Company insolvency statistics - Q4 2022

The October to December 2022 (Q4) company insolvency stats for England and Wales have been published by The Insolvency Service, together with related figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Company insolvency statistics for England and Wales – 2022

The total number of company insolvencies registered in 2022 was 22,109 (seasonally adjusted), he highest number since 2009 and 57% higher than 2021.

18,821 creditors’ voluntary liquidations (CVLs) – a 49% increase from 2021
1,945 compulsory liquidations – a 296% increase from 2021
1,231 administrations – a 55% increase from 2021
111 company voluntary arrangements (CVAs) – a 3% decrease from 2021
1 receivership – the same as 2021

The number of CVLs in 2022 was the highest annual number in the time series since records began in 1960. Compulsory liquidations and the number of administrations were higher than 2021 but remained lower than pre-pandemic levels. Numbers for other insolvency types were similar to 2021 but lower than pre-pandemic levels.

Company insolvency statistics for England and Wales – Q4 2022

It should be noted that unlike monthly insolvency statistics, quarterly statistics are seasonally adjusted to account for seasonal variation in insolvencies across the year and allow for comparison to the most recent period within years.

After seasonal adjustment (where applicable), there were a total of 5,595 company insolvencies in England and Wales in Q4 2022, including:

4,891 creditors’ voluntary liquidations (CVLs)
720 compulsory liquidations
359 administrations
25 company voluntary arrangements (CVAs)
0 receiverships

Total company insolvencies in Q4 2022 increased by 7% from Q3 2022 and by 30% from the same quarter in the previous year.

In Q4 2022, CVLs accounted for 82% of all company insolvencies. The number of CVLs increased in Q4 by 2% from Q3 2022, and was 18% higher than during the same quarter last year, after seasonal adjustment. The number of CVLs have stayed approximately constant over the past three quarters at a record-high level.

Moratoriums and restructuring plans

Between 26 June 2020 and 31 December 2022, 40 companies obtained a moratorium and 12 companies had a restructuring plan registered at Companies House, procedures created by Created by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020.

Liquidation rate statistics for England and Wales – 2022

In 2022:

1 in 202 companies were liquidated
the company liquidation rate was 49.5 per 10,000 active companies in England and Wales
the company liquidation rate was higher than the 12 months ending Q3 2022 and Q4 2021, and is the highest rate since the 12 months ending Q1 2015

Unlike the absolute number of liquidations over a period, the liquidation rate indicates the probability of a company entering liquidation in the previous four quarters. In general, periods of economic growth result in liquidation rates decreasing.

Industry sector insolvency findings for England and Wales – 2022

The three industries (in accordance with SIC 2007) that experienced the highest number of insolvencies in 2022 were:

construction (4,143 insolvencies, 19% of cases with industry captured)
wholesale and retail trade and repair of vehicles (3,263 insolvencies, 15% of cases with industry captured)
accommodation and food services activities (2,704 insolvencies, 12% of cases with industry captured)

The construction industry tends to have the highest quarterly number of insolvencies of any industrial grouping. Increases in insolvencies were seen across most industries in 2022 compared to 2021.

Scotland company insolvency statistics – Q4 2022

The Accountant in Bankruptcy, Scotland’s Insolvency Service, administers company insolvency in Scotland. They reported that in Q4 2022, there were 313 company insolvencies, 19% higher than the same quarter in 2021. Of the total company insolvencies in Scotland, there were:

83 compulsory liquidations
212 CVLs
17 administrations
1 CVA
0 receiverships

Due to administrative differences, most company liquidations in Scotland are compulsory liquidations. This contrasts with England and Wales where creditors’ voluntary liquidations (CVLs) account for most company liquidations. Figures in Scotland are also not seasonally adjusted.

Northern Ireland company insolvency statistics – Q4 2022

In Northern Ireland in Q4 2022, there were 50 company insolvencies, an increase of 56% when compared to the same quarter of 2021. Of the total company insolvencies in Northern Ireland, there were:

4 compulsory liquidations
39 CVLs
2 CVAs
5 administrations
0 administrative receiverships

Please note, the figures for Northern Ireland are not seasonally-adjusted.

Where can I see insolvency notices in The Gazette?

The Gazette is the primary source of both corporate insolvency and personal insolvency information in the UK and publishes this information in the form of insolvency notices, allowing transparency for the public, the credit industry and concerned individuals to quantify risk and inform creditors. You can view all corporate and personal insolvency notices on The Gazette website.

The Gazette also provides a data service which gives access to official intelligence on all UK businesses, corporate and personal insolvencies. Benefits of The Gazette’s data service include:

Bespoke reports - tailored around your specific business
Geo-targeted editions - available for specific geographical targeting (National, London, Belfast, Edinburgh)
Custom filters - specific custom attributes (company number, notice type, key terms)
Data at regular intervals - delivered at a rate to match your business needs (daily, weekly, monthly)

For more information on The Gazette’s data service, contact the team on 01603 985949 or email data@thegazette.co.uk.

Enquire now

Next insolvency statistics release

Figures for Q4 2022 will be released on 28 April 2023.

Find out more

Company Insolvency Statistics, October to December 2022 (GOV.UK)

The Insolvency Service (GOV.UK)

Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB)

Image: Getty Images

Publication date: 8 February 2022