A hotel on Arran has been named in a publication highlighting the UK businesses that failed to pay the national minimum wage to all employees.

Harbour Havens Limited, trading as Kildonan Hotel, failed to pay a total of £2478.12 to four workers between June 2014 and August 2017.

The business was included among many others (22 Scottish businesses) in the Department for Business's publication that was released earlier today (August 5).

Harbour Havens Limited has been contacted for comment.

Two other North Ayrshire businesses were included in the publication from HMRC, they were: Mr. Sam Dewar, trading as SCD Joinery, KA11, who failed to pay £886.53 to one worker between November 2016 and September 2017 and Mr. Andrew Hay, trading as Beach Service Station, KA20, who failed to pay £501.79 to three workers between April 2015 and April 2017.

Sam Dewar explained that the pay discrepancy was the result of an accounting mishap, which he puts down to a change in apprenticeship wages amount and says that it was an honest mistake, which has since been rectified, with all the money owed to the worker paid back as well as payment of a fine to HMRC.

He said: "It was through CITB (the Industry Training Board for the construction industry and a partner in ConstructionSkills) an apprenticeship, what it was was there was a jump in wage from when he started we were giving him apprentice wages and it got flagged, we got penalised, we paid HMRC £850, we paid the boy £850."

Likewise, Andrew Hay also put the discrepancy down to an accounting mistake, and reassured us that as sson as it was noticed he did all he could to make it right, saying: "There was an oversight in 2017, once it was highlighted to us it was rectified immediately."

The Department for Business has said that a significant number of the minimum wage breaches identified today affected those on apprenticeships.

And today the government has published new guidance to ensure employers know exactly what they need to do to pay their apprentices, and all workers, correctly.

Minimum wage breaches can occur when workers are being paid on or just above the minimum wage rate, and then have deductions from their pay for uniform or accommodation.

Business Minister Paul Scully said: "Our minimum wage laws are there to ensure a fair day’s work gets a fair day’s pay – it is unacceptable for any company to come up short.

"All employers, including those on this list, need to pay workers properly.

"This government will continue to protect workers’ rights vigilantly, and employers that short-change workers won’t get off lightly."

Employers who pay workers less than the minimum wage have to pay back arrears of wages to the worker at current minimum wage rates.

They also face hefty financial penalties of up to 200 per cent of arrears - capped at £20,000 per worker - which are paid to the government.

Since 2015 the government has ordered employers to repay over £100 million to 1 million workers.

Chair of the Low Pay Commission Bryan Sanderson said: "These are very difficult times for all workers, particularly those on low pay who are often undertaking critical tasks in a variety of key sectors including care.

"The minimum wage provides a crucial level of support and compliance is essential for the benefit of both the recipients and our society as a whole."