Thought Leadership – Matt Turner

As the founder and CEO of Creative Pod, an international full-service marketing, web, and design agency servicing the South East, London and businesses in the Middle East, I am incredibly proud to receive the Gold Award for the Fair Payment Code, which is a testament to our commitment to running the business fairly and correctly.

As a full-service marketing agency, we see how digital innovation seeps through every corner of a business, but one area that’s long overdue for reinvention is payment culture. Traditionally, the 30-day payment window made sense – businesses needed time to post cheques, reconcile invoices manually, and operate with slower banking systems. But we’re no longer living in that world.

Today, payments can be made in seconds. Digital invoicing, real-time bank transfers, and automated accounting tools mean there’s little justification for long delays. Yet many businesses still cling to outdated payment practices, often to the detriment of the supply chain.

For small businesses or any business, as a matter of fact, the consequences of late payments are real. Working in a digital space, we cover a lot for our clients – ad budgets and supplier invoices, and when one person in the chain doesn’t pay, the ripple effect is far-reaching. It slows down economic activity and damages trust, but the process should be simple in today’s digital world.

I’ve always prioritised best payment practices, knowing that a healthy cash flow is essential for any successful business. When one party doesn’t pay promptly, this has a ripple effect on cash flow and future profit.

I’m also an Export Champion for the Department of Business and Trade, and as part of this, I am dedicated to sharing my expertise in international trade. I believe fostering a culture of fair payment is not just beneficial for local businesses – it strengthens global economies. Fair and timely payments create a more sustainable and thriving business environment, both at home and abroad.

I will continue to pay fairly and on time as it’s the right thing to do, and over the years, I’ve built better foundations and relationships with our partners, suppliers, and clients by doing so. Plus, at the end of the day, I have lights to keep on, and I’m responsible for an incredible team. It’s about setting an example for them and for generations to come as the digital world continues to evolve, but let’s hope that by being part of a worthy scheme such as the Fair Payment Code, we will start to see some change.