SCOTTISH WATER BUSINESS STREAM LIMITED
Company number: SC294924
Reporting period:
1 April 2025 to 30 September 2025
Report filed on:
29 October 2025
Approved by:
Lynne Gilder
Contracts and payments
Do any of this business's construction contracts with its suppliers include retention clauses? No
Payment statistics
Average time taken to pay invoices: 22 days
Total value paid:
- within 30 days: £284,173,562 (66%)
- in 31 to 60 days: £105,703,828 (25%)
- in 61 days or more: £40,116,798 (9%)
Invoices paid:
- within 30 days: 95%
- in 31 to 60 days: 3%
- in 61 days or more: 2%
Late and disputed:
- total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £1,549,263
- payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 6%
- not made in the reporting period due to a dispute: 47%
Payment terms
Shortest standard payment periods
6 days
Longest standard payment period
66 days
Standard payment terms
Our standard payment terms are 30 days. Our wholesale payments are paid in accordance with market terms.
Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?
A deferral scheme was offered by some wholesalers during this period as a temporary measure for retailers to help manage increased wholesale costs during the first 3 months of FY26. Under this scheme a portion of 14 invoices had deferred terms, all of which were paid in line with terms.
Were suppliers notified or consulted about these changes before they were made?
No
Maximum contractual payment period agreed
66 days
No further comment provided
Any other information about payment terms
Of the payments made during the reporting period, 4% were not paid within terms. Excluding invoices in query or those in dispute this reduces to 2% (Mar 2025: 4% to 1%). Paid within terms increases to 98% (Mar 2025: 99%).
Dispute resolution process
Our Accounts Payable team keep track of any disputes daily. A full list is escalated to Heads of Departments weekly to progress resolution.
Other payment information
Has this business signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices? If so, which?
For example, signatories to The Fair Payment Code must commit to paying 95% of their invoices within 60 days.
No, this business has not signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices.
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.
No
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.
No
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?
No
During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No