Fifty employers across Scotland have been publicly identified on a UK government list for failing to pay their staff the legally required minimum wage, with nearly 700 workers affected by the breaches.
Three companies topped the Scottish rankings, each owing more than £20,000 to underpaid employees. The largest underpayment came from Collin Care Ltd, a family-owned nursery chain based in Glasgow, which owed £28,149 to 77 workers. Murdoch Allan & Son, a bakery in Peterhead, failed to pay £24,150 to seven staff members, while Horsechoice, a horse dealer and showjumping yard in Edinburgh operated by Fiona Burgoyne, underpaid four workers by £22,422.
Across the entire UK, the Department for Business reported that 658 employers have been ordered to repay £4 million after more than 27,000 workers were left out of pocket. According to Scottish financial reporting, the 2025–2026 naming-and-shaming exercise involved 44 Scottish employers among the broader UK total.
Several Glasgow-based nurseries featured prominently on the list, including Victoria Park Kindergarten, Clarence Nursery and Acorn Park Nursery. Dynamic Retail Ltd, trading as Scotfresh in Dundee, failed to pay £14,452 to 215 workers. Aulds Delicious Desserts in Renfrew owed £9,435 to 89 staff members. Two Glasgow restaurants—La Vita and The Butchershop Bar & Grill—underpaid 66 workers by a combined £5,440. Fast food chain Pepe's, operated through Saash Foods Limited and KA Scotland Ltd, failed to pay £2,587 to two workers and £700 to 14 employees respectively.
Businesses across hospitality, retail, construction and food production sectors were represented on the list, reflecting widespread compliance failures across multiple industries.
What caused the underpayments?
Douglas Collin, financial director of Collin Care Ltd, stated that the underpayment related to a historical inquiry spanning several years and affecting only a specific section of the workforce. He said the claim had been fully settled more than a year ago and that the company never deliberately sought to underpay workers or evade its legal obligations.
It related to a technical breach of the classification of staff due to a time delay in getting completed paperwork from various training companies.
Collin explained that the company voluntarily cooperated with HMRC for over two years, supplying all requested information and documentation. He noted that underpayments are calculated at the date of payment rather than when the error occurred, which resulted in a higher final figure. Within days of HMRC finalising its inquiry and issuing calculations, every current and former staff member was paid in full, along with a substantial penalty to HMRC.
Collin Care Ltd are, and have been, a Real Living Wage employer for several years, we have taken corrective action and do not envisage this situation ever arising again.
What are the current minimum wage rates?
As of 1 April 2026, the national living wage for workers aged 21 and over stands at £12.71 per hour. This represents a 50p increase from the previous rate. Workers aged 18 to 20 receive £10.85 per hour, an 85p rise, while those under 18 and apprentices receive £8 per hour, a 45p increase.
For a full-time employee working 37.5 hours per week, the national living wage equates to approximately £24,784.50 annually. The 2026 minimum wage tables confirm these rates across all age categories and apprenticeship levels.
Certain workers fall outside the scope of minimum wage protections, including the self-employed, company directors, volunteers, members of the armed forces and prisoners. It is a criminal offence for employers to fail to pay the correct national minimum or living wage to eligible employees. These rates apply regardless of whether workers are paid on an hourly, weekly or monthly basis.
How has the government responded?
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds emphasised that responsible employers recognise the value of treating their workforce fairly. He stated that most businesses already understand this principle and that the government intends to work with employers to provide guidance and support to ensure compliance with wage regulations.
Short-changing your staff isn't a shortcut to success and we are determined to stamp it out.
The naming-and-shaming regime represents a key enforcement tool in the government's approach to minimum wage compliance. Previous iterations of this list, such as the 2021 exercise, named 19 Scottish employers and identified 352 workers left out of pocket, demonstrating that minimum wage breaches have been a recurring issue in Scotland's employment landscape.
Key facts
- Fifty Scottish employers have been named for minimum wage breaches affecting nearly 700 workers
- Collin Care Ltd in Glasgow owed the largest amount at £28,149 to 77 workers
- The national living wage for over-21s is £12.71 per hour as of 1 April 2026
- Across the UK, 658 employers have been ordered to repay £4 million to more than 27,000 underpaid workers
- Breaches span hospitality, retail, construction and food production sectors
