WH SMITH HIGH STREET LIMITED

PaymentCheck Score 2025
72Fair
2.5vs last year
#2289 in UK
#93 in Creative
#123 in South West

Company Information

Company Number
06560339
Registered Address
Greenbridge Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN3 3RX
Status
Active
Employee Count
6,318
Turnover
£418,573,000
EBITDA
£2,563,000

Additional Details

Company Type
Private limited Company
Incorporated On
9 April 2008
Nature of Business
47610 - Retail sale of books in specialised stores
47620 - Retail sale of newspapers and stationery in specialised stores
Industries
Creative,Media And Publishing
Region
South West

Time to Pay

Average Time to Pay
39 days
Shortest Period:90 days
Longest Period:120 days
Max Contractual:120 days

Payment Timeline

Within 30 Days
67%
31-60 Days
19%
After 60 Days
14%
Not Paid Within Terms19%

Payment Features

Participates in Codes✗ No
E-Invoicing✗ No
Supply Chain Finance✗ No

Payment Score History

Excellent (80+) Good (60-79) Fair (40-59) Poor (20-39) Very Poor (<20)

Performance Reports History

Reporting Period Filed: 2025-03-27
Reporting PeriodFiling DateAverage Time to Pay (days)Paid within 30 daysPaid 31-60 daysPaid after 60 daysNot Paid within Terms
01 Sept 2024 - 28 Feb 202527 Mar 20253967%19%14%19%
01 Sept 2023 - 29 Feb 202428 Mar 20244661%23%16%29%
01 Sept 2022 - 28 Feb 202327 Mar 20234177%10%13%26%
01 Mar 2022 - 31 Aug 202213 Sept 20224470%13%17%31%
01 Sept 2021 - 28 Feb 202214 Mar 20223672%13%15%25%
01 Sept 2020 - 28 Feb 202115 Mar 20214468%14%18%25%
01 Mar 2020 - 31 Aug 202011 Sept 20204071%13%16%26%
01 Sept 2019 - 29 Feb 202014 Mar 20204270%14%16%25%
01 Sept 2018 - 28 Feb 201913 Mar 20193374%13%13%20%

Payment Time Trends

Payment Distribution Trends

Invoice Payment Practices

This information is as reported by the business, and responses are in their own words.

Payment Terms

Standard payment terms

The standard payment period is the contractual length of time for your business to make payments, as set out in the standard payment terms for qualifying contracts WHSmith standard payment terms are 90 days after the end of the month of receipt by WH Smith of a proper invoice or if later after the acceptance of the Goods or Services. However, WHSmith negotiates payment terms individually with suppliers and on a product specific basis. Any contractual package agreed by WHSmith and the supplier usually includes payment terms which are lower than the standard 90 days terms. The WHSmith vendor buyer agreement allows for the offset of amounts owed by the supplier against invoices owed to the supplier. This is normal business practice and protects amounts that are owed to WHSmith. An invoice is deemed settled when it is fully offset by amounts owed to WHSmith.

Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?

No information available

Any other information about payment terms

No additional information

Maximum contractual payment period agreed

120

Dispute Resolution Process

The Business has an ongoing communication with Suppliers through both the Trading and the financial accounting teams. Payment disputes will be directed to the financial accounting teams for resolution in the first instance and will be escalated to the Trading teams where there is a contractual query.

Other Payment Information

Has this business signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices?

For example, signatories to The Prompt Payment Code must commit to paying 95% of their invoices within 60 days.

Does this business offer e-invoicing in relation to qualifying contracts?

This is where suppliers can electronically submit and track invoices. It's not just allowing suppliers to email them an invoice.

Does this business offer supply chain finance?

This is where a supplier who has submitted an invoice can be paid by a third-party finance provider earlier than the agreed payment date. The business would then pay the finance provider the invoiced sum.

Under its payment practices and policies, can this business deduct sums from payments under qualifying contracts as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?

During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?

No information available

Company Summary

WH Smith High Street Limited is a retail company based in the United Kingdom that specializes in selling books, stationery, and other related products. The company was founded in 1792 and has since grown to become one of the leading retailers in the country.

The company is committed to sustainability and has implemented various initiatives to reduce their environmental impact. This includes the use of sustainable materials in their products, reducing energy consumption in their stores, and promoting recycling and waste reduction.

WH Smith High Street Limited offers a wide range of products including books, magazines, stationery, greeting cards, and gifts. They also provide services such as printing, photocopying, and passport photos. The company is known for its high-quality products and excellent customer service.

The key people in WH Smith High Street Limited include CEO Carl Cowling and Chairman Henry Staunton. They lead a team of dedicated employees who are committed to providing customers with the best shopping experience.

The company can be contacted through their website, which also serves as an online store for their products. Their registered office address is at Greenbridge Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN3 3RX.

In summary, WH Smith High Street Limited is a well-established retail company in the UK that offers a wide range of products and services. Their commitment to sustainability, along with their high-quality products and excellent customer service, has made them a popular choice among consumers.

Financial Metrics

Cash
£12,039,000
Net Worth
£13,801,000
Total Current Assets
£861,945,000
Total Current Liabilities
£908,410,000

Company Location