Teesside Employers 'Named and Shamed' for Failing to Pay the Minimum Wage...

Nearly 500 companies have been named & shamed by the Government for failing to pay employees the National Minimum Wage according to recently released figures....

17th October 2025

Two Hartlepool employers have been publicly named by the Government for failing to pay the National Minimum Wage, as part of a crackdown on businesses that underpaid staff across the UK.

The new data, released this week by the Department for Business and Trade, exposes 491 employers across the country who've collectively short-changed more than 42,000 workers, resulting in over £10 million in fines and £6 million in repayments to affected employees.

Among those named were two from Hartlepool:

• Autotech Hartlepool Ltd (TS25) – failed to pay £1,893.50 to three workers.

• Mr Nourdine H Kaddour (TS26) – failed to pay £544.50 to three workers.

  
  

Nearby Teesside employers were also caught out, including RM Car Wash Ltd in Middlesbrough, which failed to pay almost £4,800 to ten workers, and SNE Care Services Ltd, also in Middlesbrough, which underpaid eight staff by more than £1,100.

In Billingham, Mrs Deborah A Threadgill was found to have failed to pay five workers £2,097.67, while Stockton-based Jaygen Leisure Limited underpaid nine workers by over £700.

“A Fair Day’s Pay for a Fair Day’s Work”

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the Government’s plan to “Make Work Pay” is aimed at ensuring fairness for all workers and creating a level playing field for honest businesses.

“Every worker deserves a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, and this government will not tolerate rogue employers who short-change their staff,” Mr Kyle said. “Our Plan to Make Work Pay cracks down on those not playing by the rules.”

The announcement comes ahead of the introduction of the Employment Rights Bill, which will establish a new Fair Work Agency from April 2026. The agency will be given stronger powers to tackle employers who underpay workers or fail to provide holiday and sick pay.

Legal Consequences for Employers

Acas Chief Executive Niall Mackenzie warned that failure to pay the correct minimum wage could lead to “grievances, costly employment tribunals, and reputational damage” for businesses.

“Not only is it important for employers to pay the correct minimum wage rates — it’s also the law,” he said.

Employment Rights Minister Kate Dearden added that the government’s new measures are designed to ensure “workers get every penny they’ve earned” and to prevent bad employers from undercutting responsible businesses.

The revelation will likely raise eyebrows in Hartlepool, where local businesses are already under scrutiny for employment practices and low pay rates. With two employers from the town appearing on the government’s “naming and shaming” list, workers are being reminded of their right to the National Minimum Wage, and that underpayment will not go unnoticed.

The UK's minimum wage rates from April 2025 are £12.21 per hour for workers aged 21 and over (the National Living Wage), £10.00 per hour for those aged 18–20, and £7.55 per hour for those under 18 or for apprentices in their first year. These rates apply to all eligible workers, regardless of their job, and are legally mandated for employers. 

The Fair Work Agency, once established, will have the authority to investigate and penalize employers who fail to meet wage and employment standards — a move the government claims will “make work pay again” for thousands of workers nationwide.