Less businesses went to the wall in June than the previous month, research finds.

Less businesses went to the wall in June than the previous month, research finds.

Some 1,650 businesses became insolvent in June 2012, compared to 1,841 in May 2012 and 1,783 in June 2011, according to data from Experian.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with one to 100 employees are the only group to see improvements in their insolvency rates, with the biggest rise coming specifically from SMEs with 51 to 100 employees – from 0.19 per cent in June 2011 to 0.12 per cent in June this year.



The UK’s biggest businesses (101 or more employees) experienced an increase in the rate of insolvencies compared to June 2011.

Firms with between 101 to 500 employees experienced a 0.16 per cent failure rate, compared to 0.08 per cent in June last year, while companies with more than 500 employees saw an increase in insolvency rate from 0.12 per cent in June last year to 0.15 per cent in June this year.

Experian managing director Max Firth says, 'Although the overall figures for June show a fairly stable environment at the moment led by smaller firms, the higher insolvency rate at the top end of the business world will have an impact on the supply chain.

'Many smaller suppliers, unless they have a good credit management process in place, will find themselves short of a major customer and left with unpaid bills. They will need to move quickly to fill the gap in their customer base.'



Firth adds that when taking on new business, it is vital companies start to monitor the health of both customers and suppliers.

Overall, Scottish firms fared the best during June. In addition to improved insolvency rates, they saw the highest improvements in financial health from June 2011 (with a financial health reading of 82.68) and also from May 2012 (83.44) to 83.45 June 2012.



The only regions to experience an increase in the rate of business insolvencies during June, month-on-month and year-on-year, are Yorkshire and the West Midlands.

Of the UK’s five biggest industries, the leisure/hotel and the building/construction sectors saw the biggest improvements, from May 2012 and also compared to June 2011. For firms in the leisure/hotel sector, this is the third consecutive month of falling insolvencies.

See also: Insolvencies hit new high