London – The UK government has published a "name‑and‑shame" list of 658 employers that breached the National Minimum Wage (NMW) in the latest enforcement round, according to a statement on GOV.UK. The list, released by the Department for Business and Trade, includes high‑profile firms such as home‑improvement retailer B&Q, fast‑food chain Five Guys, public‑services contractor Serco and hotel group Whitbread, as well as a range of car dealers, garden‑centre operators and Northern Irish businesses.
Under the NMW legislation, which applies to all workers aged 23 and over (the National Living Wage) and younger age brackets at lower rates, employers are required to pay at least the statutory hourly minimum. Failure to do so can trigger repayment orders, fines and, in severe cases, criminal prosecution. The latest crackdown follows a series of high‑profile investigations that have highlighted systemic payroll errors and deliberate underpayment across sectors.
Scope of the breach
Media outlets reported varying figures for the number of firms named. The BBC and several government communications cited "nearly 660" employers, while others, including the Irish News and the official press release, gave a precise count of 658. The discrepancy reflects rounding in some reports, but the core finding remains: a significant proportion of the named firms were small‑to‑medium enterprises, though several large chains were also implicated.
Among the highlighted cases, Five Guys was ordered to repay £54,000 to underpaid staff, as reported by the Foodservice Equipment Journal. B&Q, Serco and Whitbread were also named for underpaying workers, according to the Independent and London Business News. In Northern Ireland, 36 employers – ranging from hotels to legal firms – appeared on the list, a fact noted by the Irish News and the Belfast Telegraph. Sectoral coverage extended to car dealers (Car Dealer Magazine), garden‑centre businesses (gardenforum.co.uk) and hospitality venues (Hotel Owner).
"Five Guys was ordered to repay £54,000 after minimum‑wage underpayments," the Foodservice Equipment Journal reported.
Government response and future enforcement
In a statement titled “Short‑changing staff isn’t a shortcut to success,” the government emphasised that the list is part of a broader strategy to increase compliance. The department warned that employers found to be underpaying staff could face further investigations and higher penalties. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will continue to audit payroll systems, with a focus on preventing systematic errors that lead to underpayment.
Beyond the minimum‑wage crackdown, the government is preparing to enforce statutory holiday‑pay rules from 2027, as outlined by legal analysis on Lexology. Employers are advised to review their holiday‑pay calculations now to avoid future breaches, a move seen as complementary to the current wage‑pay enforcement drive.
Calls for stronger action
Legal and employment observers have welcomed the public disclosure but argue that tougher penalties are needed to deter repeat offenders. ICLG noted that naming and shaming firms can be effective, yet highlighted the risk that some businesses may view the fines as a cost of doing business. Advocacy groups, while not quoted directly in the source material, have historically called for increased inspection powers and the introduction of a whistle‑blower mechanism to surface payroll irregularities earlier.
Industry bodies have also been urged to provide clearer guidance to members. The upcoming 2027 holiday‑pay enforcement, coupled with the current NMW actions, signals a shift toward more rigorous labour‑law compliance enforcement in the UK.
Overall, the government's public list serves both as a deterrent and a warning to employers across the British Isles that underpaying staff will be met with increased scrutiny and financial repercussions. The next phase of enforcement, particularly concerning holiday pay, will likely test the capacity of HMRC and the Department for Business and Trade to maintain pressure on non‑compliant firms.
