A Football club and several national businesses have gone into administration this week.

Hopefully your business has started 2026 in good form and is setting the template for the rest of the year. If not, don’t worry because you’ve got plenty of time for things to pick up and improve. 

Either way, we hope you’ve got a few minutes to spare to catch up on all the important and interesting stories you might have missed in the past seven days. 

So if you want to know what business owners need to know about financial changes happening in 2026; some new year’s resolutions your firm can benefit from this year; read a director’s guide to Accelerated Payment Notices (APN) and what’s changed with Overdrawn Directors’ Loan Accounts in 2026 – you can read all these stories and more at our advice centre page.

Circle Express

A nationwide logistics, airfreight and delivery company has been bought out of administration securing its immediate future and 150 positions. 

Circle Express is based at London Heathrow Airport with depots in Aberdeen, Birmingham, Exeter, Manchester and Glasgow. It was purchased by airfreight specialists Trilogy Logistics, who will add the bases to their own Manchester HQ and Slough offices. 

There will be no pause or disruption to business or employees. 

A statement from the business said: “Circle Express was long established but fell into financial difficulties and had to be placed into administration. This protected the employees and allowed the transaction to be completed before the busy Christmas period.”

South Molton Transport

A North Devon aggregates haulier has ceased trading and gone into administration. 

South Molton Transport had operated from six depots in the West of England since the early 1980s. When they surrendered their operating license just before Christmas, they operated 17 HGVs and four trailers which comprised low loaders to cement mixers and aluminium tippers which carried tarmac..

A statement from administrators said that the business had encountered “significant challenges in the run-up to its administration including escalating fuel prices, rising wage costs, depreciation of franchised vehicles and the increasing cost of borrowing, which together placed sustained pressure on cashflow. Unfortunately, 20 members of staff have been made redundant.”

Consumer Energy Solutions

An energy company in South Wales has gone into administration with the loss of 295 positions. 

Consumer Energy Solutions had offices based in Swansea and Treorchy but told staff that they were ceasing trading with immediate effect and their positions were being made redundant. 

The company blamed the run-down of the government’s ECO4 funding scheme, an initiative to improve the efficiency in low-income and vulnerable households due to come to an end this year.

Batt Cables

A Kent-based cables business has gone into administration with over 330 positions in doubt. 

Batt Cables were first established in Erith in the 1950s and distributed cables in the UK, Europe, US and worldwide.

A statement from the business said that the decision had been taken due to ongoing financial issues brought on as a result of challenging market conditions. 70 employees were made redundant with immediate effect while the company continues to operate.

Batt Cables also operates nine further sites across the UK and seven additional sites across Europe with the main base in Rotterdam.

The statement continued: “The company has encountered ongoing liquidity difficulties due to challenging market conditions in recent years. Despite efforts to secure the long-term future of the business, it has not been possible to obtain the necessary funding to enable continued trading.

The Granary

A popular Northamptonshire wedding venue has gone into liquidation. 

The Granary at Fawsley Hall near Daventry confirmed that they have entered a Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation.

A statement from the company said: “This has been an incredibly difficult and emotional outcome and one that was not taken lightly. The owners truly tried their very best to salvage the company, exploring every possible avenue, including working closely with other interested parties. Sadly, despite everyone’s efforts, these discussions did not prevail.

“We would like to express our deepest thanks to our incredible staff. Their dedication, passion and care are what made The Granary what it was.”

Harlow Town FC

A football club founded in 1879 has gone into administration and been docked ten points as a result. 

Harlow Town FC appointed administrators last week after an order was made by a judge in an application by the trustees of the Platinum Sports Management Limited Pension Scheme. 

Harlow Town FC is a private limited company but Harlow Town Council owns the freehold to the club’s ground, the Harlow Arena. The club play in the Spartan South MIdlands League and will drop five places from tenth to 15th. 

The administrators confirmed that their immediate responsibilities will be to identify the financial position of the company and work with all parties to resolve outstanding issues as soon as practically possible.

Big Boys

A specialist men’s fashion retailer based in Leeds has gone into administration and ceased trading this week. 

Great Clothing Ltd, trading as Big Boys, issued a statement saying: “This decision was taken after careful consideration and was not made lightly. Despite sustained efforts to address the financial challenges faced by the company, it has unfortunately not been possible to continue trading.

The firm specialised in creating fashion for larger men providing sizes from 2XL to 10XL and 12 employees have been made redundant as a result.

CW Sellors

A fine jewellery and luxury watch specialist founded over 45 years ago has gone into administration with the loss of 36 positions. 

CW Sellors had branches in Derbyshire, Shropshire and North Yorkshire offering diamond and gemstone jewellery including British rarities such as Derbyshire Blue John and Whitby Jet. 

Four stores in Whitby have closed and been consolidated into one while all other sites will continue to trade as normal. Following investment in new manufacturing and training facilities, the business had been experiencing cash flow challenges, due in part to rising costs and weakened trading throughout the cost of living crisis. 

Administrators confirmed that rising overheads and lower demand for their high-end products were significant problems.

They said: “This was a unique and challenging year for the business. The business lost its founder and managing director in September 2023 after a period of illness and struggled initially with adapting to this loss. The resulting challenge was made greater as it coincided with the market tightening in response to the emerging cost of living crisis.”

If 2026 hasn’t begun with a bang for your business – there’s still plenty of time for it to catch fire and propel you to greater heights.

Get in touch with us to arrange a free initial chat with one of our advisors. Once they get a better idea of the circumstances you face along with your plans then they’ll be able to let you know what practical options you have to improve your situation – usually more than you thought.  

The sooner you make contact, the sooner you can begin to move forward to the future you want this year.