Published reports

J.N. BENTLEY LIMITED

Company number: 01085646

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

Reporting period:

1 January 2026 to 30 June 2026

Report filed on:

28 July 2026

Approved by:

JONATHAN RHODES

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: 35 days

Total value paid:

within 30 days: £137,080,242 (72%)
in 31 to 60 days: £46,495,990 (24%)
in 61 days or more: £7,047,760 (4%)

Invoices paid:

within 30 days: 39%
in 31 to 60 days: 58%
in 61 days or more: 3%

Late and disputed:

total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £18,820,674
payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 7%
not made in the reporting period due to a dispute: 70%

Payment terms

Shortest standard payment periods

25 days

Longest standard payment period

45 days

Standard payment terms

Payment terms will differ depending on the type of supply. Unless otherwise agreed in the purchase order, the company will send payment for any valid invoice for materials or services which it received from the supplier within 45 days from receipt of payment for suppliers who are large or medium sized companies, and within 25 days from receipt of invoice for suppliers who are small companies. Payments to subcontractors will be made at the end of the period stated on the subcontract order from the assessment date. Payments for Agency services will be made from invoice date and are agreed individually with suppliers. Once payments are made by the Company, they are subject to clearance through the BACS system.

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

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

N/A

Maximum contractual payment period agreed

45 days

No further comment provided

Any other information about payment terms

J N Bentley is committed to fair payment practices and aspires to pay all suppliers within contractual terms. In 2022 we amended our standard payment terms which resulted in a significant reduction in the average time taken to pay invoices, especially benefitting our small suppliers who we now pay within 25 days of receipt of invoice. These initiatives are captured in an improvement plan which is formalised, approved by a Board Director and regularly monitored to ensure objectives are achieved.
In certain circumstances, we are precluded from paying within terms due to discussions with suppliers regarding price, delivery, or quality. In these instances, we will endeavor to conclude negotiations as rapidly as possible to facilitate the timely payment of accurate invoices.
To demonstrate our commitment to fair payment practices J N Bentley Ltd is a signatory of the Fair Payment Code and has been awarded silver status.

Retention clauses

How does this business use retention clauses?

Retention clauses are used in specific circumstances:

Since 2025 our default policy for all new subcontract orders is that no retention is applicable. Our new orders contain retention clauses in limited circumstances only. This evaluation would be performed using risk based criteria. Nearly all retentions deducted during the reporting period were made under legacy orders which were agreed before our policy changed. These will diminish over time. As evidence of our commitment to reduce retentions, during the reporting period we released £2.2m of historic retentions, being £1.0m more than we retained.

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

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

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

Yes:

Since 2025 our default policy for all new subcontract orders is that no retention is applicable. Our new orders contain retention clauses in limited circumstances only. This evaluation would be performed using risk based criteria, rather than by reference to any retention clauses applied to us on the same contract by our clients.

Releasing money under a retention clause

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

In most cases 50% of retained retention is given back when a subcontractor completes their work, with the other 50% handed back after a defects period (usually 12 months). This can vary if there is a specific risk but is the default position on legacy contracts.

Is the money released in stages?

Yes:

In most cases 50% of retained retention is given back when a subcontractor completes their work, with the other 50% handed back after a defects period (usually 12 months).

Amount retained from suppliers in the reporting period

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

35%

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

Dispute resolution process

The query resolution process is detailed in the Invoicing Guide for Suppliers which is sent at the commencement of a relationship with the company. For queries regarding overdue payment, the supplier should contact the Accounts Payable team by either phone or email. For price or quantity queries the issue should be discussed with the originator of the order within the company – the name is clearly displayed on the purchase order sent to the supplier. If suppliers are unable to reach a satisfactory conclusion, an escalation should be raised with the relevant Buyer or member of the Plant team who manages the account. Queries relating to subcontract orders should be directed to the relevant QS within the company. Queries relating to Agency invoices should be directed to the relevant site agent or manager within the company who commissioned the services.

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.

Yes, this business has signed up to: Fair Payment Code

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.

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?

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