Official Statistics: Large businesses’ payment practices and performance: Statistics (2025)

Introduction
Understanding how large UK businesses pay their suppliers is essential for assessing the health and reliability of supply chains. The Payment Practices and Performance Reporting Regulations 2017 require qualifying businesses to publish data on payment practices and performance, helping to illuminate trends in payment timing and consistency. This post summarises the latest annual statistics, focusing on three core metrics: average time to pay, the proportion of invoices paid late (by both number and value), and the number of reports submitted by businesses.

Key Statistics

1) Average time to pay
– What it measures: The average number of days taken to settle invoices from the date of receipt or from the agreed payment term, depending on the reporting framework used by each business.
– Why it matters: A shorter average time to pay generally signals stronger liquidity management and a more dependable cash flow policy, which can support supplier viability and operational resilience.
– Overall trend: Across the dataset, many large UK businesses report a trend toward reducing the average time to pay compared with previous years, though variations exist by sector and contract type. Some sectors with longer procurement cycles or complex supply chains may still display extended payment durations, underscoring the importance of clear scheduling and contract governance.

2) Proportion of invoices paid late (by number and by value)
– What it measures: The share of invoices that are paid late, calculated both as a proportion of the total number of invoices and as a proportion of the total value of invoices.
– Why it matters: Late payments can impose cash flow pressures on suppliers, particularly smaller firms, and can affect supplier sustainability and market competitiveness. Monitoring both count-based and value-based late payments provides a fuller picture of payment performance.
– Overall trend: The latest annual reporting shows a mixed picture. In several cases, the proportion of late invoices has declined, indicating improvements in payment discipline and process efficiency. However, some businesses report persistent late-payment rates in particular divisions, product lines, or customer segments, suggesting ongoing opportunities for policy tightening, process automation, and stronger governance over payment workflows.
– Notable nuances: A high value of late payments can dominate the financial impact for suppliers even if the number of late invoices is relatively low. Conversely, a large number of smaller late payments can cumulatively create significant liquidity challenges for recipients. Organisations often publish both metrics to reflect this dual impact.

3) Number of reports submitted by businesses
– What it measures: The total count of annual reports submitted by eligible large UK businesses under the regulations.
– Why it matters: The volume of reporting provides insight into engagement with the regulatory framework and commitment to transparency. A higher number of reports indicates broad compliance across the business community, while fluctuations can reflect changes in eligibility, regulatory updates, or organisational reporting practices.
– Overall trend: The reporting landscape remains robust, with the majority of eligible large businesses submitting their required reports each year. Some organisations may consolidate reporting across subsidiaries or group entities, which can influence the reported counts. The sustained level of submission supports ongoing transparency and benchmarking across sectors.

Context and Considerations

– Sectoral variation: Payment practices differ by industry, contract type, and supplier base. Public sector interactions, manufacturing cycles, and service delivery arrangements can influence both time to pay and late-payment rates.
– Data interpretation: While these statistics provide valuable benchmarks, they should be interpreted in context. Factors such as seasonality, invoicing frequencies, contract terms, and the mix of small versus large suppliers all shape the metrics.
– Long-term implications: Consistent improvements in payment practices can enhance supplier confidence, contribute to supply chain resilience, and support economic stability within the business ecosystem.

What this Means for Suppliers and Businesses

– For suppliers: Proactively managing receivables, maintaining clear invoicing and contract terms, and engaging in open dialogue with buyers can help mitigate late-payment risks and improve cash flow planning.
– For businesses: Ongoing focus on payment governance, process automation, and performance dashboards can sustain improvements in time-to-pay and late-payment metrics. Regular review of payment terms, dispute resolution processes, and supplier onboarding practices can further enhance overall payment performance.

Conclusion

The annual statistics published under The Payment Practices and Performance Reporting Regulations 2017 offer a transparent lens into how large UK businesses pay their suppliers. By examining average time to pay, the proportion of invoices paid late (by number and value), and the number of reports submitted, stakeholders can gauge progress, identify areas for improvement, and promote more reliable and responsible procurement practices across the economy. Continuous engagement with these metrics will support stronger supplier relationships, healthier cash flows, and more resilient business performance in the years ahead.

May 13, 2026 at 08:40AM
官方统计：大型企业的支付做法与绩效：统计（2025）
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/large-businesses-payment-practices-and-performance-statistics-2025
描述英国大型企业向其供应商付款情况的年度统计，使用《2017年支付做法与绩效报告条例》下的上报数据。

统计内容包括：
o 平均付款时间
o 按金额和数量划分的延迟应付发票比例
o 企业提交报告的数量

阅读更多中文内容： 年度统计洞察：基于《2017年支付实践与绩效报告条例》英国大型企业对供应商的支付情况分析