BRIGHTON and Hove Albion suspended their work experience programme yesterday after being named and shamed as a business who don’t pay the minimum wage.

The Championship side were named alongside League One outfit Blackpool and nearly 200 other businesses in a list released by the government of firms who owed their workers almost half a million pounds in unpaid wages.

While Blackpool admitted they wronged their former worker to the tune of £517.88, Brighton retreated into defence mode and claimed that their “reputation as a responsible employer has been very unfairly tarnished.”

The club owed one worker £2,861.64 according to the list, with the club putting it down to being “over generous in paying the expenses of an individual on work experience placement at the club two years ago.”

Due to there being no right to appeal the decision, Brighton confirmed that they have now suspended their work experience programme.

A spokesperson for Brighton said: “As a business we feel our reputation as a responsible employer has been very unfairly tarnished. We are one of the few clubs who pays its staff over and above the national living wage.

“Unfortunately, in light of this, we are now more risk averse in terms of offering work experience opportunities. This means we are unable to give as many valuable on-the-job work experience opportunities to those looking to further their career or break into this highly competitive industry.

“It is a shame because a number of people who’ve spent time with us, on work experience placements, have gone on to win successful job roles across the football and sports industry, at the highest level — here in the Premier League and EFL and others abroad.”

Blackpool, on the other hand, accepted the findings and said that the issue has since been resolved.

“Blackpool Football Club can confirm that an HMRC compliance check during the 2014/15 season highlighted that one of its 300 employees had been paid below the national minimum wage,” the club said in a statement.

“Although this was initially disputed, the matter has now been fully addressed and robust procedures are in place to ensure full compliance with the legislation in future.”

The current minimum wage rates are:
- National Living Wage (25 years and over): £7.20 per hour
- adult rate of National Minimum Wage (21 years and over): £6.70 per hour
- 18 to 20-year olds: £5.30 per hour
- 16 to 17-year olds: £3.87 per hour
- apprentice rate: £3.30 per hour