BLB Solicitors Collapses Owing £2.5 Million
BLB Solicitors, a high street law firm with offices in Bath, Swindon, and Bradford on Avon, entered administration on April 30, leaving clients without access to crucial legal documents such as house deeds and wills. The firm owed £2.5 million at the time of collapse. A former employee described the situation as an 'absolute shambles,' noting that warning signs had been evident for weeks.
Despite a stable turnover of £4.56 million in 2023 and a recovery to £5.54 million in 2025, the firm succumbed to financial pressures. Administrators attributed the collapse to a prolonged slowdown in property transactions, soaring staffing costs, key staff departures, and issues with a new case management system. By March 2026, cash flow pressures forced directors to seek insolvency advice, leading to the sudden shutdown.
Agile Property and Homes: Sustainable Housebuilder Enters Administration
Agile Property and Homes, a Bristol and Oxfordshire-based builder of low-carbon, flat-pack sustainable homes, appointed administrators on July 6. The firm had been founded just seven years earlier and was known for partnering with charities and housing associations to build affordable homes using natural materials in as little as 12 weeks. CEO Craig White had claimed the business had a 'proven model to tackle the UK's housing crisis at low cost and speed.'
Joint administrator Andrew Pear of Moorfields Advisory stated that the business was derailed by soaring energy, labour, and raw material costs. He warned that the wider system is 'broken,' citing planning permission delays and a 'massive skills shortage' that hinder developers. The collapse deals a blow to the Government's target of building 1.5 million homes by 2029, as the industry is already predicted to fall short.
St Gerard's School Closes After 111 Years
St Gerard's School in Bangor, founded in 1915 by the Sisters of Mercy, closed permanently on July 3, the last day of the summer term. Trustees informed parents with a 'heavy heart' that the school could no longer survive financial pressures. The closure was attributed to rising National Insurance costs, loss of charitable status, the Labour government's 20% VAT on private school fees, and falling pupil numbers.
An official notice confirmed that the trust behind the school entered administration on its final day, with Simon Farr and Anthony Collier of FRP Advisory appointed to handle the closure. Most staff have been made redundant, though a small team remains to process exam results and support affected families. Helen Jenner MS, Reform UK Wales’s deputy leader, slammed the decision to target independent schools as 'pure ideological spite,' warning it would strain state sector budgets.
Derwent Packaging Ltd: Rescue Deal Saves 33 Jobs
Derwent Packaging Ltd, a Derbyshire-based firm that has manufactured cardboard and retail displays since 1994, entered administration on July 8. The company faced rising labour costs, high energy bills, and a drop in customer spending. Its tangible assets fell from £330,410 to £270,657 between 2024 and 2025, and cash flow issues forced it to stop trading.
However, joint administrators Benjamin Fallon and Louise Longley of Begbies Traynor completed a full sale of the business within 24 hours of appointment. The company was acquired by Mailway Displays, securing the future of its manufacturing base in Denby. The rescue deal saved all 33 jobs, and customer orders will continue without disruption.
