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Wilson Field has secured a new future for a Banbury-headquartered events management company, which boasted clients including Crufts, Tour of Britain and Virgin London Marathon after it was bought out of administration.

ARB (Sound Vision Light Power) Limited was established in September 2014 and specialised in event hire including providing audio-visual solutions, equipment, hire, and installation.

The company, which traded from Coton Cottage, Chacombe near Banbury, called in administrators from Sheffield-headquartered Wilson Field for formal insolvency advice.

The company, which has an impressive client list and relied solely on sub-contractors as and when needed, suffered VAT and HMRC issues as a result of a period of illness.

Kelly Burton and Lisa Hogg from Wilson Field were appointed as joint administrators on 20 February and concluded a pre-packaged sale of the business and assets for an undisclosed sum to ARB Motors Limited, led by the same management team.

Kelly Burton, director and licensed insolvency practitioner at Wilson Field said:

Wilson Field was brought in to look at the situation of the business.

The focus on the company had diluted during a period of illness of one of the two directors. A debt was due to HMRC and a repayment proposal was rejected resulting in the need to protect the business and assets via a formal insolvency procedure.

The pre-packaged sale means the business, which was an established player in event management at large scale events, has a bright future moving forward.

The loss of a major employee’s input through illness can harm an organisation and it is important for businesses to seek help should this arise. Timing is essential to keep focus on the business.

ARB has combined experience of more than 100 years and provided hire equipment such as indoor and outdoor PA systems, single and double-decker commentary units, street sound vehicles, exhibition TVs, stage lighting and mobile power in both primary and secondary distribution.

Wilson Field has advised on the sale of a Slough-based nursing agency which was bought out of administration, saving all 7 jobs.

Berks Healthcare Services Limited, which traded as Enchor Healthcare Services, specialised in providing healthcare professionals for the public and private sectors.

It supplied registered general and mental health nursing staff, together with unqualified support and ancillary staff, to private hospitals and care homes in the areas local to the company’s offices in Slough, Portsmouth, Birmingham and Luton.

The company, headed up by healthcare professionals, called in administrators from Wilson Field after suffering from a fall in turnover, which left it struggling to meet unsustainable historic debt. It had also been served with a winding-up petition presented by HMRC.

Kelly Burton and Emma Bower were appointed as joint administrators on 14 June 2018 and concluded the sale of the business and assets for an undisclosed sum to an unconnected company, Connect Care & Support Limited, also based in Slough.

Kelly Burton, director and licensed insolvency practitioner at Wilson Field said: “The company had a turnover in the region of £2.9m per annum in 2017. However, this is a very competitive marketplace, which is primarily price-driven and recent changes to minimum wage legislation had also impacted on the company’s potential profit margins.

“As administrators, we sought a purchaser for the business.

“This pre-packaged sale to Connect Care & Support Ltd saved seven permanent jobs as well as numerous temporary agency staff.

“It has also mitigated employee termination claims in the nature of wage arrears, accrued holiday pay, redundancy and pay in lieu of notice estimated to total £29,576 as the liabilities have transferred to the successor business under the TUPE regulations.

“This means the business has a new future moving forward.”

Berks Healthcare Services Ltd was incorporated in January 2015, but can be traced back to February 2007. Enchor Health Care was recognised and registered as Recruitment Consultants providing both permanent and temporary staffing solutions to many different health and social care settings. It also had supported living and rehabilitation centres.

Assets from the well-known Telford road haulage contractor ET Rowlands & Sons, which has closed after nearly 60 years in business, are to be sold by auction online.

The firm, known for its striking red livery on its vehicles, provided road transport solutions for UK and continental Europe and operated a modern mixed fleet of rigid vehicles, tractor units and trailers.

Last week’s closure of the company, set up in 1958 by 87-year-old current director Mary Rowland’s father,  saw all 28 jobs made redundant after the company lost a major contract and potential hopes for a pre-pack sale were dashed.

Kelly Burton and Lisa Hogg from Yorkshire-based insolvency specialists Wilson Field were appointed joint administrators of ET Rowlands and Sons on 13 June at a meeting of members and creditors.

Wilson Field has instructed valuers and asset management consultants Charterfields to dispose of the assets of the company, which operated a warehouse facility in Telford.

Vehicles and other items up for sale include a fleet of 14 tractor units, seven rigid and flat HGVs by Scania, DAF and MAN, 14 curtainside and three flat back trailers, personalised numberplates including P7 ETR, P12 ETR, R4 ETR, S7 ETR, T2 ETR, V2 ETR, and 6 ETR, plant and office furniture. Other vehicles include a Vauxhall Movano 3.5T Dropside and Ford Transit T350 Panel Van.

Kelly Burton, director and insolvency practitioner at Wilson Field, said: “ET Rowlands & Sons was a well-established family-run business that experienced loss of a major contract.

“The director came to Wilson Field for advice but regrettably the company entered administration and has been closed. As a consequence all 28 jobs have been lost. It is always sad to see a long-standing company go out of business with the loss of jobs.”

The online auction is now open and closes Tuesday July 4 from 12 noon. For further details visit www.charterfields.com