Difficult times for Pubs, Restaurants & Hotels. How can Insolvency Practitioners help?

The pub industry is facing long-term decline. Over 400 pubs closed in England & Wales in 2024 – total numbers fell below 39,000 for the first time – the most since 2021 during the COVID pandemic. Rising National Insurance contributions, increased wages, and reduced business rate relief from April 2025 will further strain the sector. […]
Mental Health and Insolvency – Elaine Wilkins from our Bournemouth Office is now a Mental Health First Aider for 3 more years

Mental Health and Insolvency
Elaine Wilkins from our Bournemouth Office is now a Mental Health First Aider, and understands the stress and strain that insolvency can cause.
Family Business Insolvency: when relationships and risk collide

Family businesses are a cornerstone of the UK economy. They outnumber all other private sector firms, employ millions, and contribute significantly to national output. But when a family-run company faces financial difficulty, the challenges go far beyond the balance sheet, with impacts on relationships, succession plans, and even personal assets. In this article, we look […]
Redundancy Pay – Did you know employees can get paid if the Company you work for goes out of business? But the Redundancy Payments Service is tightening up on claims from directors

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.
Struggling businesses should think twice about taking out loans for survival, especially where Personal Guarantees (“PG’s”) are involved

The increasing challenge of securing business finance – and the potential risks of using Alternative Lenders The ability for small businesses to secure finance has become significantly more challenging in recent years. According to a recent analysis by Funding Xchange, businesses seeking loans are now carrying more than double the debt-to-turnover ratio compared to pre-pandemic […]
Antony Batty & Company Employee Focus: Tom O’Keeffe

Insolvency Specialist Tom is based at our Central London Office and specialises in Creditors Voluntary Liquidations and Administrations. This month we are shining the spotlight on one of our colleagues, Tom O’Keeffe, an insolvency specialist who is based at our Central London office. Tom works closely alongside our Licensed Insolvency Practitioners and specialises in Creditors Voluntary Liquidations. […]
Joiner receives 15 month suspended jail sentence for Covid Bounce Back Loan fraud despite repaying the Loan in full

The Government’s tough stance on Covid Bounce Back Loan (BBL)* fraud continues In a recent case, a former joiner from Romford has been sentenced for Covid Bounce Back Loan fraud (BBL)*, demonstrating the seriousness with which the Insolvency Service addresses such misconduct. Details of this Case Charles Ling, aged 57, of Havering-atte-Bower, Essex, who operated […]
Antony Batty & Company Focus on Employees: Besa Mustafa

Besa is based at our London office and is a Senior Insolvency Administrator Besa Mustafa joined us in June 2024, when we merged with B & C Associates. Besa is a Senior Insolvency Administrator and is based at our London Mill Hill office. We asked her to answer some questions, including what got her into the insolvency […]
Directors must be vigilant to avoid Wrongful Trading

Directors must be vigilant to avoid Wrongful Trading
How can Insolvency Practitioners help distressed and insolvent companies reduce/avoid the risk of Wrongful Trading?
Are there alternatives to liquidating a limited company without using an Insolvency Practitioner?

“I can’t afford to liquidate my company. What are the alternatives to liquidation?” This ia question we are often asked. When directors are facing the stressful task of closing their limited company, the cost of appointing a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner (IP) to run a formal procedure, such as a Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL), can seem […]