Brighton-based SME, Advice Cloud, has become a Fair Payment Code (FPC) Gold Awardee for demonstrating best payment practices. Launched in December 2024, the Fair Payment Code is managed by the Office of the Small Business Commissioner on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade.

The tiered system of Awards is aimed at awarding best practice and driving improvements in payment performance. Gold Awardees pay at least 95% of all invoices within 30 days alongside agreeing to abide by the Code’s principles of being Clear, Fair and Collaborative with their suppliers.

Advice Cloud is a specialist public sector procurement consultancy, with a small team of 10 full-time employees. The organisation works to support technology suppliers in navigating frameworks and procurement processes successfully. Founded in 2014, the company has supported over 500 suppliers - predominantly SMEs - in securing well over £1.5bn in public sector contracts. With a 97% success rate on 1,150 Government framework tenders, Advice Cloud is known for its expertise, collaborative approach and ethical business practices.

Operating as a values-led organisation, Advice Cloud is committed to responsible business practices, from internal operations to ensuring fair and prompt payments to suppliers. The company, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, has also been recognised as a finalist in the 2024 Sussex Business Awards for its growth, employee culture, and contribution to the local business community.

Advice Cloud places fairness and transparency at the core of its business operations. The company understands how crucial cash flow is for businesses, particularly SMEs, and recognises the damaging impact of late payments.

With a long-standing commitment to paying suppliers fairly and promptly, Advice Cloud has taken proactive steps to ensure that suppliers receive the support they need to thrive. Having observed the challenges that delayed payments create for businesses, the organisation formalised this commitment by joining the Fair Payment Code to lead by example.

Advice Cloud’s ethical business approach extends beyond payment practices. The company is proudly Carbon Neutral, Great Place to Work certified, Gold Standard accredited with the 4 Day Week Foundation, and is actively working towards achieving B-Corp certification. The Fair Payment Code award is another step in embedding responsibility into everything they do.

Healthy cash flow is critical for small business survival and growth. Late and long payment times disrupt the cash flow cycle and can prevent a business from paying its bills, eventually leading to business failure. In 2023 15% of small businesses and medium sized enterprises cited cash flow and late payments as an obstacle to running their businesses.

Chris Farthing, CEO and Founder said:

"Fair payment isn’t just a policy - it’s a responsibility. We’ve built our business by working with SMEs and know how vital prompt payments are for financial stability and growth. Being awarded the Fair Payment Code Gold Award is a reflection of our commitment to fairness and collaboration in the supply chain. We encourage other businesses to take this step and make a meaningful impact on their suppliers."

Liz Barclay, Small Business Commissioner said:

“Congratulations to Advice Cloud on their Gold Fair Payment Code Award. Everyone benefits when suppliers are paid quickly and fairly, and they thrive. Embedding a culture of fair payment practices in your business is good for your own bottom line as well as for the economy, communities and wider society.”

For more information about the Fair Payment Code please see https://www.smallbusinesscommissioner.gov.uk/fpc/ or contact comms@smallbusinesscommissioner.gov.uk.

To get in touch with Advice Cloud, please contact enquiries@advice-cloud.co.uk