https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog UK business intelligence - insolvencies, filings, director networks, and regulatory shifts. Data-driven journalism from the Companies House register. en-gb Fri, 03 Apr 2026 02:33:14 +0100 https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/business-rates-revaluation-2026-uk-companies-analysis https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/business-rates-revaluation-2026-uk-companies-analysis Fri, 03 Apr 2026 02:33:14 +0100 The Valuation Office's integration into HMRC coincides with new business rates coming into force on 1 April 2026, potentially affecting millions of UK companies already grappling with rising minimum wages and operational costs. Economy https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/new-click-to-cancel-laws-uk-subscription-businesses-face-compliance-deadline https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/new-click-to-cancel-laws-uk-subscription-businesses-face-compliance-deadline Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:01:06 +0100 UK companies operating subscription models must update cancellation systems by spring 2027 under new consumer protection laws, with online retailers, software companies and service businesses among the most affected sectors. Regulation https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/oil-115-minimum-wage-12-71-uk-sectors-double-cost-squeeze https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/oil-115-minimum-wage-12-71-uk-sectors-double-cost-squeeze Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:37:57 +0100 UK businesses face simultaneous pressures from crude oil near $120 per barrel and minimum wage rising to £12.71, with transport and hospitality sectors particularly exposed to the dual cost increase. Economy https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/minimum-wage-rises-12-71-takeaway-shops-beauty-services-847000-companies-facing-cost-squeeze https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/minimum-wage-rises-12-71-takeaway-shops-beauty-services-847000-companies-facing-cost-squeeze Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:27:25 +0100 The national minimum wage increase to £12.71 per hour affects around 2.7 million workers, with analysis of Companies House data revealing 84,082 take-away food shops and 74,452 beauty treatment businesses among the most exposed sectors. Economy https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/car-finance-compensation-uk-auto-sector-faces-91bn-redress-bill https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/car-finance-compensation-uk-auto-sector-faces-91bn-redress-bill Tue, 31 Mar 2026 02:34:01 +0100 The Financial Conduct Authority's proposed compensation scheme for 12.1 million mis-sold car finance deals could cost lenders £9.1bn, with average payouts of £829 per claim. Regulation https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/uk-tech-sector-employment-ai-transformation-2026 https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/uk-tech-sector-employment-ai-transformation-2026 Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:47:06 +0100 Analysis of CompanyPulse data reveals 362,822 active UK technology companies, with IT consultancy and software development firms representing the largest segments as the sector undergoes structural changes. Data https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/oil-115-transport-logistics-sectors-insolvency-risk https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/oil-115-transport-logistics-sectors-insolvency-risk Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:43:23 +0100 With oil prices hitting $115 per barrel and 113,714 UK companies currently in insolvency procedures, transport and logistics firms face mounting pressure as fuel costs surge amid Middle East tensions. Insolvency https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/108461-uk-companies-liquidation-fraud-case-asset-hiding https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/108461-uk-companies-liquidation-fraud-case-asset-hiding Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:42:52 +0100 CompanyPulse data reveals 108,461 UK companies are currently in liquidation, while a new bankruptcy fraud conviction highlights how directors illegally transfer assets to evade creditors. Insolvency https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/lloyds-it-glitch-447936-uk-financial-crisis-113717-liquidation https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/lloyds-it-glitch-447936-uk-financial-crisis-113717-liquidation Sun, 29 Mar 2026 12:49:51 +0100 Lloyds Banking Group revealed an IT failure affected up to 447,936 customers, exposing sensitive financial data, while 113,717 UK financial services firms remain in liquidation or administration. Data https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/government-100m-co2-plant-rescue-uk-food-sector-vulnerability https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/government-100m-co2-plant-rescue-uk-food-sector-vulnerability Sat, 28 Mar 2026 13:57:34 +0000 The UK government will invest £100m to reopen a Teesside CO2 plant amid supply chain concerns from the Iran conflict, as thousands of food and beverage manufacturers face heightened operational risks. Economy https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/bankruptcy-fraud-case-reveals-data-gap-uk-directors-hide-assets https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/bankruptcy-fraud-case-reveals-data-gap-uk-directors-hide-assets Sat, 28 Mar 2026 13:57:31 +0000 A Hertfordshire father's imprisonment for transferring £100,000 to dodge school fees exposes a critical gap in UK corporate data: while 108,461 companies are in liquidation, there's no systematic tracking of pre-insolvency asset transfers. Investigation https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/hmrc-tax-avoidance-warning-real-estate-consultancy-high-risk-sectors https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/hmrc-tax-avoidance-warning-real-estate-consultancy-high-risk-sectors Sat, 28 Mar 2026 07:36:54 +0000 Real estate and management consultancy sectors dominate UK company formations with over 994,000 active firms, as HMRC releases new warnings about tax avoidance schemes targeting contractors and company directors. Compliance https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/uk-company-incorporations-surge-despite-economic-headwinds-march-2026 https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/uk-company-incorporations-surge-despite-economic-headwinds-march-2026 Sat, 28 Mar 2026 03:34:10 +0000 New data reveals 12,684 companies incorporated in the UK over the past seven days, with real estate and management consultancy sectors dominating new business formation despite fuel price spikes and consumer confidence concerns. Data https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/cma-investigates-5-firms-fake-reviews-just-eat-autotrader https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/cma-investigates-5-firms-fake-reviews-just-eat-autotrader Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:35:30 +0000 The Competition and Markets Authority has launched investigations into Just Eat, Autotrader, Dignity, Feefo and Pasta Evangelists over allegedly misleading online reviews, marking a significant test of the regulator's enhanced consumer protection powers. Regulation https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/company-filings-iran-conflict-uk-business-impact https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/company-filings-iran-conflict-uk-business-impact Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:10:04 +0000 While media coverage focuses on oil price spikes and economic forecasts, UK company registration data reveals a complex picture of business activity in the first week since the conflict began, with 8,320 new incorporations recorded despite market uncertainty. Economy https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/nsi-compensation-financial-sector-operational-failures https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/nsi-compensation-financial-sector-operational-failures Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:10:00 +0000 National Savings and Investments is expected to pay hundreds of millions in compensation for operational failures affecting 37,000 customers, while Companies House data reveals 113,135 financial services companies have entered insolvency proceedings. Investigation https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/oil-100-transport-manufacturing-insolvency-energy-costs https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/oil-100-transport-manufacturing-insolvency-energy-costs Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:09:53 +0000 With oil prices breaching $100 per barrel amid Middle East conflict, UK sectors with high energy exposure face mounting financial pressure, though recent incorporation data shows continued business formation activity. Economy https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/oil-price-surge-transport-manufacturing-pressure https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/oil-price-surge-transport-manufacturing-pressure Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:45:25 +0000 With Brent crude hitting $103 and UK petrol prices reaching 149.44p per litre, energy-intensive sectors face mounting financial pressure as the Middle East conflict disrupts global oil supplies. Economy https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/companies-house-security-breach-exposes-all-uk-companies https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/companies-house-security-breach-exposes-all-uk-companies Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:37:55 +0000 A WebFiling vulnerability at Companies House has potentially exposed sensitive data from every registered UK company, with real estate and consulting firms representing the largest affected sectors. Data https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/one-director-two-bans-surrey-case-highlights-data-gap-repeat-disqualifications https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/one-director-two-bans-surrey-case-highlights-data-gap-repeat-disqualifications Tue, 24 Mar 2026 03:34:10 +0000 A Surrey business adviser's second director disqualification for tax debts totalling £120,000 exposes the challenge of tracking repeat offenders across the UK's 526,873 registered company officers. Compliance https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/uk-borrowing-costs-16-year-high-insolvency-surge-sectors https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/uk-borrowing-costs-16-year-high-insolvency-surge-sectors Mon, 23 Mar 2026 19:44:48 +0000 Government borrowing costs have reached their highest level since 2008, raising concerns about a potential wave of company failures as businesses face increased financing pressures. Insolvency https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/389-uk-companies-minimum-wage-violations-sector-analysis https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/389-uk-companies-minimum-wage-violations-sector-analysis Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:12:35 +0000 HMRC has named 389 employers for underpaying around 60,000 workers by over £7.3 million. Analysis of Companies House data reveals patterns across sectors, with businesses facing £12.6 million in penalties. Compliance https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/companies-house-breach-exposes-email-addresses-56-million-uk-companies https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/companies-house-breach-exposes-email-addresses-56-million-uk-companies Sun, 22 Mar 2026 13:57:21 +0000 A security vulnerability in Companies House's WebFiling service has potentially exposed the registered email addresses of all 5,645,362 UK companies, with real estate and consultancy sectors most affected. Data https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/uk-insolvencies-q4-2025 https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/uk-insolvencies-q4-2025 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000 The 2025 insolvency numbers are in - similar to 2024 but still at levels last seen during the 2008-09 recession. Construction and hospitality lead the sector breakdown. Insolvency https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/thames-water-corporate-structure https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/thames-water-corporate-structure Fri, 06 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000 We mapped every entity in the Kemble Water Holdings structure using Companies House filings. Investigation https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/companies-house-identity-verification https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/companies-house-identity-verification Sun, 01 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000 The ECCT Act's biggest reform launched on 18 November 2025. An estimated 6-7 million individuals need to verify by mid-November 2026. Regulation https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/hmrc-winding-up-petitions-q4-2025 https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/hmrc-winding-up-petitions-q4-2025 Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Tax debts are catching up. Compulsory liquidations in 2025 reached 3,730 - the highest annual figure since 2012, driven largely by HMRC enforcement. Data https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/doncaster-director-network https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/doncaster-director-network Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000 A routine search flagged a network that keeps growing. Investigation https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/uk-startup-incorporations-2025 https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/uk-startup-incorporations-2025 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Q4 2025 saw 184,888 new incorporations across the UK - down 14% on the previous quarter but up 2% year-on-year. The story is more nuanced than the headline. Data https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/psc-register-data-quality https://www.companypulse.co.uk/blog/psc-register-data-quality Tue, 03 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000 The Persons of Significant Control register was meant to end hidden ownership. Nearly ten years on, we ran the numbers. Regulation