HMRC found 518 companies underpaid 60,000 workers by a total of £7.4m between 2015 and 2022 and now face up to 200% penalties as well as having to reimburse those they left out of pocket, although the figure was down on last year’s £15m in fines.

Hospitality companies made nearly one in five of the businesses failing to pay the correct national minimum wage, followed by retail, many failing foul by deducting wages for food, meals and uniforms, and not paying apprentices correctly.