Outrage as £26 billion owed to Britain’s small merchants by large companies
Billions of pounds are owed to British small businesses in overdue invoices with three quarters of small traders surviving on less than the national living wage
Workmen are fighting a battle to get work done (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
White van men are owed billions of pounds from big businesses, shock new research has revealed. The UK’s small traders are being left out of pocket because of a staggering amount of unpaid invoices.
New research from Enterprise Nation and Natwest found that our hard-working tradesfolk including plumbers and electricians are owed a staggering £26billion. The study revealed more than two million plumbers and sparkies were paid late in the last year, double the rate seen in 2023 and 2024.
Aaron Asadi, Enterprise Nation CEO, slammed greedy big businesses taking advantage of small traders. He said: “Billions of pounds is being lent by the smallest firms in the country to some of the largest. Small businesses need to be supported, not punished.”
Builders across the UK are owed a jaw-dropping £26 billion in unpaid invoices (Image: Getty Images)
Small traders form the so-called backbone of the British economy, raking in £2.8 trillion every year. A shameful 75% of small traders are coming away from the daily grind with less than the living wage as big businesses sit on their cash.
Peers in the House of Lords are pushing through the Commercial Payments Bill, to crush dodgy payment practices by slapping on a strict 60-day deadline on big firms.
Enterprise Nation’s study revealed most skint small business owners are scraping by on £20,000 a year for a 49.6-hour week, around £7.75 an hour.
White van men are being left out of pocket by big businesses. (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Mr Asadi warned the bill needs “teeth” and “speed” to stop corporate top dogs dragging their feet while local white van men go broke.
The business support service has teamed up with NatWest to help the nation’s 5.7 million tradies grow, aiming to save more than £30 million in productivity losses. Darren Pirie, head of NatWest Accelerator, said this latest scheme will give hardworking grafters the chance to grow and thrive.
