FES LIMITED
Company number: SC053848
Reporting period:
1 March 2026 to 31 August 2026
Report filed on:
14 September 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: 52 days
Total value paid:
- within 30 days: £13,526,364 (30%)
- in 31 to 60 days: £18,203,900 (41%)
- in 61 days or more: £12,821,571 (29%)
Invoices paid:
- within 30 days: 30%
- in 31 to 60 days: 41%
- in 61 days or more: 29%
Late and disputed:
- total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £6,377,295
- 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
Standard payment terms 70 days
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 project-by-project basis and the actual percentage is based on the risk profile of the project.
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 given project. In some instances, no retention clauses will be applied to suppliers even though they are applied to us on the project.
Releasing money under a retention clause
Process for releasing money this business has deducted or retained under a retention clause
Retention is usually released to the supplier upon satisfactorily completion of their works with no outstanding defects.
Is the money released in stages?
Yes:
Retention may be released in two stages, the first on completion of the works and the second on the completion of rectification of any defects that have arisen.
Amount retained from suppliers in the reporting period
Amount retained stated as a percentage of the money retained from this business by its clients
57%
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 accounts payable 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