Overview
Here you will find all the latest details on company insolvencies across the UK and including Northern Ireland. This page is updated on a monthly basis and provides details on company insolvencies by month and sector since 2018. For real-time insight and alerts about company insolvencies please consider subscribing to the Creditsafe platform.
Key findings for August 2021:
- A total of 1,589 companies became insolvent in August 2021.
- The total number of insolvencies decreased by 8% compared to the previous month (July 2021).
- The total number of insolvencies increased by 7% compared to August 2020.
- 17% of insolvencies came from within the Construction sector.
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Insolvencies by Month
Total number of insolvencies by month.
August 2021 saw the total number of insolvencies fall by 8% compared to July. A total of 1,589 companies become insolvent, a decrease of 8% compared to last month (July) and a 7% increase compared to August 2020.
This decrease in the overall number of insolvencies undoubtedly reflects the particular circumstances resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, and resulting lockdown. Many distressed businesses have managed to keep afloat by making use of the high level of government support available, and many may well have opted to file for an extension with Companies House. However, as government schemes come to an end and cash reserves become scarce, many businesses may struggle to stay afloat.
The total number of UK company insolvencies for the year 2021 rose to 11,703. This represents a 10% decrease when compared to the same period in 2020.
Insolvencies by Sector
The total number of insolvencies by sector YTD.
The construction sector remains the most significant contributor to the insolvency numbers representing 17% of all insolvencies in August 2021, with 268 construction companies becoming insolvent. Year to date, construction accounts for 15% of all company insolvencies in 2021.
Two sectors that traditionally see large numbers of failures are also worth examining and worth keeping under review. Wholesale & Retail saw 167 companies become insolvent in August, while 157 Hospitality businesses failed. Taken together these sectors represent almost 20% of all insolvencies and with both areas previously vulnerable to government lockdown measures and restrictions we may continue to see similar levels of failures throughout 2021 and into 2022.
The table below shows the total number of insolvencies year-to-date (January - August 2021) by sector. It also includes the % share of insolvencies for 2021 and the % change compared to the same period in 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Want to explore the data for yourself?
Whether you want to understand the impact of Insolvencies across a group of sectors or the likelihood of an individual company becoming insolvent, you can find all of this data and more within the Creditsafe platform.
Methodology
Creditsafe uses the following statuses to determine if a company has become insolvent and will count insolvency based on its first insolvency trigger from one of the statuses below:
- In Liquidation.
- Administrator Appointed.
- Appointment of Liquidator.
- Meeting of Creditors.
- In Administration.
- In Receivership.
- Administrative Receiver Appointed.
- Administration Order.
- The company is wound-up.