North West Businesses Lead the UK on Payment Practices... But Cracks Appear

The Numbers

• Companies analysed: 464
• Average PaymentCheck Score: 65.6/100
• UK average PaymentCheck Score: 50.0/100
• North West advantage over UK average: 15.6 points
• Top PaymentCheck Score: 100/100 (multiple companies)
• Lowest PaymentCheck Score: 5/100
• Physical Health sector average: 99.0/100 (1 company)

What Stands Out

The North West significantly outperforms the UK average on payment practices, showcasing a regional strength. However, the wide range between the highest and lowest scores (100 vs 5) highlights a stark contrast in payment ethics within the region.

Best Payers

These companies set the gold standard, all but guaranteeing timely payments:

1. PAYSTREAM MY MAX HOLDINGS LIMITED - 100/100
2. PAYSTREAM MY MAX 3 LIMITED - 100/100
3. PAYSTREAM ACCOUNTING SERVICES LIMITED - 100/100
4. FOCUSED GROUP LIMITED - 100/100
5. MARKS AND SPENCER FINANCIAL SERVICES PLC - 99.6/100

Worst Payers

Suppliers should approach these companies with caution, as their payment history suggests potential delays:

1. CROWN PACKAGING DISTRIBUTION UK LIMITED - 5/100
2. CROWN PACKAGING MANUFACTURING UK LIMITED - 11.8/100
3. BOOHOO.COM UK LIMITED - 19.67/100
4. SHOP DIRECT FINANCE COMPANY LIMITED - 20.1/100
5. DNATA CATERING UK LIMITED - 21.8/100

Sector Breakdown

While most sectors have multiple data points, the dominance of a 99.0 average in Physical Health, albeit based on a single company, raises questions about sector-specific payment cultures. It's also worth noting that Human Resources (86.1 avg across 17 companies) and Care Services (86.0 avg across 9 companies) show an above-average performance.

If you are worried about late payments, use a late payment calculator.

Despite a regional average 15.6 points above the UK, the significant disparity between the best and worst payers indicates that suppliers can't afford to be complacent in the North West.