// payment practices, as filed · company 04050190
Vital Energi Utilities Ltd: how it pays its suppliers, from its own filing
Vital Energi Utilities Ltd reports paying its suppliers in an average of 31 days, with 40% of invoices paid later than the agreed terms, for the period 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2026. Across the 1,496 companies that report on construction contracts, the median is 31 days and 14% late. Every figure below is the company’s own, approved by a director and published on the government register; this page reproduces it and says what it means for a subcontractor.
31 days
Average days to pay
longer than 47% of the 1,496 filers; median 31 days
40%
Paid later than agreed
a higher share than 88% of filers; median 14%
62%
Paid within 30 days
5% took longer than 60 days
The terms it declares
- Standard payment terms
- 1 to 60 days
- Maximum contractual period
- 60 days
- Paid in 31 to 60 days
- 33%
- Paid after 60 days
- 5%
- Not paid because of a dispute
- 0%
- Filed on
- 17 July 2026
Their standard terms, in their words
Supporting Our Supply Chain Partners in Uncertain Times Vital Energi recognises the critical role our SME suppliers play in our success. During these times of economic uncertainty, we remain committed to fostering strong, supportive relationships. Demonstrating Our Commitment: • Flexible Payment Terms: We understand the importance of cash flow, and where appropriate, we have actively reduced payment terms for specific suppliers. • Tailored Financial Support: In certain cases, we have provided direct financial assistance to alleviate challenges faced by valued partners. • Collaborative Pro…
Their explanation
We remain committed to building a robust and sustainable supply chain, with prompt and fair payment practices at its core. We continuously improve our processes and partner with our suppliers for ongoing success. Ongoing Initiatives: • Automated Accounts Payable: We continue to develop and fine tune our automated system to streamline invoice processing and significantly reduce wait times. • The Company is currently piloting a new self-billing scheme for subcontractors with a view to speeding up the payment cycle. • Staff Training: Dedicated training on these systems ensures efficient and ef…
Every filing since Dec 2017
Vital Energi Utilities Ltd has filed 18 times. The share paid late is down 3 points on the previous filing, and the average days to pay up 1 days. The first filing, for the period to 31 December 2017, reported 50 days and 48% late.
| Period to | Days to pay | Paid late | Within 30 days | Over 60 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 June 2026 | 31 | 40% | 62% | 5% |
| 31 December 2025 | 30 | 43% | 57% | 5% |
| 30 June 2025 | 35 | 40% | 52% | 5% |
| 31 December 2024 | 34 | 30% | 55% | 5% |
| 30 June 2024 | 37 | 37% | 49% | 5% |
| 31 December 2023 | 36 | 36% | 46% | 5% |
Retention
- Retention clauses in construction contracts
- yes
- Standard retention rate
- not stated
- In all construction contracts
- no
- Same terms they receive from their own client
- yes
- When they apply retention
- Our Standard subcontract Conditions include retention provisions. We apply those provisions to the majority of our subcontractors at the rate in the Main Contract, usually 3% or 5% reducing by 50% at Practical Completion. We review the application of retention clauses on a case by case basis particularly if its application would cause financial hardship to the subcontractor or the labour element is a small part of their scope of works.
- On parity with their client
- We apply retention clauses at the same rate as our clients would apply to us in the Main Contract, usually 3% or 5% reducing by 50% at Practical Completion.
What this means if you are pricing work for them
The share paid later than agreed is the number to read first, because a short term makes an invoice late sooner and a long one hides lateness inside the term. Vital Energi Utilities Ltd is above the median on that measure, so build the delay into your cash flow before you sign. The average days to pay sits at the median.
A worked example on a 30-day term: an invoice of £10,000.00 paid on this company’s average, 1 day after the final date, carries £3.22 of statutory interest at 11.75% plus the fixed sum, £103.22 in all, which the law lets you add without a clause. Run your own figures.
Against the official benchmark: the Department for Business and Trade’s statistics for 2025, published 14 July 2026, put large construction businesses at 33 days to pay with 14% of invoices late by number (13% by value), and all large businesses at 32 days and 15% late. Vital Energi Utilities Ltd is at or inside the sector figure on days. Its late share is above the sector figure.
What the register does not show: it is self-reported, large companies only, and the filing covers the whole company, not your contract. Read it alongside the notice rules that decide what you are actually owed, and keep your own dates.
Questions subcontractors ask about Vital Energi Utilities Ltd
- How long does Vital Energi Utilities Ltd take to pay its suppliers?
- Vital Energi Utilities Ltd reported an average of 31 days to pay an invoice for 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2026, with 62% of invoices paid within 30 days and 5% taking longer than 60 days. The official 2025 figure for large construction businesses is 33 days.
- Does Vital Energi Utilities Ltd pay late?
- By its own filing, 40% of Vital Energi Utilities Ltd's invoices were paid later than the agreed terms, against 14% across large construction businesses in 2025 and a median of 14% among the 1,496 companies on this register that declare construction contracts. That is down 3 points on its previous filing (43% for the period to 31 December 2025).
- Does Vital Energi Utilities Ltd hold retention?
- Yes. Vital Energi Utilities Ltd declares retention clauses in its construction contracts, though not in all of them. The filing's own wording is quoted above.
- Can I charge Vital Energi Utilities Ltd interest on a late invoice?
- Yes, under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, from the day after the final date for payment, at 8% over the Bank of England base rate plus a fixed sum per invoice, without any clause in the contract. The calculator works it out for your figures.
Source: the company’s own report on the government’s payment practices service, report 112959, made under the Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations 2017 and reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Register copy taken 2 October 2026; comparisons are against the latest filing of each of the 1,496 companies declaring construction contracts. Figures are as filed, not judged. Not legal advice.
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- Pay less notice: what it must say and when it must arriveWhat a pay less notice must contain under s.111 of the Construction Act, the deadline (contract or 7 days before the final date), and what happens if it's late.
- Late payment interest rate UK: how the 8% over base rule works, and why the date mattersUK late payment interest is 11.75% for business invoices due from 1 July 2026. How it is set, the £40/£70/£100 fixed sums, and a worked example on £18,400.
- Which main contractors pay late? What the payment practices register saysTen UK main contractors' filed payment figures: average days to pay, share paid late, report links. Median of 1,496 construction filers: 31 days, 14% late.
- Every company that files on construction contractsThe full A to Z, 1,496 filers, each with its own page.