THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICHESTER
Company number: 04740553
Reporting period:
1 February 2026 to 31 July 2026
Report filed on:
17 August 2026
Approved by:
Professor Symeon Dagkas
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: 21 days
Total value paid:
- within 30 days: £23,713,539 (93%)
- in 31 to 60 days: £1,575,848 (6%)
- in 61 days or more: £147,393 (< 1%)
Invoices paid:
- within 30 days: 85%
- in 31 to 60 days: 14%
- 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: £4,846,304
- payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 46%
- not made in the reporting period due to a dispute: 0%
Payment terms
Shortest standard payment periods
30 days
Longest standard payment period
Answer not provided
Standard payment terms
30 days from invoice date
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
No further comment provided
Retention clauses
How does this business use retention clauses?
Retention clauses are used in specific circumstances:
The University of Chichester uses retention clauses on qualifying construction contracts when their size, complexity or risk warrants their use. There are no “hard and fast” thresholds for this, it is a construction professional’s assessment based on the combination of all these factors. When retention clauses are used, they are used as part of a standard form construction contract, such as those published by the JCT and NEC. The administrative processes that these contracts require enables compliance with the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 whilst also providing a clear framework for the benefit of employer and contractor alike.
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: 3%
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
As set out in the terms and conditions of the contract (typically JCT or NEC standard form)
Is the money released in stages?
Yes:
As set out in the terms and conditions of the contract (typically JCT or NEC standard form)
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
2%
Dispute resolution process
The University is committed to dealing with its suppliers in a fair, honest and professional manner while seeking best value for the business. We seek to resolve queries as quickly as possible to everyone’s satisfaction prior to payment being made. In the event that a dispute cannot be resolved by our Accounts Payable team, it would escalated in the first instance to the relevant Head of Schools to seek a resolution. If resolution cannot be reached then the issue is escalated to the Director of Finance.
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