Go Outdoors Retail Limited, Pilsworth, Bury, BL9, failed to pay £240,105.62 to 2,058 workers.
National Minimum Wage, according to new figures released today, Friday 17 October. Among those were multiple businesses operating in Rochdale and Manchester, some owing thousands to their staff.
Locally, one of the worst offenders was Heywood Reform Club in Rochdale, which failed to pay £13,202.22 to one worker. Another Rochdale firm, K44 Limited, short-changed five employees by £2,963.66. In Manchester, Elle R Leisure Limited, which operates popular hospitality venues, owed £37,357.78 to 280 workers, while restaurant group Mana Restaurant Group Ltd failed to pay £7,364.52 to 16 staff.
In nearby Bury, outdoor clothing chain Go Outdoors Retail Limited, based in Pilsworth, failed to pay more than £240,000 to over 2,000 workers, making it one of the largest underpayments nationally.
Across the UK, £6 million has been returned to nearly 42,000 workers, and £10.2 million in fines issued to employers. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the government’s “Plan to Make Work Pay” includes the toughest enforcement regime for workers’ rights in a generation, with a new Fair Work Agency launching in 2026.
“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,” he said.
Employment Rights Minister Kate Dearden added: “This action puts pounds back in people’s pockets and stops bad businesses undercutting good ones. Workers are finally getting what they’ve earned.”
The government says it will continue to publish the names of employers who break the law to ensure transparency and deterrence. The new Fair Work Agency, to be introduced under the Employment Rights Bill from April 2026, will have greater powers to tackle issues like wage underpayment, unpaid sick pay and unpaid holiday pay.
Baroness Philippa Stroud, chair of the Low Pay Commission, said raising the profile of enforcement will ensure businesses are better educated on the law. Niall Mackenzie of Acas reminded employers that minimum wage compliance is not optional: “Failing to do so can result in costly tribunals, reputational damage, and being named and shamed.”
Workers in Rochdale, Bury and Greater Manchester who suspect they are being underpaid can check their entitlements and report breaches via the government’s Check Your Pay website or speak confidentially to Acas or HMRC’s Pay and Work Rights helpline.
From April 2025, new minimum wage rates will apply:
| Age Group | 2024 Rate | 2025 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| National Living Wage (21+) | £11.44 | £12.21 |
| 18 to 20 years | £8.60 | £10.00 |
| Under 18 and apprentices | £6.40 | £7.55 |
Locally, officials say enforcement will help raise standards in a region where cost-of-living pressures continue to mount. A spokesperson from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority said the crackdown aligns with ongoing efforts to raise employment standards and eliminate exploitative practices across the city region.
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