Major car park operator goes over their financial limit into administration and cracks appear for a famous pottery firm
If you’re checking your business energy tariffs, you won’t be alone this week.
With the Iran conflict set to reverse any seasonal savings, it can be a worrying time for directors and small business owners. This isn’t the only story that caught our eye this week among the other interesting and important news items from the past seven days.
So if you want to know why business insolvencies have risen for the third month in a row; why Scottish business insolvencies are up across the board; why a wave of late payments is threatening to drown SMEs; practical advice on the first thing directors must do if they receive a CCJ and why a CIFAS marker could destroy your business if ignored – you can read all these stories and more right here at our advice centre.
NCP
One of the UK’s largest and best-known car park operators has gone into administration.
National Car Parks Ltd, better known by their yellow NCP logo, manage approximately 340 car parks nationwide and employ 682 people. The business will continue trading while administrators look at all the options for the business.
A statement released by the business said: “NCP has faced a challenging trading environment over several years, with changing consumer behaviours impacting volumes and a high fixed cost-base leading to trading losses.
“The administrators priority on appointment is to ensure continuity of service while they undertake a detailed review of the business. All sites remain open, staff remain in post and trading continues as normal.
“They will be engaging with landlords, employees and other stakeholders as they explore all options including the potential sale of all or part of the business to secure the best possible outcome for creditors.”
The administrators said the company’s performance had deteriorated over a number of years post Covid-19 as demand for parking has not recovered to historic levels, particularly across city-centre and commuter locations.
Continued shifts in communing and customer driving patterns have impacted site occupancy, while the high concentration of long-term, inflexible leases has meant the company has been unable to reduce costs in line with revenue or to exit loss-making sites, resulting in ongoing trading losses.
Once it was known that NCP had insufficient cash available to meet its financial obligations, directors took the decision to appoint administrators.
Denby Pottery
A pottery business that can trace its roots back to the early 1800s and supplies national retailers such as John Lewis and Marks & Spencer has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators as “a precautionary measure and to provide a period of stability”.
Denby Pottery was established in 1809 during the reign of King George III and exports its products across the world to core markets including South Korea, the US, Canada, Ireland and China along with more than 20 other countries.
The company said it has been impacted by “challenging market conditions” in the last three years with “reduced consumer confidence softening demand for premium but less essential purchases”, combined with “escalating costs of employment in the UK and soaring industrial energy costs”.
At the same time, “tighter financial markets and reduced access to funding have made it increasingly difficult for manufacturing businesses to secure the requisite working capital required to navigate these challenges.”
Directors continue to explore a range of options but have not yet been able to secure an investment partner that they see is “aligned with the long-term vision and values of its historic British brands, much loved by their large global fan base.”
The notice of intention offers short-term protection to allow the business to explore potential funding and restructuring options “in an orderly manner”.
“The priorities remain supporting employees, customers, suppliers and retail partners while working with advisers to determine the best possible outcome for all stakeholders.”
Surface Transforms
A Liverpool brake disc manufacturer has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators to protect the business following the loss of their largest customer.
Surface Transforms manufacture carbon fibre reinforced ceramic automotive brake discs and received the news that General Motors would be re-sourcing their main customer supply of discs from the end of March.
This client makes up 84% of their revenues and 85% of discs sold and was originally under contract until 2030.
The company employs 170 workers and directors have launched a cost rationalisation exercise as a consequence of the reduced production volumes. This will also include a consultation with employees in respect to potential redundancies and layoffs.
As a further result, their shares have been suspended from trading on the Alternative Investments Market (AIM) exchange in London.
Industrial Floor Treatments
A Scottish flooring firm has gone into administration after trading for over 40 years.
Industrial Floor Treatments Limited have been based in East Kilbride since 1985 with an additional site in Bishop Auckland and provided industrial and commercial flooring systems across Scotland and the north of England.
43 employees have been made redundant as a result.
A statement from the directors said: “The construction sector in Scotland has faced increasingly challenging economic conditions in recent times, with tight margins, skills shortages and reduced tender opportunities putting pressure on contractors across the supply chain.
“Businesses operating in the sector are also exposed to fluctuations in workload throughout the year and these seasonal patterns can intensify cash flow pressures for firms already operating in a difficult market.
“Unfortunately, despite a great deal of support for the business by the directors over recent years, the financial position of the company deteriorated and meant that it was no longer able to continue its operations and was forced to cease trading as a result of challenging market conditions in the wider construction sector, including slimmer profit margins and seasonal downturns in revenue.”
Coastal Construction
A Norfolk construction company has gone into liquidation after creditors including Norwich City FC took legal action to wind them up.
Coast Construction were a long-standing partner of the club and their official building contractor, carrying out projects at the club’s Carrow Road stadium and training ground.
The club was one of 26 creditors, owed money from a sponsorship deal with the firm. The filed a petition with the High Court to wind the company up in June 2025 before it entered insolvency in October.
Directors Kevin and Gary Waddison said they injected £300,000 into the company but “unfortunately we could not trade any longer.
“We did everything we possibly could to keep it going, but we got to the point where we couldn’t hold off anymore”.
The directors said nutrient neutrality planning rules were the main reason for the company’s demise.
Nutrient Neutrality is a planning requirement in England that ensures housing developments do not increase nutrient pollution – such as nitrogen and phosphorus – in protected habitats.
However, the requirements have caused significant delays to housing projects for construction firms. Mr Waddison added: “We had projects but we were waiting for planning permission, which we just could not get over the line in time.
“We should have had planning on two jobs over two years ago. It is why so many building companies have been having issues.”
Framework Housing Association
A charity that supports the homeless in South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire has gone into administration after more than five decades of operation.
The Framework Housing Association has closed with the loss of 96 positions.
For 51 years, the charity has played a significant role in supporting people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. They offered temporary accomodation, counselling services and practical support designed to help individuals rebuild their lives.
They worked closely with local authorities, community groups and volunteers to create programs aimed at reducing homelessness and providing pathways toward stable housing. Thousands of people have benefited from its initiatives and outreach programs.
Administrators involved in the case have indicated that a combination of financial pressures, rising operational costs and changing funding structures contributed to the organisation’s collapse.
Charities often rely on donations, government support and grants to maintain services and any disruption to these funding streams can create serious challenges. In recent years, many non-profit organisations have struggled to keep up with increasing demand for services while facing limited resources and higher operational expenses.
No matter what line of business you operate in, these could be a nervous few weeks and months ahead.
Be proactive and take the time now to get in touch with us to arrange a free initial consultation.
Our advisors will be able to talk through your current situation and your plans for the business and let you know what options you have available that you might not have considered.
The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can begin to work together and make your plans a reality – even sooner.