SmartestEnergy wins the 2025 Fast Payers Award from Good Business Pays

SmartestEnergy has been named a winner of the 2025 Fast Payers Award by Good Business Pays—a recognition we’re genuinely proud to share.

The Fast Payers Awards celebrate organisations that consistently pay their suppliers quickly and reliably. In our case, it reflects strong payment performance: paying suppliers on average in 27 days or less and paying 95% or more invoices on time—the benchmarks used by Good Business Pays to identify leading large businesses in the UK.

For us, this isn’t just a statistic. Paying suppliers promptly is one of the most practical ways we can support the businesses that help keep our organisation running every day, especially small businesses, where cash flow can be critical.

Why fast payment matters

Behind every invoice is a business paying wages, purchasing materials, planning work, and investing for growth. Paying on time helps our partners operate with confidence and reduces unnecessary pressure caused by late payments.

Good Business Pays has highlighted that only a relatively small proportion of large companies consistently reach these standards. Being recognised among that group is a reminder that the work we do, across teams, systems, and processes, has real impact outside our business too.

A team effort worth celebrating

This award is a testament to the people who make good payment practices happen day in, day out, from resolving queries quickly, to strengthening controls, to continuously improving how we work so invoices can be approved and paid without avoidable delays.

Joanna Zabicka, our AP/AR Operations & Transformation Manager, captured what this recognition means for the team:

“Fast payment doesn’t happen by accident, it’s the result of clear processes, strong collaboration, and a shared commitment to doing the right thing for our suppliers. I’m incredibly proud of the team for the way they’ve embraced continuous improvement, tackled challenges head-on, and kept supplier experience front of mind.”
Joanna Zabicka, AP/AR Operations & Transformation Manager

Recognised and celebrating in-person

Joanna and colleagues attended the winners’ reception at the House of Lords this week to represent SmartestEnergy in person. It was a great event and a brilliant chance to celebrate what the team has achieved.

Representing SmartestEnergy at the Fast Payers Awards reception at the House of Lords.

Looking ahead

We see this award as both recognition and motivation. We’ll continue strengthening the foundations that enable fast and on-time payment, by reducing exceptions, improving approval turnaround, and maintaining a continuous improvement mindset that keeps supplier experience front of mind.

From 1 January 2026, companies will need to publish payment statistics in their directors’ annual report. We welcome transparency in this space and remain committed to upholding the standards this accreditation represents.

Acknowledgements

To our suppliers: thank you for the work you do and the partnership you bring.
To our colleagues across finance, operations, and the wider business: thank you for making good payment practices a priority.

We’re proud to be recognised as a 2025 Fast Payer, and we’re committed to maintaining the performance and culture behind it.