Published reports

AURORA ACADEMIES TRUST

Company number: 08107711

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:

31 March 2026

Approved by:

Alexandra Graham


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: 28 days

Total value paid:

  • within 30 days: £2,889,713  (88%)
  • in 31 to 60 days: £290,566  (9%)
  • in 61 days or more: £122,207  (4%)

Invoices paid:

  • within 30 days: 86%
  • in 31 to 60 days: 9%
  • in 61 days or more: 5%

Late and disputed:

  • total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £162,922
  • payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 3%
  • not made in the reporting period due to a dispute: 1%

Payment terms

Shortest standard payment periods

14 days

Longest standard payment period

30 days

Standard payment terms

Default 30 days paymemt terms unless specifically agreed with supplier

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

No further comment provided

Any other information about payment terms

All invoices should be sent to invoices@auroraacademies.org including the relevant purchase order reference to support prompt payment

Retention clauses

How does this business use retention clauses?

Retention clauses are used in specific circumstances:

Retention (typically 5%) governed by the T&C's in JCT contracts used for construction projects, managed by a contract administrator

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?

Yes: 5%

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

Retention released at the end of the retention period following confirmation from our professional advisers that the work is of satisfactory standard.

Is the money released in stages?

Yes:

Contract depedent but typically retention of 5% during construction and a final retention of 2.5% payable after 1 year.
This only applies to major construction projects

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

0%

Dispute resolution process

Suppliers will contact the finance department in the first instance to discuss the issue.

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