Nine companies across Greater Manchester appointed administrators over the course of August, including a real estate agency, a construction business and a student admissions firm. More than 100 companies across the region have called in administrators so far this year, with the number of firms in crisis peaking in January at 45.
What Administration Involves
Tom Russell, President of R3, the UK's restructuring, insolvency and turnaround trade body, explained: "A company is insolvent when it doesn't have enough money to pay its debts or outgoings when they are due."
"One option open to an insolvent company is to enter administration. This involves the appointment of a licensed insolvency practitioner as administrator to take control of the business."
"The administrator has the primary objective of saving the company as a going concern, but if that is not possible, they can also sell parts of a business or other assets to fulfil their duty to achieve the best possible outcome for creditors in what are often complicated and difficult circumstances."
National Insolvency Trends
The news follows a recent uplift in insolvencies across the country after a total of 1,931 corporate insolvencies were recorded in July 2026 - an increase of 4.5% compared to June 2026 and a 4.9% decrease compared to July 2025.
Jonathan Amor, Restructuring and Insolvency Partner at international accountancy and business advisory group Azets, said: "For an increasing number of firms, July was the month where the cost of doing business became too heavy. In a climate where expenses continue to rise and debts continue to be chased, an increasing number of directors ran out of road and more businesses ran out of time and options."
"While numbers are lower this month than they were a year ago, we should remember that July 2025's figures reflected the impact of the increases in National Minimum Wage and Employer National Insurance, which resulted in a rise in insolvencies as businesses found themselves unable to absorb those increased costs after years of soaring expenses and shrinking margins."
"Corporate insolvencies continue to be driven by a mixture of high costs, cautious consumer and customer spending, political and geopolitical uncertainty, and creditor aggression. Businesses are operating in a world where everything costs more, people are spending less, and creditors are turning to the courts if bills are paid late. This is leading to more of them seeking advice and support with their financial and cashflow issues."
"Many directors are running out of options, ideas and energy and are choosing to close down their businesses. This is because they don't have any alternative options and they don't believe the situation can or will improve enough in the short-term for them to turn things around."
"The change of Prime Minister and the ongoing effects of the conflict in the Middle East have hit incomes, hiring and confidence hard. This is affecting borrowing costs and availability at a time when many firms are in need of rescue finance to allow them to trade through challenging times."
Sectors Affected in Greater Manchester
The businesses hit in Greater Manchester last month include a real estate agency, a construction business and a student admissions firm. Mr Amor explained: "We're hearing the residential property sector is struggling as the housing market has declined and companies that based their business models on prices increasing find themselves overloaded with debt. With flats, in particular, struggling to sell and losing value in some parts of the country, this is hitting property companies hard and pushing them into the red."
"The construction sector is also continuing to struggle with increased wage bills, shrinking margins, delays in projects starting and legacy contracts whose slim profits have eroded to the point they become losses. Firms who survived and even made a profit on these kinds of arrangements historically are now seeing these slim margins eroded to the point where they have no alternative but to seek the support of insolvency specialists as their business models have become unsustainable."
"Anyone who is worried about their finances should speak to a restructuring or insolvency advisor as a priority. We know how hard it is to talk about, but having the conversation as early as possible can ensure that Directors maximise their potential options. More time to consider and make robust decisions is crucial and usually leads to better outcomes than if you'd waited until the situation became more serious and the options more limited."
Full List of Companies in Administration
Below is the full list of companies across Greater Manchester that appointed administrators in August 2026, with its registered office or trading address located in a Greater Manchester borough, according to official public records:
- AIR (UK) LTD - Nature of Business: Procurement of Labour and Materials. Registered office: 10 Park Place, Manchester, M4 4EY. Principal trading address: 72 Oxford Street, Manchester M1 5NH, 115 Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 7DU, Unit 6, Central Station, Ranelagh Street, L1 1QE, Unit R2, Halle Place, Manchester Arndale, M4 3AQ, Unit 6 & 7 Gateway House, Piccadilly Station Approach, Manchester, M1 2GH, Unit R7A, 132-134 The Orient, Trafford Centre, M17 8EG, Unit TK04, Trinity Leeds, Albion Street, Leeds, LS1 5AT, 8-9 Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, B2 4JD, Unit C6, Trafford Palazzo, Barton Dock Road, Manchester, M17 8AS and Unit C1, Trafford Palazzo, Barton Dock Road, Trafford, Manchester, M17 8AS. Date of Appointment: 26 August 2026.
- PRIESTLEY INVESTMENTS (LEEDS) LIMITED - Nature of Business: Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate. Registered office: C/O KR8 Advisory Limited, The Lexicon, 10-12 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 5NT. Principal trading address: 2nd Floor Offices, Marygate House, 2 Marygate, Wakefield, WF1 1NX. Date of Appointment: 14 August 2026.
- ROCK RECRUITMENT LTD - Nature of Business: Other activities of employment placement agencies. Registered office: JT Maxwell Limited, Unit 2.01 Hollinwood Business Centre, Albert Street, Hollinwood, Failsworth, OL8 3QL. Principal trading address: Flat 8 Mayflower Court, Emerald Quay, Shoreham-By-Sea, BN43 5JJ. Date of Appointment: 17 August 2026.
- CAERUS CAPITAL LIMITED - Trading Name: T/A Choose My Car. Registered office: Alexandra Court 1st Floor, Carrs Road, Cheadle, SK8 2JY. Principal trading address: Alexandra Court 1st Floor, Carrs Road, Cheadle, SK8 2JY. Date of Appointment: 13 August 2026.
- FIRE INTEGRITY LIMITED - Nature of Business: Other construction installation. Registered office: JT Maxwell Limited, Unit 2.01 Hollinwood Business Centre, Albert Street, Hollinwood, Failsworth, OL8 3QL. Principal trading address: 20 Wenlock Road, London, N1 7GU. Date of Appointment: 13 August 2026.
- TRANSCRIP LIMITED - Nature of Business: Management consultancy activities other than financial management. Registered office: Interpath Ltd, 10th Floor, One Marsden Street, Manchester, M2 1HW. Principal trading address: Not provided. Date of Appointment: 14 August 2026.
- CLANCY CONSULTING LTD - Trading Name: Clancy Consulting. Nature of Business: Specialist engineering consultancy. Registered office: Windmill Green, 4th Floor, 24 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 3NX. Principal trading address: Windmill Green, 4th Floor, 24 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 3NX. Date of Appointment: 11 August 2026.
- UNIVERSAL CONSULTANCY GLOBAL LIMITED - Nature of Business: Student Admissions. Registered office: 552a Claremont Road, Manchester, M14 5XL. Principal trading address: 552a Claremont Road, Manchester, M14 5XL. Date of Appointment: 10 August 2026.
- HILLBECK HOMES (SOWERBY BRIDGE) LTD - Nature of Business: Construction of domestic buildings. Registered office: C/o CG & Co, 27 Byrom Street, Manchester, M3 4PF. Principal trading address: Bairstow Lane, Sowerby Bridge, HX6 2SY. Date of Appointment: 05 August 2026.
