The UK government has identified hundreds of businesses, including B&Q and Five Guys, for paying employees below the minimum wage between 2013 and 2025. Over 600 employers were ordered to pay back £4m to affected workers, with penalties worth £7m issued against them. B&Q underpaid 4,530 workers a total of £456,000, while Five Guys owed over £54,000 to 3,699 staff. The government is cracking down on businesses that fail to pay their employees the correct minimum wage, according to Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-03,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
- Published
DIY store B&Q and the fast food chain Five Guys are among hundreds of UK businesses named by the government for paying staff below the minimum wage.
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store → publish → wage
More than 600 employers were ordered to pay affected workers the outstanding wages, with £4m returned to workers, according to the Department for Business and Trade.
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m → order → Business
The firms have also been issued penalties worth £7m.
B&Q said the underpayments were unintentional and the result of calculations involving geographical allowances, while Five Guys blamed "technical differences in how payroll regulations were applied".
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regulations → issue → differences
The list of 658 businesses includes shops, restaurants, nurseries, social care providers and a handful of NHS trusts.
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list → include → trusts
The period of underpayments covered by the list varies depending on the employer, but overall spans from 2013 to 2025.
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period → cover → 2025
Minimum wage is £12.71 for staff aged 21 and over.
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wage → age → staff
B&Q underpaid 4,530 workers a total of more than £456,000, according to the government.
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B&Q → underpay → government
B&Q said in response: "The shortfalls in payments were unintentional.
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shortfalls → say → payments
They relate to calculations involving geographical allowances which are paid in addition to minimum hourly rates.
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which → relate → rates
All affected colleagues were quickly paid in full in July 2025."
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colleagues → pay → July
Five Guys, named in the list as owing over £54,000 to 3,699 staff, said "technical differences in how payroll regulations were applied" led to its underpayments, which were identified in a review by the HMRC, the UK's revenue and tax authority.
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which → name → HMRC
"We worked closely and transparently with HMRC throughout the process and have made all required payments to affected current and former employees," the company said.
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company → work → employees
Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group failed to pay over £123,000 to 75 workers, according to the list.
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Epsom → fail → list
BBC News understands the underpayments were the result of salary sacrifice schemes which have since been changed.
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which → understand → schemes
The government list said St George's University Hospitals in Wandsworth, London, underpaid 55 workers.
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Hospitals → say → workers
It is understood that this was due to salary sacrifice schemes and technical issues with London weighting allowances for some staff.
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London → understand → staff
The group has since changed its processes following a review by HMRC.
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group → change → HMRC
BBC News understands that the Trust which covers the two groups disputes that any staff were underpaid.
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staff → understand → groups
A spokesperson said apprentices at Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust were inadvertently underpaid between 2019 and 2023.
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apprentices → say → 2019
They said while their pay met the requirements for their contracted hours, meetings, handovers and time spent changing into uniform hadn't been accounted for, adding the trust has since changed policies and practices.
The other trust named has been contacted for comment.
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trust → say → comment
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the government was determined to stamp out the practice of "short-changing your staff".
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government → say → staff
"The best businesses know that looking after your workers isn't just the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do," he said.
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he → know → workers
Kate Dearden, minister for the future of work, said: "Underpaying your staff is illegal, and we will not let workers foot the bill for their boss failing to follow the rules."
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boss → say → rules
"Every employer should check their payroll now and reach out to Acas if they need further support," she added.
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she → check → support
The first 10 employers on the government's list, which was sorted by the amount of wages not paid, are:
1.
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which → sort → wages
B&Q Ltd, failed to pay £456,934.72 to 4,530 workers.
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Ltd → fail → workers
Elysium Healthcare Holdings 3 Ltd, Borehamwood, failed to pay £330,048.81 to 1,095 workers.
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Ltd → fail → workers
St George's, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group, failed to pay £123,331.97 to 75 workers.
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George → fail → workers
Support Staff Services Limited, Slough, failed to pay £119,715.13 to 323 workers.
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Limited → fail → workers
Forest Holidays Ltd, Moira, failed to pay £100,308.68 to 598 workers.
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Ltd → fail → workers
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London (Wandsworth), failed to pay £77,498.91 to 55 workers.
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Trust → fail → workers
Lanes Group Limited, Leeds, failed to pay £67,893.34 to 297 workers.
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Limited → fail → workers
UK Care Team Ltd, Leicester, LE19, failed to pay £67,082.76 to 99 workers.
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Ltd → fail → workers
Five Guys JV Limited, London (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea), failed to pay £54,642.47 to 3,699 workers.
10.
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Limited → fail → workers
Merlin Cinemas Limited, Redruth, failed to pay £50,198.75 to 181 workers.
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Limited → fail → workers
The list marks the first "naming round" since the Fair Work Agency was set up in April under the Employment Rights Act.
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Agency → mark → Act
As well as enforcing the minimum wage, the agency also will soon tackle practices of denying workers holiday and sick pay.
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agency → enforce → holiday
Chair of the agency's advisory board, Matthew Taylor, said naming employers which underpay staff was an important reminder that "paying the minimum wage is not optional - it is the law".
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it → say → wage
He said: "Most employers want to do the right thing, and we will support them to comply, but those who fall short should expect robust enforcement to protect workers and maintain a fair playing field for responsible businesses."
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who → say → businesses
An earlier version of this article contained a direct quote from a spokesman for St George's, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group which was later withdrawn.
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which → contain → George
…and 2 more, not listed.
