Clothing brands saved and a green energy company gets ready for administration

Welcome to our latest round-up of the most interesting and important business and insolvency news stories from the past seven days you might have missed – and we don’t blame you, there’s a lot going on.

So if you want to know what was in the Spring Statement & might affect your business; how navigating an MVL can be smooth sailing with our comprehensive new guide or how a CVA could be the fresh start a business needs – you can read all these stories and more at our advice centre page.

Ripple Energy

A UK energy company which provides renewable power with over 20,000 customers has filed a notice to appoint administrators.

Ripple Energy allowed their customers to co-own a wind farm or solar park by purchasing shares. In return they received discounted energy from major suppliers like British Gas. 

The company’s business model aims to reduce energy bills and carbon footprints for its customers. Its owned projects included the Whitelaw Brae Wind Farm in the Scottish Borders and a single wind turbine in Graig Fatha in South Wales which went live in March 2022 and is owned by 905 people.

An email sent to customers said “it is important to remember that the wind farms and solar parks are owned by the respective cooperatives, not Ripple.”

A solar park at Derril Water is still under construction and is managed by a third party contractor that will continue to manage the project’s build on behalf of the cooperative and its members.

In The Style Pre-Pack

A popular online fashion brand based in Manchester has been bought out of administration in a pre-pack deal, securing the future of the brand. 

In The Style Fashion Limited and Rectella Limited were purchased by new owners with over 300 jobs preserved as a result. 

A statement from the directors said: “Well done to all involved including our own team who as always have gone above and beyond to work these complex transactions across long hours in accelerated timeframes. 

“Continuinty has been achieved for employees, respective brands, supply chain customers and over 70 sites and concessions rescued across the two transactions.”

Blake Mill PrePack

Another Manchester fashion brand specialising in statement shirts has also been bought in a pre-pack administration deal. 

Blake Mill was founded in 2018 by Ken Price and Steve and Ross French producing several ranges of shirts from formal traditional menswear designs to Oxford shirts and speciality designs. 

They recruited some high level appointments to their advisory board including Anthony Cuthbertson, Ted Baker’s former global creative director; Samy Zekhout, the former divisional Chief Financial Officer of Procter & Gamble and Farooq Ansari, CEO of Reason Digital. 

In 2024, the business secured a national listing with John Lewis to complement their main online offering. 

A statement from the business said: “Following a formal administration process, the business assets of Blake Mill Limited have been successfully acquired by Createx Holdings Limited. The transaction ensures continuity for the Blake Mill brand under new ownership.

“Createx Holdings Ltd are currently progressing strategic plans for the business, with a focus on strengthening market position and delivering long-term value for the loyal customers of the Blake Mill brand.”

No Limits Cafe

A community cafe in Newton Abbot that supports people with disabilities has made the “difficult decision” to close. 

No Limits Cafe & Hub will close this week chiefly due to financial issues and the current economic climate. A statement from the trustees said: “It’s impossible to provide the level of support necessary for consistent and quality provision with one-on-one trained support.”

More than 40% of paid staff at the cafe have disabilities and the community space, kitchen and hub were able to learn new skills, gain work experience and receive support as they transitioned to more independent adult lives. 

Since opening in June 2020, they have supported 115 adults in completing work experience placements.

The cafe faced numerous challenges since opening including the Covid-19 pandemic, the energy crisis and the cost-of-living crisis. They admit their funding model has been greatly affected by the numerous changes over the last five years.

Amanda Pugh, Director of Cafe Operations said: “Despite the central government’s rhetoric indicating a desire to reduce unemployment and support individuals with disabilities in finding work, the financial barriers we face continue to grow.

“In contrast to this rhetoric, the DWP department responsible for reducing barriers and supporting adults in securing paid employment has consistently failed to deliver. Our successful Crowdfunder which garnered immense support from the local community last year, helped us accomplish remarkable things and allowed us to operate for a further nine months. These funds helped us cover core operational costs and bridge gaps caused by DWP delays and contested awards. 

The cafe operated as a Community Interest Company and supported a further 22 individuals through Work Experience programmes as well as six individuals a week through long term placements. 

sQuid

An online school payment provider that served 600 schools has ceased operations in the UK with immediate effect. 

A statement posted on the sQuid website said: “sQuid is no longer operating its UK Education business. We are now focussing on our international operations. 

“In March 2025, we closed the system and recommended that any schools requiring a service to support cashless payments should approach ParentPay as they have the most compatible set of services to those previously offered by sQuid.”

Several schools are demanding that sQuid refund parents in full amid accusations that cash is being withheld as they are only offering refunds on balances over £10 and those wanting to withdraw are being asked to pay a £10 administration fee. 

Rob Pointen, CEO of Weduc, a business that had partnered sQuid said the decision to deny refunds appeared “wholly unjustifiable”. He said: “Parents deposited their money in good faith and it is wholly unacceptable for them to be penalised simply because your company is shutting down.”

Adam Smith, sQuid CEO, said they were closing UK operations “because of increasingly adverse trading conditions during and post-Covid which have made the business unsustainable.”

He said the company “has been carrying out an orderly exit, leaving time for schools to find alternative providers while continuing to support services for schools and parents. The company has continued to provide a refund service in accordance with our terms and conditions. We understand if some schools are upset that we’re making changes.”

Willkswood Reggae Festival

A popular annual Dorset event will not return for 2025 as organisers confirm the Wilkswood Reggae Festival has gone into a creditors’ voluntary liquidation due to their current financial position. 

The festival started as a small, family-friendly event on a 600-acre farm near Swanage with the aim of providing “some cross-cultural, pan-generational harmony”. 

The event grew to attract over 2,500 visitors regularly along with a line-up of reggae legends and pioneers from the UK and abroad performing across three different stages. 

A statement from organisers said: “It is with deep regret that we must announce that due to the current financial position of the company, we have made the difficult decision to place the company into creditors’ voluntary liquidation. As a result, the company is unable to proceed with the planned festivals and we must serve formal notice of the cancellation of both events.”

All advance ticketholders have been informed and given information on how to obtain refunds. 

Adam Carpets

A family-run carpet business based in Kidderminster for nearly 100 years has gone into administration and ceased trading with the loss of 50 positions. 

Adam Carpets made wool-rich carpet in the town for four generations before tough economic conditions put pressure on the company which felt it had no option but to cease trading.

Managing Director Chris Adam said: “It’s with huge sadness for all the people involved that we’re announcing that Adam Carpets have ceased trading. 

“Despite the best efforts of all our colleagues, the current economic environment means that UK consumers simply do not have the confidence in their finances to buy enough of our high-quality wool-rich carpet to make our business viable right now. 

“The significant increase in taxes in the Budget as well as increases to come in April means that the situation is getting worse. We wish to thank suppliers, colleagues and customers for their support and enthusiasm for what we’ve made, sold and installed together across the generations and wish them well for the future.”

Marbank Construction Ltd

A Surrey construction firm that has built more than 300 industrial sheds since it was founded 30 years ago has gone into administration putting 24 positions in doubt. 

Marbank Construction Ltd are based in Byfleet and  worked on projects up to 350,000sq ft in the manufacturing, distribution, out-of-town retail, service and data storage sectors across the South East of England.

While we’re all still working through the implications of the Spring Statement, one thing that we know is going to reduce in the future is the amount of time you have to make effective changes to your business. 

Which is even more reason to get in touch with us for a free initial consultation with one of our advisors. 

The sooner you get in touch, the more time you’ll have to implement the different options and strategies you need depending on your vision for your business but hurry – the longer you leave it, the less options you’ll ultimately have.