Love Bournemouth: Antony Batty & Company is proud to be here
At Antony Batty & Company, we are proud to have one of our five offices based in beautiful Bournemouth. This short video reel, below, celebrates Bournemouth’s rich history, vibrant present, and the spirit of innovation that continues to shape its future. It is a place we at Antony Batty Bournemouth are proud to call home. […]
Update: October 2025 – Chancellor Under Pressure to Save 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.
Update: Insolvencies Hit 30-Year High in September 2025
Since the original publication of this article in April, the insolvency landscape has worsened significantly. September 2025 saw some 2,000 corporate insolvencies in England and Wales, the highest monthly figure in over 30 years. This sharp rise reflects the cumulative impact of rising labour costs, persistent inflation, and weakening consumer confidence. With the Autumn 2025 […]
How can mediation help struggling businesses?
In many areas of business, mediation is being used increasingly as an effective and more cost-effective tool for resolving disputes without the time and cost involved in taking the matter to Court. We are grateful to Carolyn Jones, who is an experienced accredited Civil, Commercial and Online Mediator and Insolvency Specialist, for this article, which […]
The Personal Financial Risk for Directors Is Increasing: What Do Directors Need to Know?
Why are Directors facing greater personal financial risk? In recent years, both HMRC and Companies House have been granted enhanced powers to pursue directors personally for company-related liabilities. These powers are no longer theoretical. They are being actively used, and directors – especially those of struggling or insolvent companies – are increasingly finding themselves exposed […]
Why are Overdrawn Directors’ Loan Accounts currently under the spotlight?
Insolvency Practitioners are reporting a sharp rise in cases involving Overdrawn Directors Loan accounts (DLAs) – a trend that reflects both the volume of corporate failures and the growing scrutiny of directors’ financial conduct. With high numbers of companies entering liquidation and increased regulatory enforcement following the misuse of Covid support schemes, DLAs have become […]
UPDATE – September 2025: Covid Repayment Window Opens. What do Directors Need to Know?
(Published 12th September 2025 – This update sits above our original March 2025 article on Covid loan repayments, which remains unchanged below.) On 12th September 2025, the Government announced a new Voluntary Repayment Scheme, giving businesses (and individuals) until 31st December 2025 to repay any Covid-related financial support they were not entitled to or no […]
Hospitality businesses under pressure: why turnover is vanity and profit is sanity
It’s no secret that the hospitality sector is facing one of its toughest periods in recent memory. From pubs and restaurants to cafés and catering firms, businesses across the UK are grappling with rising costs, shrinking margins and growing uncertainty. For many directors, the question is no longer whether things are difficult. It’s how long […]
Business rates changes 2026. What directors need to know – and do – about the coming changes
Why are business rates back in focus for UK companies? From April 2026, many firms will see an increase in their business rates bills. But unlike other cost pressures, this one isn’t a surprise. The end of transitional relief and the impact of the 2023 revaluation are already mapped out, giving directors a clear window […]
UK insolvency and company rescue in 2025: what’s changing and what Directors need to know
As Insolvency Practitioners, we believe one of our strengths is what we call our ‘bedside manner’, in other words, how we deliver a caring and bespoke personal service to directors whose businesses are facing financial difficulties. Part of this is keeping up to speed with what’s going on with businesses that are struggling to better […]
