South West Businesses Pay Suppliers Significantly Faster Than The UK Average

The Numbers

• Companies analysed: 293
• Average PaymentCheck Score: 65.3/100
• UK average: 50.0/100
• South West advantage: 15.3 points above UK average
• Top score: 100/100 (achieved by 3 companies)
• Lowest score: 14.6/100

What Stands Out

The South West's average PaymentCheck Score is substantially higher than the UK average, suggesting a stronger payment culture, though there's still a considerable range between the best and worst performers. It’s also surprising that sectors like retail and food ingredients are featured among the worst payers, considering their reliance on a smooth supply chain.

Best Payers

The top payers demonstrate that prompt payment is achievable. THE FIRST FEDERATION TRUST, SPIRAX-SARCO OVERSEAS LIMITED, and RWE RENEWABLES GYM 4 LIMITED all achieved perfect scores of 100/100. Close behind were NASA UMBRELLA LTD at 99.6/100 and ALLSTAR BUSINESS SOLUTIONS LIMITED at 99.1/100. These organisations showcase a commitment to efficient payment processes.

Worst Payers

At the other end of the spectrum, Hobbycraft Trading Limited and Matthew Clark Bibendum Limited both scored a concerning 14.6/100. C-Retail Limited achieved a score of 19.2/100, while Wessex Eagle Limited and Kerry Ingredients (UK) Limited scored 22.7/100 and 22.9/100 respectively. These low scores suggest potential cashflow issues or a disregard for supplier payment terms. Late payments can cripple smaller businesses, and you can calculate the impact of this using a late payment calculator.

Sector Breakdown

Human Resources leads the way with an average PaymentCheck Score of 85.1 across 7 companies, closely followed by Primary Care (84.3 from 4 companies) and Financial Services (82.4 across 13 businesses). Professional Services companies scored an average of 80.4, derived from only 5 companies. Digital Entertainment, represented by just one company, posted an average score of 79.0, but it's hard to draw broader conclusions from a sample size of one.

The South West's average PaymentCheck Score of 65.3 shows the region is outperforming the UK average of 50, but there's a long tail of companies that could - and should - do better.