Hundreds of businesses have been named and shamed by the Government.

Restaurant and pub giant among Midlands businesses named for failing to pay workers minimum wage

Names of dozens of companies released following long-running HMRC investigations

by · Birmingham Live

Almost 30 businesses across the West Midlands have been named and shamed on a new Government list for failing to pay their workers the minimum wage. A list featuring over 500 companies has been published as a warning to others that they must ensure all staff are getting at least the minimum wage.

Some businesses in our region failed to pay thousands of workers the correct amount, while for others it was a handful or just a single worker. Restaurant and pub giant Mitchells & Butlers, based in Birmingham, failed to pay over half a million pounds to 16,000 workers.

Another pub company, Stonegate, of Solihull, owed £101,000 to 3,650 of its staff, while Wolverhampton beer brewer Marston's didn't pay over 1,600 workers what they should have received. Nurseries and childcare companies, a retirement home and a car showroom also appeared on the list.

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Ministers insist there is no excuse for not ensuring workers are paid correctly. Employers have now been forced to repay £16 million plus financial penalties after 172,000 workers were left out of pocket across the country.

Investigations into these companies by HMRC concluded between 2015 and 2023 and they have now been named by the Government. Ministers admitted not all underpayments were intentional but insisted anyone entitled to the minimum wage must get it.

The following West Midlands companies were named:

  • Mitchells & Butlers PLC, Birmingham, B3, failed to pay £565,094.87 to 16,187 workers.
  • Dignity Funerals Limited, Sutton Coldfield, B73, failed to pay £162,973.57 to 156 workers.
  • Roadchef Limited, Norton Canes, Cannock, WS11, failed to pay £119,272.10 to 1,334 workers.
  • Stonegate Pub Company Limited, Solihull, B90, failed to pay £101,044.67 to 3,650 workers.
  • A.F. Blakemore and Son Limited, Willenhall, WV13, failed to pay £84,120.20 to 4,600 workers.
  • Arrow Recycling Limited, Birmingham, B66, failed to pay £48,632.99 to 8 workers.
  • Small Talk Nurseries Limited, Birmingham, B21, failed to pay £7,627.49 to 2 workers.
  • The Poplars Care & Support Services Limited, Smethwick, B67, failed to pay £7,142.21 to 8 workers.
  • Lifesecure Financial Services Ltd (In Liquidation - 22/11/21), Birmingham, B25, failed to pay £7,006.66 to 34 workers.
  • Barlow Motors Limited, Wolverhampton, WV6, failed to pay £6,772.96 to 25 workers.
  • Shipley Brothers Limited, Birmingham, B33, failed to pay £5,063.52 to 76 workers.
  • Mantex Embroideries Limited, Wolverhampton, WV3, failed to pay £4,390.53 to 1 worker.
  • Care Avenues Limited, Birmingham, B28, failed to pay £4,153.88 to 27 workers.
  • Marston’s Trading Limited, Wolverhampton, WV1, failed to pay £3,934.44 to 1,672 workers.
  • Rak Day Care Limited, Birmingham, B36, failed to pay £3,492.36 to 2 workers.
  • Dr Jaswinder Singh Bardha, Birmingham, B8, failed to pay £3,075.69 to 4 workers.
  • Little Rascals Childcare (West Midlands) Limited (Voluntary Arrangement - 27/01/23), Wednesbury, WS10, failed to pay £1,899.48 to 31 workers.
  • ZSA Traders Ltd, Oldbury, B69, failed to pay £1,754.67 to 6 workers.
  • Pre-Met Limited, Redditch, B98, failed to pay £1,357.98 to 1 worker.
  • Health and Food Limited, Birmingham, B16, failed to pay £1,258.54 to 12 workers.
  • Gerald Fage & Angela Fage, Birmingham, B29, failed to pay £1,104.79 to 1 worker.
  • MIH Traders Ltd, Dudley, DY6, failed to pay £1,080.21 to 4 workers.
  • Woodlands Retirement Residence Limited (In Liquidation), Stourbridge, DY8, failed to pay £929.89 to 19 workers.
  • Garcha Brothers Ltd, Dudley, DY1, failed to pay £745.54 to 19 workers.
  • Redwings Lodge (Midlands) Limited, Wolverhampton, WV1, failed to pay £708.99 to 9 workers.
  • CD Realisations 2023 Limited (In Administration - 20/03/23) (Previously Connect Distribution Services Limited), Birmingham, B10, failed to pay £592.78 to 7 workers.
  • Finecare247 Ltd, Birmingham, B25, failed to pay £552.27 to 3 workers.
  • Midlands Leisure Ltd, West Bromwich, B70, failed to pay £541.38 to 5 workers.

Minister for enterprise, markets and small business Kevin Hollinrake said: "Employees deserve to get paid properly for the hard work they put in. While the majority of businesses already do the right thing and pay their staff what they are owed, today’s announcement sends a message to the minority who aren’t - that there are repercussions to undercutting hard work from their staff."

The Government added: "The Government has been clear that anyone entitled to be paid the minimum wage should receive it, and that robust enforcement action will be taken against employers who do not pay their staff correctly."