BICKFORD TRUCK HIRE LIMITED
📉Decliningactive
01537775 · ltd · incorporated 1981-01-08
Investment thesis
Looks cheap but ownership + security both unclear — probable value trap.
Why interesting: Headline metrics may be attractive.
Why risky: No PSC visibility combined with multiple live charges; transacting likely slow and expensive.
Opportunity decay
drifting distress · 6-months
Drifting toward distress — expect more negotiability in 3–6 months, but also more friction.
- · Lifecycle stage drifting downward
- · Currently "declining"
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
£8.58M
year to Mar 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 45200
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueLeverage-led grower with a 90-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 90). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 5 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: strategic trade sale (78/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
8 live charges · 5 lenders · oldest 40.1y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 40.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 5 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 35/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (72/100)Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.
Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
8 charges (8/8 with lender, 8/8 with type)
90
Directors & officers
10 officers (4 active, 10 linked, 9 with DOB)
88
Ownership & PSC
No PSCs filed (unusual — worth investigating)
35
Director network
1 connected companies via shared directors
48
Filing history
132 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
🔒Estimated company valuation
Sector-multiple EBITDA, turnover, and NAV-proxy valuation range with confidence tier — derived from extracted iXBRL financials.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Opportunity Score
79/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
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 · FRS 102Profitable
Profit before tax £282,752
Turnover YoY
-9%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2025-03-31 | 2024-03-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover | £8.58M | £9.41M |
| Gross profit | £1.67M | £2.07M |
| Profit before tax | £282.8k | £589.7k |
| Average employees | 5300 | 5200 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
3 signals 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 (40 events)Click to expand
- 2025-10-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-12-11📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-11-30➖BICKFORD, Francis Roger resigneddirector
- 2023-07-10📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-09-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-09-21📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2022-09-21📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-09-21📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-09-21📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-03-01➖BICKFORD, John Richard resignedsecretary
- 2022-03-01➖BICKFORD, John Richard resigneddirector
- 2022-01-15➖BICKFORD, Morice Thelma resigneddirector
- 2021-12-22➖BICKFORD, Beryl May resigneddirector
- 2021-08-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-11-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-11-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-01-11📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2019-01-09🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Paccar Financial PLC
- 2018-12-05📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2018-12-05📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2018-09-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2012-08-13🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Man Financial Services PLC
- 2011-06-23🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2011-06-17🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2011-06-17🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2010-10-20🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2004-08-27➕BICKFORD, Margaret Ann appointeddirector
- 2004-08-27➕BICKFORD, Beryl May appointeddirector
- 2004-08-27➕BICKFORD, Morice Thelma appointeddirector
- 2004-08-02🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Man Financial Services PLC
- 2002-08-07➕BICKFORD, David Stewart appointeddirector
- 2002-08-07➕BICKFORD, Miles Richard appointeddirector
- 1998-07-30➖BICKFORD, Alan Charles resigneddirector
- 1998-07-30🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Midland Bank PLC
- 1998-07-30🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Midland Bank PLC
- 1996-06-18🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Hitachi Credit (U.K.) PLC
- 1993-08-25🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Barclays Mercantile Business Finance Limited
- 1986-05-23🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Midland Bank PLC
- 1981-01-08🏢Company incorporatedAs BICKFORD TRUCK HIRE LIMITED
Owner dependency
88/100
Critical — business is the founderThe business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.
FACTORS
- -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "BICKFORD" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 24 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 90 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
90/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 90 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 24 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 45 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
- supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.
Red flags
1 med ·Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
🔒Co-director network graph
Radial SVG graph showing every company connected via shared directors, colour-coded by status.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Similar companies
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.T.MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED→ 02493269 · est 1990 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 35y | — | — |
| BELLA CAR WASH LTD→ 16709699 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BERNARD FORTUNE SERVICES LIMITED→ 09313385 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| BEST CAR GARAGE LIMITED→ 12086990 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| BESTWAY MOTORS LTD→ 15305316 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| BIA-FARA HEALTHCARE AND GENERAL MERCHANDISE LIMITED→ 16550143 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BILLIONAIRE X LIMITED→ 16614350 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BILSTON AUTO SERVICES LTD→ 12437982 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| BILSTON CAR SALES LIMITED→ 16164519 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| BIRMINGHAM BRAKE SPECIALISTS LTD→ 06481486 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| BM AUTOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS LTD→ 07885799 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| BMOT NIG LIMITED→ 16911420 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
9 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
Incorporated1981-01-08
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC45200 — SIC 45200
Registered office
Paradise Lane, Off New Road
Featherstone
Wolverhampton
West Midlands
WV10 7NZ
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-11-21
Last: 2025-11-07
Officers (4 active · 6 resigned)
BICKFORD, David Stewart→
Activedirector · ~64y · appointed 2002-08-07
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BICKFORD, Margaret Ann→
Activedirector · ~90y · appointed 2004-08-27
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BICKFORD, Miles Richard→
Activedirector · ~60y · appointed 2002-08-07
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BICKFORD, John Richard→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2022-03-01
BICKFORD, Alan Charles→
Resigneddirector · ~82y · resigned 1998-07-30
BICKFORD, Beryl May→
Resigneddirector · ~91y · appointed 2004-08-27 · resigned 2021-12-22
BICKFORD, Francis Roger→
Resigneddirector · ~90y · resigned 2023-11-30
BICKFORD, John Richard→
Resigneddirector · ~88y · resigned 2022-03-01
BICKFORD, Morice Thelma→
Resigneddirector · ~81y · appointed 2004-08-27 · resigned 2022-01-15
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
8
Total charges
4
Outstanding
3
Active lenders
Status:Lender:8 of 8 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Paccar Financial Paccar Financial PLC | A registered charge | — | 09/01/2019 | — | |
| outstanding | Man Financial Services Man Financial Services PLC | Legal charge | 4 properties | 13/08/2012 | — | |
| satisfied | Man Financial Services Man Financial Services PLC | Floating and fixed charge | 1 property | 02/08/2004 | 20/10/2010 | |
| outstanding | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 30/07/1998 | — | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 30/07/1998 | 23/06/2011 | |
| satisfied | Hitachi Credit (U.K.) Hitachi Credit (U.K.) PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 18/06/1996 | 17/06/2011 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Mercantile Business Finance Limited | Assignment and charge | 1 property | 25/08/1993 | 17/06/2011 | |
| outstanding | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Fixed and floating charge | 1 property | 23/05/1986 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (132 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-11-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-10-31
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-12-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-07-09
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-12-11
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-12-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-07-10
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-12-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2022-09-26
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2022-09-21
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2022-09-21
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2022-09-21
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2022-09-21
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-12-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2021-08-27