B&Q and Five Guys among firms that paid staff below minimum wage

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.

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.

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".

The list of 658 businesses includes shops, restaurants, nurseries, social care providers and a handful of NHS trusts. The government did not say over what time period the underpayments spanned.

Minimum wage is £12.71 for staff aged 21 and over. For 18 to 20 year olds the rate is £10.85, and for under 18s and apprentices it is £8.

B&Q underpaid 4,530 workers a total of more than £456,000, according to the government.

B&Q said in response: "The shortfalls in payments were unintentional. They relate to calculations involving geographical allowances which are paid in addition to minimum hourly rates. All affected colleagues were quickly paid in full in July 2025."

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.

"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.

Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group failed to pay over £123,000 to 75 workers, according to the list. BBC News understands the underpayments were the result of salary sacrifice schemes which have since been changed.

The government list said St George's University Hospitals in Wandsworth, London, underpaid 55 workers. It is understood that this was due to salary sacrifice schemes and technical issues with London weighting allowances for some staff. The group has since changed its processes following a review by HMRC.

BBC News understands that the Trust which covers the two groups disputes that any staff were underpaid.

A spokesperson said apprentices at Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust were inadvertently underpaid between 2019 and 2023.

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.