Published reports

FES LIMITED

Company number: SC053848

This information is as reported by the business, and responses are in their own words.

Reporting period:

1 September 2025 to 28 February 2026

Report filed on:

30 March 2026

Approved by:

Paul Lowe


Contracts and payments

Do any of this business's construction contracts with its suppliers include retention clauses? Yes

Payment statistics

Average time taken to pay invoices: 53 days

Total value paid:

  • within 30 days: £12,304,510  (26%)
  • in 31 to 60 days: £21,692,313  (46%)
  • in 61 days or more: £13,100,750  (28%)

Invoices paid:

  • within 30 days: 26%
  • in 31 to 60 days: 46%
  • in 61 days or more: 28%

Late and disputed:

  • total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £4,133,290
  • payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 4%
  • not made in the reporting period due to a dispute: 100%

Payment terms

Shortest standard payment periods

0 days

Longest standard payment period

70 days

Standard payment terms

Purchase ledger payments – Payment will be made 45 days after the end of month of the date of the valid invoice unless stated in the purchase order. A valid invoice has to include our purchase order number, goods need to have been delivered and all required documentation provided. The receipt date for said invoice will be assumed to be 3 days after the date of invoice.

Sub contract ledger payments – Standard payment terms are variable between 30 and 70 days from the date of the valuation and is dependent on the subcontract agreement.

Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?

No

Were suppliers notified or consulted about these changes before they were made?

N/A

Maximum contractual payment period agreed

70 days

No further comment provided

Any other information about payment terms

The statistical information provided includes payments to both purchase ledger and subcontract suppliers.

Retention clauses

How does this business use retention clauses?

Retention clauses are used in specific circumstances:

Retentions are applied on a contract by contract basis and the percentage of retention is based on the risk profile of the contract and subcontractor.

Does this business only use retention clauses in construction contracts above a specific contract sum?

No

Does this business use a standard percentage rate in retention clauses?

No

Does this business apply retention clause practices that are no more onerous than those applied to it on the same project?

Yes:

Retention clauses applied will be no more onerous than those applied to us on a particular contract. In some instances we will apply no retention clauses to our subcontractors even when we have a retention clause.

Releasing money under a retention clause

Process for releasing money this business has deducted or retained under a retention clause

Retention is released to the subcontractor when their work and all outstanding defects are completed satisfactorily.

Is the money released in stages?

Yes:

Retention is usually released in 2 parts. Firstly on completion of the works and secondary on completion of any defect work.

Amount retained from suppliers in the reporting period

Amount retained stated as a percentage of the money retained from this business by its clients

64%

Amount retained stated as a percentage of the total construction payments made by this business

7%

Dispute resolution process

FES Ltd are committed to resolving any disputed invoices quickly. The purchase ledger team carry out monthly purchase ledger reconciliations to highlight any invoices which are not on the ledger and to request these from supplier. A purchase administration team carry out follow up request for GRN’s and Service Reports.

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.

Yes

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