Company insolvencies, January 2026
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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The number of registered company insolvencies in England and Wales was 1,744 in January 2026, 4% higher than in December 2025 (1,683), but 14% lower than the same month in the previous year (2,028 in January 2025).
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Company insolvencies in January 2026 consisted of 256 compulsory liquidations, 1,323 creditors’ voluntary liquidations (CVLs), 151 administrations and 13 company voluntary arrangements (CVAs). There was one receivership appointment. The number of compulsory liquidations was 4% higher than in December 2025, but was lower than the 2025 monthly average. The number of CVLs in January 2026 was also slightly higher than December 2025 but lower than the 2025 monthly average. Administrations were higher than in December 2025, while CVAs were lower.
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One in 193 companies on the Companies House effective register (at a rate of 51.7 per 10,000 companies) entered insolvency between 1 February 2025 and 31 January 2026. This was a decrease from the 52.8 per 10,000 companies that entered insolvency in the 12 months ending 31 January 2025. 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.