Business News Round Up (09/11/2026)
185,000 companies remain in financial distress despite insolvencies fall
New research by the Institute for Turnaround (IFT) finds that more than 185,231 companies remain in financial distress, despite insolvencies falling year-on-year, as turnaround professionals anticipate growing demand for support. The East Midlands recorded the largest rise in distressed companies from Q2 2025 to Q2 2026, up 22% and much higher than the other regions. East Anglia recorded a 21% decrease in distressed companies. Regions including Wales, London, Northern Ireland and Yorkshire showed small increases, whilst Scotland, the South West, North East and North West saw small decreases in the number of distressed companies. Distress increased most in public administration, defence, and social security1 by 11%, financial and insurance activities, 8% and manufacturing 5%, from Q2 2025 to Q2 2026. Distress reduced in accommodation and food services by 1%, arts, entertainment and recreation (3%) and education by 5% from Q2 2025 to Q2 2026.
Manchester has UK’s largest regional pool of high-growth firms waiting on their next funding round
Manchester’s high-growth businesses are creating jobs at pace, but more of them risk losing momentum unless they can secure the next round of investment, according to new research from Barclays Eagle Labs and Beauhurst. Barclays’ research shows that once Manchester businesses secure their first equity investment, they grow quickly. Funded companies in the city increase their headcount by around 18.6% a year over the following three years, matching Sheffield and among the strongest rates in the North, despite Manchester having a lower share of equity-backed firms than many of the UK’s leading clusters. The challenge is turning that early momentum into long-term scale, Barclays said. Like Leeds, Newcastle and Belfast, Manchester businesses typically secure fewer follow-on funding rounds than companies in London. Outside London, Manchester has the largest pool of active high-growth companies that have secured initial equity funding but not a second round within their area’s typical timeframe.
UK company dissolutions reach 787,120 as Crown collects £129m
A total of 787,120 UK companies were dissolved in the year to 31 March 2026, an increase of 8.3% on the previous year, according to official Companies House statistics. Separate accounts show the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department received £129m from dissolved companies in England and Wales over the same period, up 24% from £104m in 2024-25. According to WindDown, the annual dissolution total is the highest in Companies House’s historical series, which runs back to 1939. The Companies House annual statistical release, published on 25 June 2026, recorded 815,277 incorporations over the same financial year, an increase of 1.67%. The register stood at 5,479,045 companies at 31 March 2026. Companies House statistics for April to September 2026 show 371,269 companies were dissolved in the six months. Of those, 180,574, or 48.6%, closed voluntarily after their directors applied to strike them off.
https://bmmagazine.co.uk/in-business/companies-dissolved-crown-129m-record
Scotland must tackle talent, tax and capital to stay competitive, say industry leaders
Senior figures from BlackRock, Aegon Asset Management, Aberdeen Investments and Aberforth Partners have said Scotland’s 700-year financial heritage is no longer enough on its own to stay competitive and grow the sector. Investors heard from Sandra Boss, UK chair at BlackRock, Aegon chief executive Kirstie MacGilivray, Xavier Meyer, chief executive at Aberdeen Investments, and Scott Wallace, operations partner at Aberforth Partners, at the Investment Association’s Scotland Conference on 5 November. The panel, moderated by former Treasury adviser John Owen, chief executive of the Investment Association, discussed the challenges facing the industry. Panellists said Scotland has a strong talent base and a long history, but needs more people, better infrastructure and fresh sources of capital. They noted that other countries have raised their game and that Scotland can no longer rely on its reputation alone.