Company insolvencies, March 2025
Monthly tables and commentary on the numbers, rates and sectors of companies that have entered formal insolvency procedures in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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Main messages for England and Wales
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The number of registered company insolvencies in England and Wales was 1,992 in March 2025, 2% lower than in February 2025 (2,032) but 9% higher than the same month in the previous year (1,826 in March 2024). Company insolvencies over the past 12 months have been slightly lower than in 2023, which saw a 30-year high annual number, but have remained high relative to historical levels.
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Company insolvencies in March 2025 consisted of 295 compulsory liquidations, 1,543 creditors’ voluntary liquidations (CVLs), 137 administrations and 17 company voluntary arrangements (CVAs). There were no receivership appointments. The number of compulsory liquidations was 24% lower than the 10-year high seen in February 2025, but remained higher than both March 2024 and the 2024 monthly average. The number of CVLs in March 2025 was similar to both February 2025 and the 2024 monthly average. Administrations and CVAs were higher than in February 2025.
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One in 188 companies on the Companies House effective register (at a rate of 53.1 per 10,000 companies) entered insolvency between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. This was a decrease from the 55.8 per 10,000 companies that entered insolvency in the 12 months ending 31 March 2024. Insolvency rates are calculated on a 12-month rolling basis as a proportion of the total number of companies on the effective register. The 12-month rolling rates show longer term trends and reduce the volatility associated with estimates based on single months.
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While the insolvency rate has increased since the lows seen in 2020 and 2021, it remains much lower than the peak of 113.1 per 10,000 companies seen during the 2008-09 recession. This is because the number of companies on the effective register has more than doubled over this period.