Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
A cleaning boss has been banned as a company director after transferring almost £200,000 out of his insolvent business into his new company. Leicestershire-based Philip Walker was the director of Solus Facilities Limited, a company providing cleaning services for restaurants. However, by April 2023, the company was in financial difficulty and unable to pay its…
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More than half (57%) of businesses say a combination of supply chain pressures and higher energy and fuel costs are among their biggest challenges as they grapple with the impact of conflict in the Middle East, according to new research from accountancy and advisory firm BDO. The bi-monthly survey revealed that supply chain pressures including…
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The UK economy grew by 0.6 per cent in the first quarter of the year, the fastest rate of growth in a year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Growth was driven primarily by the services sector, which rose 0.8 per cent over the period. The ONS data also reported that GDP grew…
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Small businesses have welcomed new legislation aimed at curbing late payments, calling it a historic moment. The King’s Speech introduced measures that empower the Small Business Commissioner to investigate and fine firms that consistently delay payments. The Late Payments Bill enforces a maximum payment term of 60 days and mandates interest for late payments at…
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New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that total asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) grew by 9% in March 2026 compared with the same month in 2025. In Q1 2026, new business was 3% higher than in Q1 2025. The plant and machinery finance sector reported…
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The conflict in the Middle East is forecast to weigh on the UK economy and exacerbate longstanding challenges for retail and hospitality businesses, according to the new EY UK Economic Outlook. The analysis shows that, prior to the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East, UK GDP was on track to grow by 1.3% in…
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UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are facing a wave of mounting pressures, with recession fears hitting a two-year high and concerns over energy costs and supply chain disruption rising sharply, according to iwoca’s latest SME Expert Index. The survey found that 70% say their SME clients are worried about the conflict’s impact on energy…
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A convicted money launderer has been sentenced to an additional 499 days in prison for failing to fully pay the money owed under a Confiscation Order. In 2021, Richard Faithfull was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in prison for laundering £2.5 million, following a prosecution brought by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). He…
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Neil Cutting has been elected as the next ICAEW Vice President, to serve from June 2026 to June 2027. Cutting has been a member of the ICAEW council since 2023, representing the West of England. He is a transformation director for cloud and AI provider, Oracle. Previously, Cutting held global finance leadership roles with Hewlett Packard…
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SME lender, GC Business Finance (GCBF) has appointed Aaron Malins as Director of Business Finance. Malins brings over two decades of experience across finance, lending and advisory. He previously served as CFO of a Manchester-based regulated consumer finance firm, as well as Managing Director of its lending division. In these roles, Aaron worked closely with…
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A director of two companies which supported a scheme allowing business owners to keep their assets while dropping their debts has been disqualified. Suzanne Harley-Davies failed to exercise control of the affairs of Namare GRP Ltd and TPG GRP Limited during 2023 and 2024. She also failed to ensure that the companies operated for legitimate corporate…
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The number of SMEs using some form of credit to pay for one or more insurance policies has significantly increased, according to new research from Premium Credit. The data, which monitors insurance buying and how it is financed, shows 90% of SMEs use some form of credit when they buy insurance, compared with 54% recorded…
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New findings from fraud prevention service, Cifas, has revealed a shift in attitudes towards insider‑enabled fraud, with 13% of employees saying they have either sold their company login details to a former colleague, or know someone who has, in the past 12 months. For organisations, the normalisation of credential sharing significantly increases exposure to insider…
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