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 […]
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 […]
Why are Liquidators asking more questions when a company Liquidates? What directors need to know in 2025.
If your company is going through liquidation, you may have noticed a change in how Insolvency Practitioners (IPs) are approaching the process. More questions. More requests for documentation, both during and sometimes, even, post commencement., and a more forensic review of what happened in the lead-up to insolvency. For some directors, this can feel unexpected […]
What are the four key sins directors must avoid when their company is insolvent?
Facing financial difficulty? Here’s what every company director needs to know When a business begins to struggle, directors often find themselves under immense pressure – firefighting urgent problems while hoping for a recovery. It’s during these moments that key responsibilities shift, often without directors realising. This article explains what happens when a company becomes insolvent, […]
1 year anniversary of B&C Associates merging with Antony Batty & Company, Insolvency Practitioners
What are we celebrating most one year after merging with Antony Batty & Company? It was on 1 June 2024 that Nitin Joshi and his business partner, Insolvency Practitioner Jeff Brenner, merged their firm, B&C Associates with Antony Batty & Co (ABc), Insolvency Practitioners and business turnaround specialists. In this article, Nitin, Jeff and Antony Batty […]
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. […]
