West Midlands Payment Practices Report 2025
West Midlands Payment Practices Punch Above UK Average, But Laggards Drag
The Numbers
- Companies analysed: 310
- Average PaymentCheck Score: 63.8/100
- UK average: 50.0/100 (West Midlands is 13.8 points above)
What Stands Out
The West Midlands boasts a notably higher average PaymentCheck Score than the UK average, suggesting a generally healthier payment culture, but the large gap between the best and worst payers indicates significant disparities. That a single Sports company could have such a strong affect on the sector average should be noted.
Best Payers
The top performers in the West Midlands demonstrate a near-perfect commitment to prompt payments.
- I & A RESTAURANTS LTD - 100/100
- BRYT ENERGY LIMITED - 100/100
- CHARTER COURT FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED - 99.4/100
- EPYX LIMITED - 99.4/100
- HSBC UK BANK PLC - 98.9/100
Worst Payers
These companies are lagging significantly behind, potentially causing cash flow problems for their suppliers. It is important to note that many companies find themselves with late payments, and if your customers are struggling, use our late payment calculator to help them back on track.
- BAXI HEATING UK LIMITED - 16.6/100
- UNIQUE PUB PROPERTIES LIMITED - 17.3/100
- ZF AUTOMOTIVE UK LIMITED - 18/100
- GKN AEROSPACE SERVICES LIMITED - 20.3/100
- ARCONIC MANUFACTURING (GB) LIMITED - 22.8/100
Sector Breakdown
The sector data is difficult to read, due to the limited number of companies in each sector.
- Sports: 91.3 avg (1 companies)
- Marketing And Sales: 91.0 avg (1 companies)
- Professional Services: 90.7 avg (3 companies)
- Human Resources: 88.5 avg (4 companies)
- Lifestyle And Entertainment: 88.3 avg (2 companies)
The West Midlands demonstrates a wide range of payment behaviours, with the best companies averaging 83.4 points higher than the worst companies' PaymentCheck Score.
2025: The Story
The landscape of West Midlands payment practices in 2025 saw a marginal but significant uplift, with the average score improving by 0.4 points to 63.8/100, even as the number of reporting companies decreased to 310. This slight overall improvement masks some dramatic individual shifts. Leading the charge were energy giants E.ON UK STEVEN’S CROFT LIMITED, which dramatically improved its score by 25.6 points to an impressive 86.2/100, and NPOWER LIMITED, seeing a strong 24.4-point increase to 86.9/100, highlighting a focused effort within the energy sector. However, not all companies followed this positive trend; BROSE LIMITED notably declined by 5.6 points, settling at 61.2/100, indicating persistent challenges for some. The data also welcomed strong new entrants like THE CRAFT UNION PUB COMPANY LIMITED with a stellar 98.7/100, alongside the departure of 73 entities, signaling considerable market dynamism. For suppliers, the key takeaway is to scrutinise both sector-wide trends and individual company trajectories, particularly within evolving industries.
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