• Swindon & Wiltshire Professional services
• Monday October 13 2025

Insolvency-related activity increases by 10 per cent across Wiltshire, Berkshire and the South East

Insolvency-related activity rose in Wiltshire, Berkshire and the South East last month according to R3, the UK’s restructuring, turnaround and insolvency trade body.

R3’s analysis of data from Creditsafe showed insolvency-related activities increased from 170 in August to 187 in September – a 10 per cent monthly rise and 8.1 per cent higher than the same period in 2024. The figures include administrator and liquidator appointments as well as creditors’ meetings.

The South East recorded the sixth-highest level of insolvency-related activity in the UK, behind Greater London (392), the North West (350), East Anglia (271), the West Midlands (237) and Yorkshire & Humberside (192). The increase contrasted with most other UK regions, where insolvency activity fell in eight areas, rising only in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Neil Stewart, chairman of R3’s Southern and Thames Valley region, said the monthly rise was disappointing but cautioned against drawing firm conclusions given recent fluctuations.

“While a 10 per cent increase appears significant, it follows an 8.1 per cent decline in August,” he said. “Many business leaders may delay major decisions until after the Autumn Budget on November 26.”

He added that there was hope the Chancellor would introduce measures to boost investment, recruitment and growth rather than impose new business taxes that could dampen confidence.

However, he warned that ongoing pressures such as high energy and materials costs, weak consumer demand, creditor pressure and slower-than-expected interest rate reductions were leaving some firms struggling to stay afloat.

R3’s Southern & Thames Valley region covers Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Dorset, Wiltshire and Berkshire.

Neil, a regional associate director at Manolete Partners Plc, urged business owners to act early if they spot warning signs of financial distress.

“Our message remains the same: seek advice from a regulated professional at the first signs of trouble,” he said.

“Taking action early gives you more options and time to decide the best course. Most R3 members offer an initial consultation free of charge, helping businesses understand their choices before matters become critical.”

Creditsafe data also showed a small fall in companies with overdue invoices, from 57,935 in August to 57,558 in September, with total overdue invoices dropping from 528,263 to 519,766.

Start-up numbers in the South East rose from 5,657 to 6,406 over the same period — 15.8 per cent higher than a year ago.