When your company is under serious pressure — from HMRC, a major creditor, or even a winding-up petition — it’s easy to feel like everything’s slipping out of your hands. If that’s where you are now, I want you to know you’re not alone.

I’m Nick, a Business Recovery and Insolvency consultant with over 30 years’ experience. I’ve worked with hundreds of directors in difficult situations like this, and one of the most powerful tools we sometimes use is administration.

It’s a formal process that gives the company legal protection from creditors and space to explore whether it can be rescued, sold, or closed down properly. If there’s still something worth saving in the business, administration might be the way to protect it.

How does administration work?

If administration is the right step, things usually move quickly, especially if you’re facing creditor action or a winding-up petition.

Here’s how I help guide you through it:

• We start with a conversation
  A free, confidential call where I listen to what’s happening, ask a few questions, and help you make sense of your options — including whether administration is the right route or if there’s another way to protect the business.
• If administration makes sense, we move quickly
  I’ll help you appoint a licensed Insolvency Practitioner to take over as administrator. From that point, the company is legally protected from creditor action, including HMRC, landlords, and suppliers.
• A plan is put in place
  The administrator will look at the company’s position and work with you to agree on the best path forward. That could involve selling the business to protect value and jobs, restructuring to deal with debts, or proposing a CVA.
  
  If there’s no realistic way to save the business, the focus may shift to closing it in a proper, managed way — but this is always approached with care.
• The outcome is managed and completed
  Once the plan is agreed, the administrator carries it out — whether that’s selling the business, implementing a repayment plan, or closing the company. I’ll discuss with you what the outcome means for you as a director and help you move forward with clarity.

How can administration help?

Every situation is different, but for some companies, administration offers space, structure, and a genuine path forward.

Here’s how it might help:

• It stops legal action.
  From the moment the company enters administration, creditors — including HMRC, landlords, and suppliers — are legally stopped from taking further action. It creates a pause so you can take control of the situation.
• It buys you breathing room.
  If pressure has built to a breaking point, administration gives you time and space to think clearly, before things are taken out of your hands.
• It helps protect what matters.
  If the business still has value — such as contracts, loyal staff, or customer relationships — administration provides a way to preserve or sell that value in the right way, without last-minute panic.
• It opens up options.
  Sometimes the business can come through administration with a CVA or restructuring plan in place. I’ll help you understand what’s realistic and what recovery could look like.
• You’re not facing it alone.
  From the first call to the outcome, I’ll be by your side to explain what’s happening and help you make decisions with confidence. No pressure — just clear advice and steady support.

Questions directors often ask me

Can administration stop legal action?
Yes — if we act in time. Once the company enters administration, creditors are legally blocked from continuing with enforcement, including HMRC and winding-up petitions. If you’ve already received a threat, it’s important to speak quickly.

Does this mean the end of my business?
Not always. Sometimes the business is sold, restructured, or put into a CVA to help it survive. Even if closure is the outcome, administration can protect jobs, customers, and future opportunities. I’ll talk you through what’s realistic for your situation.

Can I buy the business back?
Possibly — this is sometimes done through a “pre-pack.” It must be handled carefully and fairly, but if it’s the right option, I’ll help you understand how it works.

What happens to employees?
If the business is sold, employees may transfer to the new company. If it closes, they may be entitled to redundancy pay and other support through the government. I’ll help you understand your responsibilities and their rights.

Will I be personally liable for any debts?
In most cases, no. If you’ve signed a personal guarantee or there are concerns about wrongful trading, we’ll look at those together. My role is to help you deal with it, not to judge or blame.

Will this affect me being a director in future?
No, administration doesn’t prevent you from being a director again. In fact, many directors use this process to reset and rebuild. We’ll go through what this means for you moving forward.

How much does administration cost?
Costs vary depending on the size and complexity of the case. I’ll always explain fees clearly before anything begins — and help you decide if this is the right option for your company.

What’s the first step?

A confidential, no-pressure conversation.

Most directors I speak to are feeling overwhelmed, unsure what to do, or worried about what’s coming next. If that’s where you are, we just start with a chat.

My job is to help you understand your options and give you the space and support to work out what’s right for you.

Whatever route you choose to take, whether that’s administration or something else, there are options and you’ll leave the call with clarity, and sometimes, that’s all you need to take the next step forward.