UK administrations update: February 20 - 27

Since our last update, the following businesses have been confirmed as having fallen into administration. All dates indicate when the administration was posted by the Gazette and not necessarily the dates on which administrators were appointed.

Skyline Development & Construction Limited – February 20
Skyline Development & Construction Limited, a construction company based in Oxford, fell into administration on February 16, with the appointment of Quantuma’s Michael Chamberlain and Gareth Peckett as joint administrators confirmed by the Gazette on February 20.

In the company’s balance sheet as of December 31 2022, its total current assets were valued at £3.45 million, with total assets less liabilities amounting to slightly over £1 million.

Find out more about the impact of rising insolvencies in the construction sector

A To B Direct Limited – February 21
A to B Direct Limited, a Bradford-based haulage and courier service company, filed a notice of intention (NOI) to appoint administrators earlier this month, before subsequently appointing Ian Goodhew and Abigail Shearing of Voscap as joint administrators.

The company had been trading for close to 20 years and claimed to be the largest independent courier in Bradford, operating throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe, as well as offering short and long-term storage options.

The firm’s administration comes amid soaring distress in the UK’s haulage sector, driven by rising fuel and wage costs, high interest rates and debts. In its accounts for the year to April 30 2022, the company’s fixed assets were valued at £75,462, down from slightly over £108,000 a year earlier, while current assets were valued at more than £309,000. At the time, the company owed creditors in excess of £175,000, with its net assets totalling £160,802.

Find out more about haulage industry insolvencies

L & M Transport (UK) Limited – February 21
Haulage industry insolvencies continued to mount last week, as Immingham-based operator L & M Transport Limited fell into administration, with Andrew Mackenzie and Laura Baxter of Begbies Traynor appointed as joint administrators.

Commenting on the administration, Andrew Mackenzie said that the company was not viable and would close down, with its assets to be sold. The company, which was founded in 2007, had an operating licence for 18 trucks and nine trailers.

Shirdi Sai’s Oil Limited – February 21
Shirdi Sai’s Oil Limited, a service station operator based in Essex, fell into administration on February 16, with Stephen Hunt of Griffins appointed as administrator. In the company’s accounts for the year to November 30 2022, its fixed assets were valued at close to £6.4 million, with current assets standing at just under £500,000 and net assets amounting to £2.4 million.

Clement May Limited – February 21
Clement May Limited, a London-based IT recruitment consultancy, fell into administration earlier this month, with Philip Stephenson and Oliver Haunch of Grant Thornton appointed as joint administrators. The firm was a subsidiary of New York-headquartered Staffing 360 Solutions, which divested its UK operations this month in order to focus on the US recruitment market.

In the company’s most recent accounts, for the year ending December 31 2022, it stated that it had continued to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic during 2022, but had also experienced a post-pandemic bounce in demand for permanent hires.

Despite this, the ongoing impact of COVID lead to the company’s turnover falling to £13.2 million, from £17.6 million a year earlier, while post-tax profits fell from close to £152,000 to just under £108,000. At the time, the company’s total equity stood at £1.36 million.

BCM Scaffolding Services Limited – February 22
BCM Scaffolding Services Limited, a London-based scaffolding company, fell into administration on February 16, with the Gazette reporting the appointment of David Hudson and Philip Armstrong of FRP Advisory on February 2022.

The company’s collapse was attributed to financial difficulties resulting from the withdrawal of funding support from the firm’s finance company, despite substantial anticipated new projects. The company was part of the Saferise Scaffolding Group.

In the company’s accounts for the year to October 31 2022, its fixed assets were valued at close to £1.5 million and current assets at £3.4 million. At the time, total equity amounted to £562,222.

Scaffteq West Limited – February 22
Scaffteq West Limited, the Bristol-based subsidiary of Saferise Scaffolding Group and sister company of BCM Scaffolding Services, also fell into administration on February 16, with FRP Advisory’s David Hudson and Matthew Whitchurch appointed as joint administrators.

As with BCM Scaffolding Services, Scaffteq’s collapse was attributed to the withdrawal of the company’s finance provider. In its accounts for the year to September 30 2022, its fixed assets were valued at close to £4 million and current assets at around £2.7 million, with net assets amounting to slightly over £2 million.

MG Empower Limited – February 22
MG Empower Limited is a marketing agency with operations in London and New York. The UK business fell into administration this month, with Lisa Moxon and Chris Barrett of Dow Schofield Watts Business Recovery appointed as joint administrators.

In the company’s accounts to December 31 2022, its fixed assets were valued at £1.9 million and current assets at just under £5.9 million. At the time, the company’s total net liabilities amounted to £1.9 million.

Rye Demolition Limited – February 23
Rye Demolition Limited is a demolitions firm operating across London and the South East. The company fell into administration on February 15, with the Gazette reporting the appointment of Ian Goodhew and Abigail Shearing of Voscap as joint administrators on February 23.

In the company’s accounts for the year to April 30 2023, its turnover was £11.1 million, up from £8.5 million a year earlier, while its pre-tax profits increased from £36,378 to £123,413. At the time, its net assets were valued at £713,381.

Elan Laser Clinics Limited – February 23
Elan Laser Clinics Limited is a laser and skincare treatment provider that operated locations across the UK. The company was founded in 2022 and operated five luxury clinics, with sites in Portman Square (London), Leeds, Liverpool, Beaconsfield and Hale Barns.

Despite seeing strong initial growth, the company fell into administration this month after experiencing unmanageable cash flow issues, as a result of the operational costs of its business model and slower than expected revenue growth.

FRP Advisory partners Michelle Elliot and Anthony Collier were appointed as joint administrators, and the company has now ceased trading, with its assets being marketed for sale.

Find out more about the company’s administration

Lightning Fibre Limited – February 23
Lightning Fibre Limited, a full fibre broadband provider based in Eastbourne, fell into administration on February 19, with the Gazette reporting the appointment of Philip Armstrong and Philip Watson of FRP Advisory as joint administrators on February 23.

The company had been undertaking an FTTP network rollout in parts of Sussex and Kent, with backing from private equity firm Foresight. In its accounts for the year to March 31 2022, the firm’s fixed assets were valued at £13.5 million and current assets at £4.4 million, with net liabilities amounting to £5.1 million.

Du Boulay Contracts Limited – February 23
Du Boulay Contracts Limited is a London-based contractor specialising in commercial fit out and refurbishment. The company fell into administration on February 20, with the Gazette confirming the appointment of Nicholas Simmonds and Chris Newell of Quantuma Advisory on February 23.

In its accounts for the year ending December 31 2022, the company’s fixed assets were valued at £143,100 and current assets at £5.5 million. At the time, its net assets amounted to £98,813.

Kat Maconie Limited – February 26
Kat Maconie Limited, a manufacturer of designer heels and shoes based in Tunbridge Wells, fell into administration last week, with David Kemp and Richard Hunt of SFP appointed as joint administrators.

In the company’s accounts for the year to December 31 2022, its fixed assets were valued at £138,171 and current assets at £1.4 million, with the company’s net liabilities standing at just short of £1.1 million.

Euramax Solutions Limited – February 26
Euramax Solutions Limited is a manufacturer of doors and windows based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. The company, which specialises in uPVC doors and windows, fell into administration as a result of cashflow issues that arose following the collapse of a major customer and falling demand from the UK holiday home market.

Chris Ratten and Gareth Harris of RSM Restructuring Advisory have been appointed as joint administrators of the company, which generated turnover of £26.5 million in the year to June 30 2022, at which time its net assets were valued at £4.3 million.

Joint administrator and RSM Restructuring Partner Chris Ratten said: "The continuing downturn in the market for the company's products plus a key customer entering administration has significantly impacted the viability of the business, and the directors had to take the difficult decision to appoint administrators."

Find out more about the company’s administration

Eversfield Organic Limited – February 27
Eversfield Organic Limited is a Devon-based organic grocery retailer trading as Eversfield Organic & The Organic Butchery. The company fell into administration after having a winding-petition filed against it by a creditor on February 19, with Guy Hollander, Adam Harris and Michael Pallott of Mazars appointed as joint administrators.

In the company’s accounts for the year to March 31 2022, its fixed assets were valued at £997,401 and current assets at £1.08 million. However, the company’s debts at the time left it with net liabilities in excess of £1.4 million.

Fox Industrial Services Limited – February 27
Fox Industrial Services Limited is a construction company based in Worcestershire. The firm fell into administration on February 20, with the Gazette confirming the appointment of Ben Jones and Raj Mittal of FRP Advisory as joint administrators on February 27.

In the company’s accounts to March 31 2023, its total assets were valued at around £1.5 million, with net liabilities amounting to slightly over £228,000.

Maggie And Rose Limited – February 27
Maggie and Rose Limited, a London-based company operating two clubhouses and indoor play areas for families, fell into administration after being issued with a winding-up petition earlier this month. Oliver Haunch and Kevin Coates of Grant Thornton were appointed as joint administrators.

According to the firm’s accounts for the year to August 31 2021, its fixed assets were valued at £3.07 million and current assets at just shy of £1.5 million. However, at the time, the company’s total liabilities amounted to £1.58 million.

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