregard for prompt payment. If late payments are affecting your business, you can calculate the potential interest owed with a late payment calculator.
Sector Breakdown
The software sector leads the way with an average score of 97.3, based on one company, closely followed by the human resources sector, also with one company, at 96.9. Care services shows a robust average of 86.1 across four companies, while financial services firms score 82.9 on average (5 companies). Air travel firms, with 2 companies, sit at a respectable average of 73.2.
Despite an average PaymentCheck Score of 60.9, the presence of companies scoring below 31 highlights the inconsistency of payment practices in the region.
Read next
Late payment in the UK is quietly improving — but your invoice still depends on who you sell to
We analysed over 100,000 published UK payment-practice reports. Late payment is falling — from 20% of invoices paid outs
UK Company Payment Practices 2025: Biggest Risers, Fallers & New Entrants
How UK companies' payment practices changed in 2025 — the biggest improvers, the firms slipping, and the strongest new e
Agriculture Payment Practices Report 2025
The UK agriculture sector is significantly outperforming the UK average for payment practices, suggesting a degree of fi
Northern Ireland Payment Trends: 2024 vs 2025
The year-on-year decline of 0.1 points, while statistically insignificant, suggests a stagnation in payment performance