Business
Supply chain bullying affects one in five small businesses


John Allan: Small businesses are no longer prepared to put up with
sharp practices.
NEW RESEARCH by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) uncovers alarming levels of widespread unfair dealing. In a survey of 2,500 FSB members, almost one in five (17 percent) said they faced supply chain bullying in one form or another in the past two years. The results indicate a serious deterioration of payment practices much wider than ‘pay to stay’.
The FSB is calling for a toughening up of the Prompt Payment Code, as well as fresh measures to stamp out the most heinous examples of bad practice like retrospective discounting and ‘pay to stay’. The Prompt Payment Code should be a key tool in improving payment culture. The Government has promised to toughen up the code.
The FSB wants to see any company looking to supply the public sector to extend the Government’s standard 30 day prompt payment terms to their own suppliers. Small businesses want 60 day payment terms to be set as an absolute maximum for any business signed up to the Prompt Payment Code.
If a company will not agree to 60 days they should not be allowed to sign up. As part of the FSB research, businesses were asked to give examples of the most common poor payment practices they had to deal with including pay to stay. The FSB has used these examples to create a list of the five most resented payment practices in use across the UK today:
Flat fees – ‘pay to stay’
Also known as ‘supplier assessment charges’ or ‘supplier investment payments,’ these are flat charges which companies levy on suppliers either as a requirement to be on a supplier list, or packaged as an investment into hypothetical future business opportunities. It is often indicated that non-payment will result in de-listing. New research has indicated that more than a quarter of a million (260,000) businesses could be facing so called ‘pay to stay’ charges after five per cent of businesses surveyed said they had been asked to make a payment by a customer or face delisting.
Excessively long payment terms – ‘pay you later’
In 2011 the EU issued a directive requiring all businesses to pay their suppliers within 60 days, or face interest payments on money owed. However, the UK implementation of the directive allows businesses to agree longer terms “provided it is not unfair to the creditor.” This has led to many companies insisting on payment terms of 90 or even 120 days. In effect this becomes an interest free loan from firms in the supply chain to large companies with excessive payment terms.
Exceeding payment agreements – ‘late payment’
As well as insisting on long payment terms, many companies are routinely exceeding agreed terms, or changing terms retrospectively to allow them to miss agreed payment dates. Also thought to be common is the practice of extending payment dates if money is owed on, or close to, the end of a financial reporting date in order to smooth a big company’s balance sheet.
Discounts for prompt payment – ‘one for you, one for us’
Prompt payment discounts are arbitrary discounts big firms give themselves for paying early or even just on time. For example, a firm that has agreed to pay 120 days following receipt of an invoice may also apply an automatic discount of 3% if they pay on or before the 120th day.
Retrospective discounting – ‘balance sheet bonuses’
Some firms seek to apply retrospective discounts to outstanding money owed to a supplier. This involves the company effectively changing the terms of the contract signed with the supplier after a contract has been agreed. Methods used to extract these vary, but include threats of de-listing, withholding payment, ‘marketing contributions’ and previously unagreed discounts applied to specific volumes of business. John Allan, National Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses, said: “When the public think of their favourite brands, they are unlikely to connect them with the sort of immoral payment practices which are becoming all too common across an increasing number of industries. “However, it is clear that whenever these examples come to light, the public shares the same sense of moral outrage as the small firms that have to put up with them on a daily basis. “The Government has indicated that they are prepared to do more to improve the culture of payment practices in the UK and they are right to do so. “The sense I get from talking to our members is that small businesses are fast approaching the breaking point. They are no longer prepared to put up with these sharp practices. Brands that think they can continue to squeeze their suppliers with impunity may get a nasty shock when what they are doing comes to the attention of their consumers.”
Business
Huge slurry lagoon to be built in Pembrokeshire countryside

PLANS to build a new slurry lagoon at a 650-dairy herd Pembrokeshire farm have been given the go-ahead.
In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Richard Morris of Bowett Ltd sought permission for the construction of the lagoon, and associated works, at Quoits Hill Farm, Bentlass Road, Hundleton, near Pembroke.
A supporting statement through agent Cynllunio RW Planning Ltd stressed the applicant does not intend to increase livestock numbers on farm as a result of this 60 by 35 metre development.
“The Morris Family farm at Quoits Hill Farm and specialise in dairy farming. The farm is home to approximately 650 dairy cows plus followers. The herd is autumn calving with milk sold to Laprino. The home farm is grass based and extends to over 300 acres, with more off lying land utilised for growing winter forage.
“The family have invested significantly in recent years in on farm infrastructure to include a rotary milking parlour, silage clamps and covered feed yards.”
It added: “The proposed development seeks to increase the farms slurry storage capacity to above the five-month storage required by NVZ regulations. The existing slurry store and slurry handling facilities are not adequate to comply with the new regulations.”
It went on to say: “The proposed store will provide the farm with 6452 cubic meters of storage capacity (minus freeboard) which will equate to over 171 days storage. It is proposed to use the existing field slurry store as a lightly fouled water store to collect the parlour washings and reduce the size of the store required. Slurry will continue to be scrapped into the existing yard store and then pumped to the new store when required. This work will be monitored closely to reduce the risk of any leakage.”
It concluded: “The proposed development will enable slurry to be spread during the growing season rather than during more difficult weather conditions in the winter. This will be of benefit to farm efficiency and the wider environment.”
The application was conditionally approved.
Business
Post Office spent £600m to keep using flawed Horizon system

Roch postmaster among those still seeking compensation
THE POST OFFICE has spent more than £600 million of public money continuing to use the discredited Horizon IT system—despite accepting more than a decade ago that it needed replacing.
New documents reveal that then Prime Minister Tony Blair and senior Labour ministers were warned as far back as 1999 about serious flaws in the original £548 million deal with Fujitsu. A Treasury memo at the time flagged that the Post Office would not own the core computer code, leaving them locked into the supplier and vulnerable to spiralling costs. Officials warned Fujitsu could use the situation to “drive a costly settlement.”
Since then, the total spent on Horizon contracts has reached £2.5 billion, including £600 million spent since 2012 when the Post Office first admitted it needed to move on from the system. Replacement efforts have repeatedly failed, with a £40 million IBM project abandoned in 2016 and another attempt scrapped in 2022.

The latest replacement project—an internal system called New Branch IT (NBIT)—has run into delays and ballooning costs, with estimates now topping £1 billion. Despite past failings, the Post Office and Fujitsu are expected to remain in partnership until at least 2030.
The scandal surrounding Horizon continues to grow, following the wrongful prosecution of over 900 sub-postmasters. Although private prosecutions based on Horizon data were halted in 2015, campaigners say the damage done is still being felt by victims across the UK—including here in Pembrokeshire.
One of them is Tim Brentnall, who was just 22 when he and his parents bought the Roch Post Office. In 2010, he was prosecuted after a £22,500 shortfall appeared in the accounts—despite doing nothing wrong. Advised to plead guilty, he received an 18-month suspended sentence and 200 hours of community service. His conviction was quashed in 2021.
Earlier this year, Brentnall told the BBC he was “in disbelief” after being offered less than 17% of the compensation he had claimed. The offer came with a 50-page letter rejecting much of his legal and forensic case, and over 15,000 documents to sift through. He is now re-submitting the claim.
“There are people far older than me who should be enjoying their lives now,” he said. “Instead, they’re still fighting. People are dying without seeing justice. It’s not right.”
The Post Office says it is “fundamentally changing” as an organisation and has paid out more than £768 million to over 5,100 people affected by the Horizon scandal. However, many victims and campaigners say the compensation process remains slow, unfair, and deeply distressing.
Postal minister Gareth Thomas recently confirmed a further £276.9 million in government funding for the Post Office, including £136 million for future IT projects. He said the continued use of Horizon reflected “past underinvestment” and that postmasters needed better tools going forward.
A spokesperson for Tony Blair said the former PM took concerns over the Horizon contract seriously at the time and acted on independent advice. “It is now clear the Horizon product was seriously flawed. Mr Blair has deep sympathy for those affected.”
A separate 1999 memo was also sent to then-Chancellor Gordon Brown, but a spokesperson for Mr Brown said he would not have seen it and had no involvement in awarding the contract.
Despite public statements about reform, doubts remain over whether NBIT will ever be delivered—and whether true justice will ever be achieved for those whose lives were torn apart by the Horizon scandal.
Business
Wales and Japan strengthen partnership at Tokyo investor showcase

WALES’ longstanding relationship with Japan was reaffirmed and deepened this week during a high-profile investor showcase in Tokyo, part of the Welsh Government’s Year of Wales in Japan 2025 celebrations.
The Wales Investor Showcase, hosted by Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Rebecca Evans, brought together leading Japanese entrepreneurs and companies across a range of sectors, with a focus on fostering long-term trade links and collaborative ventures.
The event centred on strategic areas of mutual interest, including renewable energy, digital innovation, and advanced manufacturing. It marked a significant moment in the decades-old partnership between the two nations, which began with the first wave of Japanese investment into Wales in the 1970s. Today, over 70 Japanese companies operate in Wales.
Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Evans said: “Deep-rooted connections between Wales and Japan have flourished for generations, with trade links thriving over the last 50 years.
“With the world’s economies searching for stability and growth, now is the perfect time to strengthen our ties with Japan. The optimism surrounding our shared ambitions has been truly inspiring.
“The showcase was about forging new connections, building on existing relationships, and exploring opportunities for sustainable, mutual growth that will benefit both nations for the next 50 years and beyond.
“It also highlighted the skills, creativity and world-class innovation that define modern Wales.”
Kazushi Ambe, Senior Adviser of Sony Group, echoed the importance of the relationship:
“The partnership between Wales and Japan, built over more than half a century, reflects deep mutual respect, shared values, and a strong sense of connection.
“In a time of constant change, it is these enduring qualities that continue to unite us. This showcase was a valuable opportunity to strengthen that bond and explore new avenues for collaboration.
“As both sides embrace new challenges and pursue progress, I hope this partnership will continue to evolve and thrive.”
As part of her visit to Japan, the Cabinet Secretary will also host a Wales Day event at the Osaka Expo, promoting Welsh innovation, culture, and trade potential on the global stage.
In addition, the Welsh Government has announced two upcoming trade missions to Japan later this year, aimed at helping Welsh businesses explore export opportunities in one of Asia’s most significant markets.
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