The Spring 2025 Late & Slow Payment Watchlist from Good Business Pays highlights an ongoing issue with delayed payments across UK businesses, with a record number of companies taking over 100 days to settle invoices. Among those named in the report are several key players in the logistics and transport sector, raising concerns about the financial strain placed on suppliers.
The latest report identifies the following logistics and transport firms with notable delays in supplier payments:
- CEVA Logistics – Reports an average payment time of 72 days, with a significant proportion of invoices settled beyond agreed terms.
- Bucher Municipal – Takes an average of 71 days to pay suppliers.
- Federal-Mogul Friction Products Ltd – Delays payments by an average of 82 days.
- Arriva Rail North – Settles invoices in 147 days, one of the highest delays recorded in the sector.
- TUI UK Transport – Has an average payment time of 69 days.
- Xtrac – Takes 62 days on average to process supplier payments.
- ZF Automotive UK – Delays supplier payments by 63 days.
The broader findings from the Late & Slow Payment Watchlist reveal that 32 companies now take more than 100 days to pay their suppliers, the highest recorded number since the report’s inception. Additionally, 122 businesses reported paying 70% or more of their invoices late. While the number of firms classified as ‘Serial Late Payers’ has decreased from 109 in 2023 to 67 in 2025, delayed payments remain a significant concern.
The issue of late payments is further underscored by The Insolvency Service’s latest data, which recorded 23,872 company insolvencies in 2024, including 18,840 voluntary liquidations and 3,230 compulsory liquidations. The rise in business failures has heightened scrutiny on large firms delaying payments, particularly as the Fair Payment Code, introduced in September 2024, was designed to improve payment practices across industries.
Commenting on the findings, Terry Corby, CEO of Good Business Pays, stated:
“With insolvencies at record levels and small businesses already struggling, delayed payments add unnecessary risk to their survival. The continued rise in slow payers highlights a systemic failure in corporate accountability. Large companies must do better – not just for their suppliers, but for the health of the entire UK economy.”
Tina McKenzie, Policy Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, also emphasised the need for stricter enforcement of payment regulations:
“Patience has worn thin with serial late payers. The government must now deliver its promised reforms, especially giving audit committees oversight of payment practices.”
The UK Small Business Commissioner, Liz Barclay, reiterated the importance of prompt payments for business resilience:
“Firms offering to pay in four or five months for work delivered today are either facing financial difficulties and using suppliers as a bank, or failing to understand the impact of their actions.”