43 NW firms named and shamed for not paying minimum wage

More than 350 employers have been named and shamed today as the Government publishes the largest ever list of national minimum and living wage offenders.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has named 360 businesses who underpaid 15,520 workers a total of £995,233, with employers in the hairdressing, hospitality and retail sectors the most prolific offenders.

Of those, 43 businesses are based in the North West, including the Michelin-starred Northcote Hotel, petrol forecourt giant EuroGarages and even a law firm.

A spokesperson for Euro Garages said the case related to an historic and isolated breach where a site manager at a newly-acquired site failed to follow company protocol and process.

“The matter was fully investigated and resolved as soon as it was brought to our attention. We have also taken the opportunity to review internal processes to ensure there is no recurrence of a similar incident.

“Euro Garages has a proud track record as a responsible national employer and we are continually improving our internal controls as the business continues to grow,” the spokesperson said.

The biggest offender was retail giant Debenhams which failed to pay £134,894.83 to 11,858 workers.

As well as recovering arrears for some of the UK’s lowest paid workers, HMRC issued penalties worth around £800,000.

For the first time, the naming list includes employers who failed to pay eligible workers at least the new National Living Wage rate, which is currently £7.20 for workers aged 25 and over.

Business Minister Margot James said: “Every worker in the UK is entitled to at least the national minimum or living wage and this government will ensure they get it.

“That is why we have named and shamed more than 350 employers who failed to pay the legal minimum, sending the clear message to employers that minimum wage abuses will not go unpunished.”

Excuses for underpaying workers included using tips to top up pay, docking workers’ wages to pay for their Christmas party and making staff pay for their own uniforms out of their salary.

Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: “The government needs to crack down further on employers who failed to pay the national minimum wage to some of the most low-paid and vulnerable workers in the country.

“The fact that the government has mounted only 13 prosecutions for non-compliance since 2007 is pathetic. In America, bad bosses are jailed and heavily fined for ‘wage theft’ which is what this is, exploiting workers in such a shameful fashion.

“The fact that an established household name like Debenhams is on the list is appalling. This is a major retailer with a large HR department – how could such non-payment be overlooked for so long?

“If top executives with mega pay packets weren’t getting their bonuses paid on time, all hell would break loose.”

Since the naming and shaming scheme was introduced by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in October 2013, more than 1,000 employers have been named, with arrears totalling more than £4.5m. More than £2m in fines have been issued to national minimum and living wage offenders.

There are currently more than 1,500 open cases which HMRC is investigating.

The full list of North West businesses named by HMRC is below:

-Community Integrated Care, Widnes WA8, failed to pay £19,774.78 to 69 workers.

-Glover’s Bakery Limited, Preston PR5, failed to pay £11,320.33 to 2 workers.

-Mrs Elizabeth Purkis trading as The Buttonhole, Chorley PR7, failed to pay £9,946.28 to 1 worker.

-Mrs Eileen Beresford trading as E M Beresford Livery, Sandbach CW11, failed to pay £7,978.99 to 1 worker.

-Northcote Hotel Limited, Blackburn BB6, failed to pay £6,621.82 to 22 workers.

-Peak Active Sport Limited, Glossop SK13, failed to pay £6,064.18 to 5 workers.

-Thermal Heating Maintenance Limited, Bolton BL6, failed to pay £5,963.85 to 2 workers.

-The Swan Hotel (Newby Bridge) Limited, Ulverston LA12, failed to pay £5,674.29 to 14 workers.

-Euro Catering Parts Ltd, Oldham OL8, failed to pay £5,005.63 to 1 worker.

-Mr Mark Buckler trading as MB Auto Electrics, Southport PR8, failed to pay £4,549.07 to 1 worker.

-Whittaker Golf Club, Littleborough OL15, failed to pay £3,676.01 to 2 workers.

-Adamsons Law Limited, Bolton BL1, failed to pay £3,161.67 to 1 worker.

-Fleet Dynamic Consultancy Limited, St Helens WA9, failed to pay £2,574.49 to 1 worker.

-Fresh Salon Crewe Ltd, Crewe CW2, failed to pay £1,890.32 to 1 worker.

-The Stanneylands Hotel (Previous Owners), Wilmslow SK9, failed to pay £1,790.61 to 2 workers.

-Great Sutton Garage Northwest Limited, Ellesmere Port CH66, failed to pay £1,579.73 to 1 worker.

-T Gillibrand (Blackburn) Limited, BB1, failed to pay £1,536.18 to 1 worker.

-Saint Flooring Limited, Winsford CW7, failed to pay £1,359.98 to 1 worker.

-C S Drinks Ltd, Grange-Over-Sands LA11, failed to pay £1,270.49 to 1 worker.

-Macleodbradley Limited, Manchester M20, failed to pay £1,166.46 to 1 worker.

-Mrs Gaynor Griffin trading as The Cuddly Cod, Manchester M7, failed to pay £897.97 to 1 worker.

-M & M (MCR) Ltd, Manchester M17, failed to pay £871.00 to 1 worker.

-Eventmore Limited, Bury BL9, failed to pay £834.16 to 1 worker.

-Brian O’Loughlin Ltd trading as Thomas’s Bakery, Dalton-in-Furness LA15, failed to pay £779.75 to 9 workers.

-Apollo Care (Wirral) Ltd, Birkenhead CH41, failed to pay £733.81 to 1 worker.

-Mrs Christine Pinion trading as Molly Mumbles, Holmes Chapel CW4, failed to pay £674.55 to 3 workers.

-Padiwacks.co.uk Ltd trading as Padiwacks, Burnley BB12, failed to pay £642.78 to 1 worker.

-Time Recruitment Solutions Limited, Manchester M4, failed to pay £547.88 to 7 workers.

-Ms Joleyn Kelly trading as Joleyn’s Hair Studio, Warrington WA1, failed to pay £517.89 to 1 worker.

-Euro Garages Limited, Blackburn BB1, failed to pay £424.00 to 1 worker.

-D & R Services (NW) Limited, Wallasey CH44, failed to pay £367.59 to 2 workers.

-C Morris, H S Morris, B J Iddon, K J Locke & H S Murray trading as Morris’s of Coppull, Chorley PR7, failed to pay £357.09 to 2 workers.

-Starcare Limited, Chester CH3, failed to pay £251.36 to 1 worker.

-Amanda Cunliffe Solicitors Limited, Macclesfield SK11, failed to pay £248.39 to 5 workers.

-Mr Alan & Mrs Sue Dawe trading as Heirs & Graces Day Nursery, St Helens WA10, failed to pay £232.52 to 1 worker.

-Central Compensation Office Limited, Bury BL9, failed to pay £220.73 to 1 worker.

-The Human Support Group Limited trading as Homecare Support, Manchester M20, failed to pay £177.35 to 1 worker.

-Community Sport Ltd trading as Elletson Publishing, Poulton-le-Fylde FY6, failed to pay £175.42 to 2 workers.

-Mr Mohammed Asghar trading as Owler Lane Convenience Store, Chadderton OL9, failed to pay £174.20 to 1 worker.

-Tulip Care Ltd trading as Woolston Mead House, Liverpool L22, failed to pay £162.50 to 1 worker.

-Connollys General Builders Limited, Liverpool L4, failed to pay £142.71 to 1 worker.

-Bestrade Manchester Ltd, Manchester M8, failed to pay £118.64 to 1 worker.

-Holistic Wellness Limited, Preston PR4, failed to pay £107.26 to 1 worker.