Five Edinburgh firms have been named and shamed by the UK Government for failing to pay staff minimum wage.
A horse trader and training yard in the Pentlands a Pepe’s Piri Piri Branch, and a well-regarded Indian restaurant were among the Edinburgh businesses included on the list.
A total of 27 workers were underpaid £26,036.43 in Edinburgh, with 27,000 workers underpaid £4m UK-wide.
Mrs Fiona Burgoyne, who runs the Horse Choice equestrian centre in the Pentlands, was the worst offender in the capital, and was forced to pay back £22,422.75 to four workers.
Photo by Sarah Agnew on Unsplash
BNB Property Services, which offers cleaning services in Portobello, was the next worse, underpaying two staff members £1,460.51, while the Golden Ambal Indian restaurant on Leith Walk underpaid one worker £915.20.
A new Pepe’s Piri branch in Gilmerton owed 14 workers a total of £700, while Shish Edinburgh, a Turkish restaurant on Potterrow failed to pay six members of staff a total of £537.97.
Murdoch Allan & Son – a beloved family bakery chain in the North East – was the next worst, and underpaid seven workers £24,150.
Fiona Burgoyne said that while the figure was accurate and she paid back what was owed, the government had misrepresented the situation.
She said the error was unintentional and blamed the firm which manages her payroll, but refused to name them.
Other firms named around Scotland claimed that the underpayment was unintentional and criticised the government for unfairly representing the situation.
Fiona Burgoyne said that while the figure was accurate and she paid back what was owed, she accused the government of misrepresenting the situation.
Fiona Burgoyne – trading as Horsechoice – is based in the Pentlands © Google
The other worst offenders in Scotland were Collin Care – a Glasgow nursery operator who 77 members of staff a total of £28,149 – and North East bakers Murdoch Allan & Son, who owed seven workers £24,150.
Dynamic Retail Ltd (which trades as Scotfresh) in Dundee was the fourth worst offender, owing more than £14,000, and Neil Barr Decorating Services Limited in Irvine rounded off the top five, owing more than £10,000.
Businesses in hospitality, retail, construction and food production were all represented on the list. The list spans from 2013 to 2025 but varies based on the employer.
The National Living Wage was raised in April this year by 50p to £12.71 for those aged 21 and over.
Workers aged 18-20 saw an 85p increase in national minimum wage to £10.85 and under 18s and apprentices got 45p more to £8 an hour.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “The best businesses know that looking after your workers isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do, building the stronger, more successful businesses that drive growth in every postcode.
“Most employers already understand this, and I want to work with them to ensure they have every piece of guidance and support available to help them follow the rules.
“Short-changing your staff isn’t a shortcut to success and we are determined to stamp it out.”
This list marks the first naming-and-shaming round since the launch of the UK’s new Fair Work Agency, which was established in April 2026 under the landmark Employment Rights Act to consolidate enforcement of workplace standards.
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