LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP
Company number: 07662102
Reporting period:
1 September 2025 to 28 February 2026
Report filed on:
31 March 2026
Approved by:
Mike Sewell
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: 15 days
Total value paid:
- within 30 days: £15,101,596 (95%)
- in 31 to 60 days: £634,096 (4%)
- in 61 days or more: £90,796 (< 1%)
Invoices paid:
- within 30 days: 96%
- in 31 to 60 days: 3%
- in 61 days or more: 1%
Late and disputed:
- total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £3,497,941
- payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 22%
- not made in the reporting period due to a dispute: 0%
Payment terms
Shortest standard payment periods
0 days
Longest standard payment period
30 days
Standard payment terms
As standard payment term
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
30 days
Contract Dependent
Any other information about payment terms
No further comment provided
Retention clauses
How does this business use retention clauses?
Retention clauses are used in specific circumstances:
The majority of contracts that are formally tendered will have retention. The JCT Contract Suite is used and these include payment terms alongside a comprehensive range of standardized, legally binding construction contracts produced by the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) for the UK construction industry. These contracts manage construction risks, clearly define party responsibilities, and cover various procurement methods, including traditional, design and build, and management contracts.
Does this business only use retention clauses in construction contracts above a specific contract sum?
Yes: £50,000
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?
No
Releasing money under a retention clause
Process for releasing money this business has deducted or retained under a retention clause
Release of final retention is based on the ‘ Making Good of Defects’. An inspection is held at the end of the Defects (retention) period. Retention is released if there are no defects or when any defects have been made good.
Is the money released in stages?
Yes:
The release of half of the retention is at practical completion, so when the actual works are complete. At this point the 5% is reduced to 2.5%. The final release is normally after 12 months, but is usually linked to an inspection and the making good of any defects that are noted in that inspection. Some contracts vary with different terms and conditions therefore dependant on the agreement.
Amount retained from suppliers in the reporting period
Amount retained stated as a percentage of the money retained from this business by its clients
0%
Amount retained stated as a percentage of the total construction payments made by this business
6%
Dispute resolution process
The finance department within the school or central services will deals with any disputes or queries as they arise, we aim to respond to suppliers within 48hours
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