Telford Transport Solutions Limited, a warehousing and logistics operator based in Telford, Shropshire, was placed into administration after directors acknowledged the company was insolvent. The firm, which traded for 17 years, offered local, national and international courier services alongside warehousing and distribution operations.
Administrators appointed after HMRC petition
David Kemp and Richard Hunt of Exigen Group were appointed as joint administrators on October 2, 2026, according to The Gazette. Exigen confirmed that over several months the firm accumulated HMRC arrears of approximately £1.2 million.
A time to pay arrangement was considered and turned down, and the debt continued to escalate. HMRC issued a winding up petition on September 30, 2026, prompting directors to acknowledge the company's insolvency, backing the debenture holder's decision to place the firm into administration.
Business sold as going concern
The administrators revealed that the business and assets were sold on the same day to an unconnected business, Lloyd Baker Leather Limited, for £320,000, reports the Express. The business was sold as a going concern and remains operational from all three of its Telford sites.
The firm employed a total of 69 staff members. Administrators confirmed that 64 of the 69 employees have since been transferred to the new owner under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations), meaning the vast majority of jobs have been safeguarded and the core management team remains intact.
Haulage sector under pressure
When quizzed on why a number of haulage firms have entered administration in recent months, Exigen explained that a number of firms have "struggled" to absorb rising costs in fuel, insurance, vehicle, and driver wage costs.
The administrators told Express.co.uk: "Haulage operates on tight margins, and many firms have struggled to absorb sustained increases in fuel, insurance, vehicle, and driver wage costs. Late payment from customers puts further strain on cash flow, and when firms fall behind on VAT and PAYE, HMRC is increasingly willing to take enforcement action. Directors who seek advice early often have more options available, including a sale that keeps the business trading and protects jobs."
David Kemp, joint administrator at Exigen Group, said: "The company had traded for 17 years, but this case shows how important it is for directors to take early action when financial difficulties arise. Once the threat of a winding up petition becomes imminent, the options available to a company become much more limited."
He added: "In this case, early initial planning enabled a rescue strategy despite the winding up petition, and a pre-pack sale could be completed. The business is still trading, all three sites have been retained, and 64 jobs have transferred to the new owner. That's why we always say take advice early, because there are far more options while there's still time to work with."
Rise in administrations
According to the latest official figures, 182 businesses entered administration in August, representing a 60% rise compared to August 2025. The average monthly number of administrations across the first eight months of 2026 was 36% higher than the 2025 monthly average.
The Gazette, the official public record of insolvencies, attributed this surge to a notable spike between March and August 2026, during which more than 250 connected companies within the real estate sector went into administration.
