Hundreds of employers named in UK minimum wage crackdown

As part of minimum wage enforcement action, the UK government has named 658 employers found to have paid staff below the legal minimum. Businesses were ordered to repay the wages owed, with workers set to receive a total of £4 million in back pay.

According to the Department for Business and Trade, companies were also fined a combined £7 million. The government did not give details on the period covered by the underpayments.

Which companies stood out, and by how much?

The list included retailers, restaurants, nurseries, social care providers and some NHS trusts. The largest underpayment was recorded at DIY chain B&Q.

Key figures in the B&Q and Five Guys cases

According to government records, B&Q underpaid 4,530 employees by £456,934.72. The company said the issue was an unintentional error caused by the way geographical pay differences were calculated, and that affected workers were paid in full in July 2025.

Fast-food chain Five Guys was also named for underpaying 3,699 staff by £54,642.47. The company said technical differences in how payroll rules were applied led to the issue, and that the required payments were made after an HMRC review.

Other employers at the top of the list

  • Elysium Healthcare Holdings 3 Ltd: £330,048.81 for 1,095 workers
  • St George's, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group: £123,331.97 for 75 workers
  • Support Staff Services Limited: £119,715.13 for 323 workers
  • Forest Holidays Ltd: £100,308.68 for 598 workers

St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, based in Wandsworth, London, was also included on the list for underpaying 55 workers by £77,498.91. In a statement on behalf of the two hospital trusts, the problem was described as a technical compliance issue linked to the way salary sacrifice schemes were reflected in minimum wage calculations.

What the new enforcement drive means for the market

The government said this was the first public disclosure since the Fair Work Agency was established in April under the Employment Rights Act. The body is preparing to broaden its enforcement powers beyond minimum wage compliance to include issues such as unpaid holiday and sick pay.

In the UK, the hourly minimum wage for workers aged 21 and over is currently £12.71. For those aged 18 to 20, it is £10.85, while for workers under 18 and apprentices it stands at £8.

Officials said naming employers that underpay staff is intended both to protect workers' rights and to create a level playing field for businesses that comply with the rules. The government urged employers to review their payroll practices.