Fewer than one in five large UK companies pays suppliers within 30 days

Of the 6,224 large companies whose latest payment practices report is current, 1,168 (19%) typically pay their suppliers within 30 days, according to the reports they file with the government.

To count, a company had to report an average time to pay of 30 days or less in each of its last two reports, pay no more than 5% of invoices after 60 days, and pay no more than 10% later than agreed. Among the companies that pass, the typical average is 18 days.

Companies that pass include:

• Serco Limited14 days
• Lloyds Bank PLC9 days
• Amazon UK Services Ltd.6 days
• Apple Retail UK Limited17 days
• British Gas Trading Limited17 days
• Nando's Chickenland Limited26 days
• Willmott Dixon Construction Limited28 days
• Capita PLC13 days

By sector, the highest shares passing were in energy supply 33% (53 of 161), finance and insurance 32% (211 of 661), business support and hire 30% (183 of 603) and health and social care 30% (42 of 139). The lowest were in manufacturing 5% (48 of 1,019), wholesale, retail and motor trade 13% (105 of 825), transport and storage 13% (33 of 248) and construction 15% (61 of 401).

Each of the 1,168 companies can now show a free Fair Payment record badge on its website, in tenders and in email signatures. The badge updates itself as new reports are filed, and stops showing the mark if a company no longer meets the rules. It cannot be bought. How the badge works.

"Paying a small supplier on time can be the difference between it hiring and it going under. These companies are doing it, by their own figures, and now they can show it," said Sam Allcock, editor of Fair Payment.

Companies in the Fair Payment insolvency register, and reports that look like filing errors, including a latest average of 0 days, are left out.