B.F.S. ENTERPRISE (FABRICATIONS) LIMITED

💤Zombieactive
01391198 · ltd · incorporated 1978-09-27
Investment thesis
Zombie company — trading but stalled; unlikely mover.
Why interesting: Quiet, steady; could be a succession or carve-out candidate with the right conversation.
Why risky: No growth signal; thin margin for error on price.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Mar 2025
Net worth
£3.12M
book net assets
Opportunity
77/100
Strong
🔔
Follow this company (free)
Email alerts on filings, charges, director changes, gazette notices. No account needed.

Unsubscribe any time from any email. GDPR-respectful.

🔒Generate AI memo →🔒Outreach pack →🔒Corporate story →📑 Reports →Sign in to watch
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 24520
Sector: Manufacturing
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
  • 25110Manufacture of metal structures and parts of structures
  • 25990SIC 25990
Investor take
Pursue
Asset-holding vehicle with a 64-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (65/100, director aged 64). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Broaden director team. Sole director creates succession risk and reduces buyer comfort. Appoint a second director or strong #2. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

5 live charges · oldest 46.1y

45/100
under pressure

Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.

  • · Oldest live charge is 46.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
  • · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.

Data confidence

Overall: medium (77/100)

Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.

Company profile
address, 3 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
5 charges (5/5 with lender, 5/5 with type)
90
Directors & officers
9 officers (2 active, 9 linked, 6 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
117 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
77/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.

Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
70
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Signals from accounts

Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declared
Positive net assets
Net assets £3,118,169
Cash YoY
-18%
Year on year

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
£1.2m
↓ 18% YoY
Net Worth
£3.1m
↑ 4.7% YoY
Current Assets
£2.2m
↑ 3.8% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
£0£624k£1.2m£1.9m£2.5m£3.1mMar 2024Mar 2025

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown
Metric2025-03-312024-03-31
Total assets£3.25M£3.12M
Current assets£2.22M£2.14M
Cash£1.23M£1.50M
Debtors£828.5k£358.8k
Net assets£3.12M£2.98M

Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.

🔒Filing-note intelligence

1 signal detected in this company's narrative notes — going-concern language, audit opinion, contingent liabilities, related-party transactions.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →

Recent activity

Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (37 events)Click to expand
  1. 2025-12-24
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
    accounts · AA
  2. 2025-09-19
    ➖
    DODDINGTON, David resigned
    director
  3. 2025-09-19
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  4. 2024-12-22
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
    accounts · AA
  5. 2023-12-21
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
    accounts · AA
  6. 2022-12-21
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
    accounts · AA
  7. 2021-12-22
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  8. 2021-03-04
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  9. 2019-12-23
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  10. 2018-12-21
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  11. 2018-07-18
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  12. 2018-07-18
    📄
    court-order
    miscellaneous · OC
  13. 2018-01-02
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  14. 2017-12-22
    📄
    legacy
    miscellaneous · ANNOTATION
  15. 2017-02-03
    📄
    change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH03
  16. 2017-02-03
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  17. 2017-02-03
    📄
    change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH03
  18. 2013-12-27
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #5
  19. 2010-11-19
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #4
  20. 2010-11-19
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  21. 2010-11-19
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  22. 2009-07-31
    🔒
    Charge registered #5
    Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
  23. 2004-03-30
    ➖
    SPENCE, Dianne Mary resigned
    director
  24. 2002-08-21
    ➕
    DODDINGTON, David appointed
    director
  25. 2002-07-31
    ➖
    SPENCE, Brian Frederick resigned
    secretary
  26. 2002-07-31
    ➖
    SPENCE, Brian Frederick resigned
    director
  27. 2002-03-31
    ➕
    SPENCE, Martin David Edward appointed
    secretary
  28. 1999-01-26
    ➖
    DONOVAN, Jessica Eileen resigned
    director
  29. 1999-01-26
    ➖
    DONOVAN, Terrence Edward Alfred resigned
    director
  30. 1999-01-18
    ➖
    DONOVAN, Terrence Edward Alfred resigned
    secretary
  31. 1999-01-18
    ➕
    SPENCE, Brian Frederick appointed
    secretary
  32. 1992-07-31
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #3
  33. 1992-05-13
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
  34. 1982-08-26
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
  35. 1982-08-20
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
  36. 1980-06-04
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
  37. 1978-09-27
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As B.F.S. ENTERPRISE (FABRICATIONS) LIMITED

Owner dependency

83/100
Critical — business is the founder

The business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.

FACTORS
  • +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
  • +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 64 — approaching natural succession window.

Succession & seller-readiness

75/100
Likely off-market candidate

Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.

SIGNALS
  • primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 64. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
  • primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 48 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.

Red flags

1 med ·
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
medium

Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mr Martin David Edward Spence
Individual · British · DOB 01/1962 · age 64
75–100%
75–100%board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control06/04/2016

From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.

Similar companies

Active · Manufacturing · NR postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
A.R.M. MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED→
09993085 · est 2016 · no financials extracted
————10y——
ARCTIC PIPE SERVICES LTD→
15003224 · est 2023 · no financials extracted
————2y——
AVMECH2 LTD→
15532035 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————2y——
BAG-N-AGG LIMITED→
09818714 · est 2015 · no financials extracted
————10y——
BARRIER BIOTECH LIMITED→
02493312 · est 1990 · no financials extracted
————35y——
BARRIER HOLDINGS LIMITED→
04116300 · est 2000 · no financials extracted
————25y——
BATTERY MINERALS LTD→
15495448 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————2y——
BAUWELLE LTD→
16763850 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
———————
BDC SERVICES LTD→
04936254 · est 2003 · no financials extracted
————22y——
BDW ALUMINIUM LIMITED→
15276069 · est 2023 · no financials extracted
————2y——
BEAR BAND X LTD→
15795267 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————1y——
BEARINGBOYS LTD→
05900054 · est 2006 · no financials extracted
————19y——
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions

7 specific questions generated from this company's actual signals — liquidity, leverage, director age, charge count, red flags, age-of-company.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →
🔒Advanced scoring suite

Exit-route ranking, improvement thesis, quiet-distress detector, covenant-pressure proxy, extraction monitor, approaching triggers, ownership drift, local cluster, value trap, debt capacity, archetype classification — 48+ scoring modules.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →

Company details

Statusactive
Typeltd
Incorporated1978-09-27
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC24520 — SIC 24520

Registered office

Bfs Colonial House Anson Way
Beccles Business Park
Beccles
Suffolk
NR34 7TL

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-01-14
Last: 2025-12-31

Officers (2 active · 7 resigned)

SPENCE, Martin David Edward→
secretary · appointed 2002-03-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
SPENCE, Martin David Edward→
director · ~64y
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
DONOVAN, Terrence Edward Alfred→
secretary · resigned 1999-01-18
Resigned
SPENCE, Brian Frederick→
secretary · appointed 1999-01-18 · resigned 2002-07-31
Resigned
DODDINGTON, David→
director · ~68y · appointed 2002-08-21 · resigned 2025-09-19
Resigned
DONOVAN, Jessica Eileen→
director · ~87y · resigned 1999-01-26
Resigned
DONOVAN, Terrence Edward Alfred→
director · ~89y · resigned 1999-01-26
Resigned
SPENCE, Brian Frederick→
director · ~97y · resigned 2002-07-31
Resigned
SPENCE, Dianne Mary→
director · ~68y · resigned 2004-03-30
Resigned

Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.

Mortgages & charges

5
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:5 of 5 shown
TypeProperties
satisfied
Barclays
Barclays Bank PLC
Deed of charge over credit balances1 property31/07/200927/12/2013
satisfied
Barclays
Barclays Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property13/05/199219/11/2010
satisfied
Barclays
Barclays Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property26/08/198231/07/1992
satisfied
Barclays
Barclays Bank PLC
Legal charge2 properties20/08/198219/11/2010
satisfied
Barclays
Barclays Bank PLC
Debenture1 property04/06/198019/11/2010

Recent filings (117 total)

confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-01-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2025-12-24
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-09-19
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-01-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2024-12-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-01-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2023-12-21
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-02-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2022-12-21
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-01-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-12-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-03-04
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-01-05
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-01-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2019-12-23