Minimum Wage Violations
UK government names hundreds of employers failing to pay minimum wage
Anonymous
Key Points
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Aulds Delicious Deserts Limited in Renfrew underpaid 89 workers a total of £9,435.87 between August 2018 and December 2023.
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Since the minimum-wage naming scheme began in 2011, HMRC has issued more than £100 million in penalties to over 5,200 employers, with more than £66 million repaid to about 650,000 workers.
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In North Worcestershire, four named businesses include Blunts Shoes (Stourport-on-Severn) £1,448.72 owed to 40 workers; Southcrest Hotel (Redditch) Limited £554.40 to 2 workers; and Ewe and Lamb (Bromsgrove) Limited £2,506.62 to 1 worker; a Southcrest Manor Ltd spokesperson described the listing as tied to a historic 2020 HMRC compliance check and an issue around a staff uniform policy.
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The Moray and north‑east list includes Taylor Wildlife, Ballindalloch (£2,953.89 to 3 workers); Durn House, Portsoy (£8,230.33 to 7 workers); Murdoch Allan & Son Limited, Peterhead (£24,150.71 to 7 workers); Leeds United Football Club Ltd (£10,253.06 to 345 workers), and notes B&Q as the biggest offender with £456,934.72 owed to more than 4,500 workers.
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In Merseyside, 27 employers from Liverpool, Wirral, Southport and St Helens were named, with 1,600 North West workers collectively owed about £320,000 and penalties exceeding £530,000; named entities include Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The Art School fine dining restaurant, and the Baa Bar.
The UK government has named nearly 660 employers for underpaying staff the National Minimum Wage, revealing £4 million in arrears owed to more than 27,000 workers Yorkshire Evening Post. The latest enforcement list, released in September 2026, includes high-profile names like DIY retailer B&Q, which owes £456,934.72 to over 4,500 workers, alongside regional companies and even NHS trusts The Gazette. The government issued £7 million in penalties as part of its intensified crackdown on wage theft.
Ministers Jonathan Reynolds and Kate Dearden stressed that underpaying staff is illegal and urged employers to audit payrolls immediately Kidderminster Shuttle. The newly created Fair Work Agency will publish naming lists more regularly to drive accountability across all sectors and regions Northern Scot.
Big Retailers and Public Services Among Named Offenders
B&Q stands out as the largest single offender, owing £456,934.72 to 4,530 workers Grampian Online. Leeds United Football Club underpaid 345 workers by £10,253.06, while Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and The Art School restaurant in Liverpool also appear on the list. Regional totals show 27 North West employers owe roughly £320,000 to about 1,600 workers Northern Scot.
B&Q said the shortfalls were unintentional and stemmed from errors in calculating geographical allowances paid alongside hourly rates. The company quickly reimbursed all affected workers. Similarly, Southcrest Manor Ltd blamed a historic 2020 HMRC compliance check involving a staff uniform policy dispute Kidderminster Shuttle.
Small Businesses and Regional Companies Face Penalties
Smaller firms across the UK also made the list. Aulds Delicious Desserts Limited in Renfrew underpaid 89 workers by £9,435.87 between August 2018 and December 2023 The Gazette. Murdoch Allan & Son in Peterhead owed £24,150.71 to 7 workers. Taylor Wildlife in Ballindalloch underpaid 3 workers by £2,953.89, while Durn House in Portsoy owed £8,230.33 Northern Scot.
In North Worcestershire, four businesses were named: Blunts Shoes owed £1,448.72 to 40 workers, Southcrest Hotel owed £554.40 to 2 workers, and Ewe and Lamb owed £2,506.62 to 1 worker Kidderminster Shuttle. The spread across sectors shows underpayment affects retail, hospitality, care, and agriculture equally.
Years of Enforcement Show Systemic Underpayment Problem
Since the naming scheme began in 2011, HM Revenue and Customs has issued over £100 million in penalties to more than 5,200 employers Yorkshire Evening Post. More than £66 million has been repaid to about 650,000 workers nationwide. This long track record reveals that wage theft persists across industries despite repeated enforcement efforts.
The UK government created the Fair Work Agency in April 2026 to coordinate enforcement under the Employment Rights Act Northern Scot. Kate Dearden warned employers: 'Underpaying your staff is illegal, and we will not let workers foot the bill.' Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds added that checking payroll and seeking Acas support can help firms avoid future penalties and public shaming The Gazette.
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