UK businesses face ongoing economic pressure.

Allianz Trade’s latest Risk Barometer forecasts 2024 GDP growth of +0.6% in the UK (compared with +1.4% in the US and +0.8% in the Eurozone) and predicts that UK business insolvencies will grow +5% in 2024 and will be 35% higher this year than in 2019. Although compared with pre-pandemic times, Allianz Trade feels that […]

AU Group warns that business failures are making a “serious comeback”.

AU Group’s latest G-Grade for Q1 2024 warns that, after two years of strong post-COVID growth (2021 and 2022) and a global economy boosted by various governments’ support, 2023 was the year of a return to reality. “The debts incurred during the crisis have to be repaid, and there has been a catchup of insolvencies.” […]

31% of UK business owners fear closure by the end of 2024.

New research by Novuna has found that 31% of UK business owners anticipate the potential closure of their businesses by the end of 2024. The findings also shed light on the challenges leading to possible business closures. Since the last budget announcement in November 2023, 46% of businesses reported declining demand for their products or […]

Corporate insolvencies in January increased by 5% compared to January 2023.

The latest data from the Insolvency Service indicates that corporate insolvencies in England and Wales decreased by 11.8% in January 2024 to 1,769 (from a total of 2,005 in December 2023) but increased by 5% compared to January 2023’s total of 1,685. Nicky Fisher, President of R3, commented: “January 2024 saw the highest corporate insolvency […]

41% of UK small businesses say late payments from other companies have impacted their growth.

A new survey by Goldman Sachs has found that 41% of its UK respondents say late payments from other companies has affected their growth, and a majority (89%) say they would support tougher legislation for big businesses on late payments. Goldman Sachs’ report, ‘The Small Business Manifesto’, notes that the ‘late payments crisis’ disproportionately impacts SMEs […]

Five false facts about trade credit insurance.

Coface has published an article that examines and debunks some of the top false facts about credit insurance. The list includes: “Managing credit risk inhibits sales”; “Why on earth should I sign up to credit insurance? I know my clients really well . . . and for a long time!”; “Fraudsters only target large companies”; […]

Its what we do for our clients

If you want to review how we can help you either set up a credit insurance policy or review your options and improve your existing policy, please get in touch.

UK company insolvencies in Q3 2021 were 43% higher than in Q3 2020.

Latest data from the Insolvency Service has indicated that, after seasonal adjustment, in Q3 2021 the number of company insolvencies was 17% higher than in Q2 and 43% higher than in Q3 2020. This was driven by an increase in creditors’ voluntary liquidations (CVLs) to the highest quarterly level since Q2 2009. One in 341 active […]

Corporate insolvencies increased by 55.8% in September 2021 compared to September 2020.

The Insolvency Service’s latest September 2021 corporate insolvency statistics for England and Wales found that corporate insolvencies increased by 7.2% (to 1446) in September 2021 compared to August’s figure, and increased by 55.8% compared to September 2020’s figure of 928. The increase was driven by a rise in Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidations, which increased for the […]

The number of UK corporate insolvencies is about to erupt.

he latest Insolvency statistics released by the UK Government show that the number of registered company insolvencies in September 2021 was 56% higher than September last year. This is the largest number of company insolvencies since before the pandemic began, with the number of insolvencies now just 4% lower than the number registered in September […]

Late payment debt is as high as £200,000 for 19% of UK SMEs.

New data from Time Finance reveals that 70% of UK businesses are suffering from late payments from their customers with late payment debt as high as £200,000 for 1 in 5 business owners. The findings come despite the UK Government introducing a Prompt Payment Code which was put in place to ensure small businesses receive […]

562,000 UK businesses are in financial distress.

New research by Begbies Traynor has found that despite the Q3 improvement in the financial performance of businesses, the numbers of significantly distressed companies (562,000) is still 15% higher than pre-pandemic. In the past quarter, there has also been a 17% rise (to 1,668) in critically distressed businesses. Support Services (87,694), Construction (72,465) and Real […]

Toxic debt increased by £1.9 trillion in 2020.

New data from Begbies Traynor Group has found that UK corporate debt soared by £1.9 trillion to £6.6 trillion in 2020, and 52% of UK businesses are “now saddled with toxic debt” that may never be repaid. Begbies Traynor also expects that the repercussions of these ‘toxic debts’ will be exacerbated by many creditors calling […]

Don’t let the next one that falls affect your business.

A bad debt doesn’t just hit the bottom line. It affects how you progress. You may be able to absorb the debt and shrug it off.But think ahead. What will it mean to your business?  Taking more risk to get back what you’ve lost, delay planned investment, reduce planned expansion,  or just leave you with a […]

There are 5 Steps from Order to Getting Paid

There are 5 Steps from Order to Getting Paid At each step there is a cost. This can be the purchase of the goods and materials, labour, distribution, advertising, marketing, promotion. Add on the fixed costs to the business and the end selling price covers all the cost and leaves money left as profit. But […]

2021 – the Year of the Domino Effect?

Even the best credit control can’t prevent a customer’s business from becoming insolvent, leaving you with an unexpected debt and extra problems with cash flow. For business, the impact of suddenly being exposed to debt could be devastating and can take even large organisations to the brink by starving them of vital funds. This is […]

Know your customer

Knowledge is power, as the phrase goes, so make sure you use it wisely. Check the exact name and legal status (you will need this if you ever have to take legal action to recover a debt) · Use headed paper to verify company details · Make sure the order is from the same entity · Use a […]

Just the Tip of the Credit – Berg

When you look into giving a customer credit, how deep do you look into their current financial strength? How far into your customer’s finances do you go? How often do you go back and look again? And when you’re not looking, who is looking out for you? With a Credit Insurance policy, you not only […]

From Order to Getting Paid – The Manufacturing Process

You will no doubt as a matter of course insure many of your business assets such as buildings, machinery, stock and vehicles. You will more than likely have insurance in place to cover against business interruption, employer’s liability, fire, theft. The list can go on. The biggest asset in your balance sheet, your debtors, may […]

Prevention or Cure?

Sometimes the best examples of the benefits of Credit Insurance have nothing to do with customers going bust and owing you money. Consider the owner of a timber yard. Every day he loads up other peoples lorries for them to take his timber away and use it in their construction businesses,  making furniture and joinery […]

You can check and double check or be part of a Credit Intelligence Network

How many times do you check your customer’s creditworthiness? How often do you check? What information do you use to check them? What do you look for and what information do you use? How much time do you have to continually monitor? In today’s busy work place we are all trying to do several different […]

The Tip of the “Credit – Berg”.

When you look into giving a customer credit, how deep do you look into their current financial strength? How far into your customer’s finances do you go? How often do you go back and look again? And when you’re not looking, who is looking out for you? With a Credit Insurance policy, you not only […]

BHS – Company Voluntary Arrangement

The fall out from this high street failure is not only the immediate loss incurred by anyone of the creditors but the loss of future sales by those suppliers. While many may be Credit Insured and looking to claim up to 90% of the debt back, there are those who are not insured and their […]