Trade credit and insolvency. A personal history of how one causes the other
Trade credit and insolvency are inextricably linked. Often, directors of small businesses are shocked to see what is in front of them when they reach the abyss. Whilst their minds are fixated with creditor pressure, which has its own traction like a snowball down a hill, attention is temporarily lost on what caused the company’s […]
Redundancy Pay at Insolvency: Evidence that Directors’ Claims are facing increased scrutiny by the Redundancy Payments Service
Redundancy Pay – Did you know the Government will pay if the Company you work for goes out of business?
We can talk to employees of businesses facing financial difficulties to give them practical help and guidance.
Overdrawn Directors’ Loan Account – why they are still catching directors out in 2026
Many directors only discover they have an overdrawn Directors’ Loan Account when their accountant raises it or when the company starts to struggle financially. What felt like informal drawings or temporary withdrawals can quickly turn into a personal debt that must be repaid, especially if the company enters Liquidation or Administration. At Antony Batty & […]
What a Director needs to know if a company is insolvent
When a company becomes insolvent or is close to it, directors face a set of legal duties and personal risks that are very different from normal trading. This article explains how to recognise when a company is insolvent or it is likely, what duties change, what actions can increase or reduce personal exposure, and what […]
Update: January 2026 – Government Announces 15 Percent Business Rates Relief for Pubs
Only 50% of pubs are operating at a profit
Licensed Insolvency Practitioner Antony Batty reports on how a restructuring procedure could protect pubs against closure.
Will the VAT change lead to more insolvencies in the private schools’ sector? (Updated January 2026)
This article was originally published in January 2025 and updated in August 2025. A further update has now been added in January 2026 following new reporting on the continued rise in private school insolvency and closures since the introduction of VAT on fees. The new information further demonstrates the financial pressures facing the sector and […]
Elaine Wilkins continues her commitment to Dorset Businesses with her appointment as Vice Chair of the Dorset Chamber Ambassadors
We are pleased to announce that Elaine Wilkins, Director of our Bournemouth office, has been appointed Vice Chair of the Dorset Chamber Ambassadors. Elaine has served as an Ambassador for six years and her new role reflects her long-standing and on-going commitment to the Dorset business community. Elaine said: “I am very pleased to take […]
Property tax schemes and insolvency risk: When “too good to be true” tips the balance
At Antony Batty & Company, we are seeing increasing concern around aggressive property tax schemes marketed to landlords, particularly those operating through limited companies. These schemes promise significant tax savings but are now attracting scrutiny from HMRC. Although these arrangements often involve companies and trusts, HMRC’s tax assessments initially fall on the individual landlords themselves. […]
Section 216 Insolvency Act – Did you know The Reuse of a Company Name After Liquidation is Prohibited?
Section 216 – Did you know The Reuse of a Company Name After Liquidation is Prohibited
A reminder of the rules from our Insolvency Practitioners
Insolvency predictions for 2026 show that Zombie Companies that have struggled the last few years are facing insolvency in larger numbers than ever
How can Insolvency Practitioners help Zombie firms in the UK? Many UK businesses are finding it hard to survive in early 2026. Rising interest rates, energy costs and wage pressures are squeezing margins across sectors. But the focus here is on a specific group: Zombie firms. This article explains what Zombie firms are, how many […]
