Industry ranking
Score of 96.56/100 qualifies for PaymentCheck Certification
| Reporting Period | Filing Date | Average Time to Pay (days) | Paid within 30 days | Paid 31-60 days | Paid after 60 days | Not Paid within Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Oct 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 | 30 Apr 2026 | 20 | 97% | 2% | 1% | 0% |
| 01 Apr 2025 - 30 Sept 2025 | 27 Oct 2025 | 19 | 96% | 3% | 1% | 0% |
| 01 Oct 2024 - 31 Mar 2025 | 29 Apr 2025 | 20 | 96% | 2% | 2% | 1% |
| 01 Apr 2024 - 30 Sept 2024 | 31 Oct 2024 | 21 | 91% | 8% | 1% | 1% |
| 01 Oct 2023 - 31 Mar 2024 | 01 May 2024 | 20 | 92% | 6% | 2% | 1% |
| 01 Apr 2023 - 30 Sept 2023 | 03 Nov 2023 | 19 | 92% | 7% | 1% | 1% |
| 01 Oct 2022 - 31 Mar 2023 | 25 Jul 2023 | 25 | 70% | 28% | 2% | 0% |
| 01 Apr 2022 - 30 Sept 2022 | 28 Oct 2022 | 26 | 65% | 33% | 2% | 1% |
| 01 Oct 2021 - 31 Mar 2022 | 03 May 2022 | 29 | 66% | 30% | 4% | 1% |
| 01 Apr 2021 - 30 Sept 2021 | 20 Oct 2021 | 30 | 61% | 36% | 3% | 1% |
| 01 Oct 2020 - 31 Mar 2021 | 26 Apr 2021 | 27 | 65% | 31% | 4% | 35% |
| 01 Oct 2019 - 31 Mar 2020 | 30 Apr 2020 | 27 | 54% | 44% | 2% | 46% |
| 01 Apr 2019 - 30 Sept 2019 | 22 Oct 2019 | 26 | 80% | 18% | 2% | 20% |
This information is as reported by the business, and responses are in their own words.
Standard payment terms
30 days unless agreed. Agreement for shorter periods is normally only forthcoming if there some advantage to the company, such as an early payment discount.
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
60
If a manager disputes a vendor invoice they should contact the vendor to discuss. Payment will be withheld until the issue is resolved.
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
Hertfordshire Catering Limited trades as HCL and provides school catering services, primarily to primary and secondary schools, alongside commercial sites. It prepares meals for pupils, accommodating dietary needs including gluten-free and religious or cultural requirements, and its contract management team supports schools with compliance, food safety and kitchen team management. The company also offers a hospitality and events catering service for special occasions. It states that it serves around 14.25 million meals per annum across roughly 450 primary and secondary schools and commercial sites, emphasising fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. The company is registered at Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, and remains active.
Generated from the company's website and Companies House records. Sources: hcl.co.uk · hcl.co.uk