The good news that inflation is reducing slightly to 2.3% will be welcomed by many directors and business owners.
Hopefully this is a positive sign that summer will bring several good trading weeks for them and their companies and help them recover from the tough economic conditions seen in the previous few months.
So they might enjoy catching up with all the other interesting business and insolvency news stories from the past seven days they might have missed.
They can find out why April’s corporate insolvency totals climbed to an eleven-year high; how new rules will impact solvent liquidations involving MVLs and why MP’s are angry at the treatment of small businesses by their lenders – Read all these stories and more at our advice centre page.
Willand Biogas
A Devon power plant which turns farm waste into energy has gone into administration after failing to reach their own investment targets.
Willand Biogas LLP owns the facility that is 20 miles from Exeter and has a biogas production capacity of 1,000 m3/h and produces biogas by anaerobic digestion.
The biomethane produced from the plant is injected directly into the national gas grid while the company also supplies electricity to the national power grid.
A statement from the business said: “Unfortunately, the operator of the plant ran into difficulties and the LLP was not able to obtain the necessary investment to keep the site operational. The site is now being held in standby mode whilst a buyer is sought for the facility.
“The site provides a great opportunity for an onward purchaser to operate a fully operable biomethane to grid plant in a short period. All required equipment is on location with attachment to Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) accreditation. In addition the site provides opportunity for growth with space for an additional four to six additional digesters.”
RKN Aluminium
A Leicestershire construction and finishing firm has gone into administration this week.
RKN Aluminium are based in Melton Mowbray and were established in 2006 to provide specialist curtain wall, window and door design, manufacture and fitting to hundreds of projects all around the country.
They had recently moved into new premises and employed 30 staff working as a subcontractor for companies such as Glencar and Ashe.
The decision to go into administration was decided when a creditor filed a winding up petition against the business.
John Jempson & Son
A 150-year-old family transportation company is set to cease operations at the end of June and go into liquidation.
John Hempson & Son are based in Rye and have made the difficult decision based on the retirement of the current managing director Mark Chamberlain.
Most of the remaining 80 staff will transfer over to another company – XPO Logistics.
The company was founded as a horse-drawn timber business in 1866 by Joshua Jempson. The current chairman is Jon Jempson and oversees the distribution of plaster, plasterboard and dry lining materials for building manufacturer British Gypsum which has been Jempson’s principal client for many years.
Directors confirmed that the business would enter a members’ voluntary liquidation at the end of its current contract with XPO Logistics which expires on June 30 2024. Directors also confirmed that as part of the process that all suppliers and creditors would be paid in full as part of the liquidation process.
Donkey Sanctuary
One of the UK’s most prominent animal housing and welfare charities is seeking to close four of its permanent locations.
The Donkey Sanctuary has launched a consultation process on closing its Ivybridge location in Devon along with the locations it operates in Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds.
Trustees have said that the decisions including scaling back a site in Belfast are part of an effort “to make the best use of donors’ money and ensure we continue to achieve our core mission of improving the welfare of donkeys in the UK and around the world.
57 positions are at risk of redundancy following the decision.
The statement continued that during the consultation period all centres will be closed to visitors.
The Donkey Sanctuary was formed in 1969 by Elisabeth Svendsen in Devon and gained charity status in 1973 before becoming one of the largest equine charities in the world.
Wearside Contractors
A Hartlepool based construction contractor has gone into administration.
Wearside Contractors worked on various projects across the North East but directors confirmed that they had reluctantly made the decision.
Director Anthony Fallow said that the main reason for the move was down to a lack of orders. He said: “The firm had tendered for a lot of work but it came crashing down in a fortnight and it couldn’t sustain another month of overheads.”
The company only had one ongoing project at the time administration was entered that was at the practical completion stage.
The Vampire’s Wife
A renowned London fashion label has ceased trading with immediate effect.
Founded in 2016 by Susie Cave, wife of musician Nick Cave, The Vampire’s Wife’s creations were stocked in Selfridges, Harrods and Flannels. It was also available in Matches before they went into administration in March 2024 being owed over £32,000.
The company issued a statement announcing the closure saying: “Despite a period of positive growth and sales, the upheaval in the wholesale market had had dramatic implications for the brand.
“The Vampire’s Wife, therefore, announces that it has sadly made the decision to cease trading with immediate effect.”
The company received a winding-up petition from HMRC in June 2023 due to debt built up during the pandemic caused by a lack of demand for occasion wear but they reached a settlement agreement two weeks later.
The company’s website has also closed and there will be a final physical sale at The Music Room in Mayfair next week.
A Catlow Civil Engineering
A Sheffield based civil engineering business has filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator.
A Catlow Civil Engineering is a specialist contractor with clients throughout the UK and Ireland providing both civil engineering and high voltage cabling services for leading utility companies and other civil engineering firms.
They were first founded in 2001 and employed 50 workers whose positions are now at risk.
With summer just around the corner, many businesses will be thinking about how they can improve their prospects over the next few months.
One way would be to arrange a free appointment with one of our professional advisors to discuss what changes they could make to improve things in the short and medium terms.
Once they have a better idea of the choices and options available to them, they’ll be able to decide what goals they can realistically reach and what they will need to do now to have the best chance of achieving them – starting with getting in touch with us.