Former IoD boss banned as a director over Covid bounce back loan abuse Business A former boss of the Institute of Directors has been banned as a company director after being found to have breached Covid loan rules. Anna Daroy, who served as interim Chief Operating Officer and later as interim Director General of the Institute of Directors from October 2018 to November 2019, has been accused of obtaining [...]
Tax crackdown drives rise in compulsory liquidations Economics Company directors are “feeling the impact” of HMRC’s crackdown on unpaid taxes as compulsory liquidations spiked by 11 per cent in the year to July 2025, official data has shown. More bosses wound up their businesses last month than had done so in June, with creditors’ voluntary liquidations still driving insolvencies across the UK. But [...]
Game over for Tomb Raider composer after Covid loan fraud conviction Business A video game composer and sound designer best know for his work on the Tomb Raider series has been jailed for fraudulently applying for a Covid loan. Peter Connelly, who is based in Durham, overstated his company’s turnover to obtain a second Bounce Back Loan of £37,500 in 2020 when businesses were only entitled to [...]
Retail and construction lead insolvencies as UK firms in ‘perilous position’ June 20, 2025 Wholesale and retail traders and construction firms accounted for nearly a third of all insolvencies seen in the 12 months to April. Data published by the Insolvency Service has pointed to a further concerning trend in the UK economy as the number of companies insolvencies in May grew eight per cent month-on-month. The number of [...]
Insolvency levels hit highest level in eight months in Awful April May 20, 2025 April insolvency levels soared to their highest level in in eight months, official data has shown, reflecting businesses’ helplessness in the face of higher employment costs and the looming threat of President Trump’s tariffs. Over 2,000 companies collapsed last month, with most owners filing for voluntary liquidation and some 105 firms going into administration. If [...]
Former SAS: Who Dares Wins star Ant Middleton banned after failing to pay £1m tax bill March 24, 2025 Former SAS: Who Dares Wins chief instructor Ant Middleton has been banned from being a director of a company after his business failed to pay more than £1m in tax. The television personality was the director of Sway and Starting Limited along with his wife, Emilie Middleton. The business, which was described as offering media [...]
Company swindled £230k out of customers in F1 British Grand Prix scam November 14, 2024 A scam company which targeted businesses with hospitality tickets for the F1 British Grand Prix has been wound up by the Insolvency Service. Informa Expo Ltd, trading as Informa Hospitality Group, inflicted losses of around £230,000 on customers, according to the insolvency body, by offering hospitality packages to Silverstone. Customers did not receive the tickets [...]
Compulsory liquidations hit highest level in almost six years August 20, 2024 New figures from the Insolvency Services showed that there were 320 compulsory liquidations in July, the highest number since before the pandemic.
Red card: Former England and Liverpool footballer John Barnes banned as a company director April 24, 2024 John Barnes, the former England and Liverpool footballer, has been banned as a company director after his business failed to pay tens of thousands of pounds in tax.
Over 800 directors have been disqualified for abusing Covid loan scheme April 15, 2024 More than 800 directors have been disqualified for abusing Covid support schemes over the 2023-24 financial year following investigations by the Insolvency Service.