South East Businesses Lead UK on Payment Speed, But Cracks Emerge

The Numbers

841 companies analysed in the South East, UK.
Average PaymentCheck Score: 69.5/100.
UK average PaymentCheck Score: 50.0/100.
The South East surpasses the UK average by 19.5 points.
Five companies achieved a perfect 100/100 PaymentCheck Score.
Five companies scored below 22/100.
Human Resources sector leads at 88.9/100 (9 companies).

What Stands Out

The South East's average payment performance significantly outstrips the national average, suggesting a healthier business environment or a stronger focus on prompt payments. However, the presence of companies with very low scores indicates inconsistencies and potential issues for suppliers.

Best Payers

The top five companies demonstrate a clear commitment to timely payments. These include BRISTOW HELICOPTERS (INTERNATIONAL) LIMITED, XEROX FINANCE LIMITED, VOLVO CAR FINANCIAL SERVICES UK LIMITED, F.M. INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, and THESIS UNIT TRUST MANAGEMENT LIMITED, all scoring a perfect 100/100. This suggests larger, potentially more structured organisations are prioritising efficient payment processes.

Worst Payers

The bottom five companies raise concerns about payment practices within certain businesses. RENTOKIL INITIAL UK LTD scores a concerning 17.9/100, followed by TARGUS EUROPE LIMITED (18.74/100), RM EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES LTD (20.6/100), JACOBS DOUWE EGBERTS GB LTD (21/100), and KIMBERLY-CLARK EUROPEAN SERVICES LIMITED (21.1/100). While diverse, these low scores point to potential cash flow challenges or a deliberate strategy of delayed payments, impacting their suppliers. You can use this late payment calculator to understand the potential costs of delayed payments.

Sector Breakdown

The Human Resources sector leads with an average PaymentCheck score of 88.9/100, based on 9 companies, closely followed by Care Services at 84.7/100 (11 companies) and Financial Services at 84.5/100 (68 companies). Lifestyle and Entertainment (83.4/100, 11 companies) and Education (81.1/100, 37 companies) also demonstrate strong performance. The limited number of companies in HR and Care Services compared to Financial Services may skew their averages, indicating more data is needed for a representative sample.

Takeaway

Despite the South East averaging a strong 69.5/100, the gap between the highest and lowest payers, ranging from 100 to 17.9, exposes significant disparities in payment culture across the region.