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Financial Information

Prompt payment of suppliers

The government aims to pay 90% of undisputed and valid invoices from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within 5 days and 100% of undisputed and valid SME invoices within 30 days.

The Met Office reporting is currently unable to distinguish SMEs from other suppliers but we aim to pay at least 80% of all valid UK supplier invoices within 5 working days from receipt and all invoices, both UK and non-UK, within our contracted terms which are as standard 30 days from invoice presentation. This timeline includes the goods receipting, invoice approval and pay run authorisation processes. 

Wherever possible we also ensure that our payment terms are adopted by sub-contractors engaged in support of a Met Office contract.

 

How to submit an invoice

To help the Met Office reduce invoice payment times , please follow this simple guide to submitting a valid invoice.

Please ensure your invoices always:

  • Are emailed to: [email protected]
  • Include clear reference to a Met Office Purchase Order number
  • Clearly describe the goods or services provided
  • Comply with UK VAT rules, where appropriate, (see HMRC guidance

If you do not have access to email please post your invoices to: Accounts Payable, Met Office, FitzRoy Road, Exeter, EX1 3PB

 

Measuring prompt payment

Met Office measures 5 working days as the period between invoice registration and the point payment, usually by BACS or CHAPS, credits the supplier's bank account. We do not make supplier payments by cheque. 

 

How are we doing?

Our current performance in paying valid supplier invoices promptly is reported here in line with the following reporting requirements:

i) reporting on the Government target to pay at least 90% of suppliers within 5 working days, measured from date of receipt of a valid invoice:

 

Period

Percentage of invoices paid within 5 days

Percentage of invoices paid within 30 days

Percentage of invoices paid within 60 days

Total amount of liability to pay

Financial year 2022/23~

84.3%

97.4%

 

Nil

Financial year 2023/24~

81.7%

95.0%

97.5%

Nil

Financial year 2024/25, quarter ending:

 

 

 

 

30th June 2024

86.1%

94.7%

96.2%

Nil

30th September 2024

87.23%

94.95%

97.23%

Nil

31st December 2024

 

 

 

Nil

31st March 2025

 

 

 

Nil

~ Prior to January 2024 the 5-day target was 80%

As signatories to the Prompt Payment Code we also aim to:

  • pay 95% of invoices within the agreed payment terms and without attempting to change terms retrospectively
  • pay 95% of all invoices within 60 days
  • pay 95% of invoices from businesses with fewer than 50 employees within 30 days

ii) Prompt Payment Code reporting on the proportion of invoices paid within 30 days with a target of paying at least 95% of invoices within 60 days, measured from the date of the invoice:

 

  Percentage of invoices paid within 30 days Percentage of invoices paid within 60 days

Calendar year 2022

93.8%

96.7%

Calendar year 2023

95.6%

97.8%

Calendar year 2023, half year ending :

 

 

30th June 2024

94.6%

96.1%

31st December 2024

 

 

 

Overdue payments

If you believe that a payment due to you is overdue, please contact our Accounts Payable team by any of the following routes:

  • Phone: 0330 135 4201
  • E-mail: [email protected]
  • Post: Accounts Payable, Met Office, FitzRoy Road, Exeter, EX1 3PB

In the unlikely event that a dispute is not resolved promptly please write to: Head of Finance Operations, Met Office, FitzRoy Road, Exeter, EX1 3PB.

Feedback

If you have any other feedback regarding our handling of supplier invoices please submit it in writing to: Head of Finance Operations, Met Office, FitzRoy Road, Exeter, EX1 3PB.