BLUE DIAMOND ENGINEERING LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
02090988 · ltd · incorporated 1987-01-19
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
£53.2k
book net assets
Opportunity
71/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Machining
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
Special-situation opportunityDistressed manufacturing with salvageable qualities — special-situations priority.
Opportunity 71/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (65/100, director aged 62). Asset purchase likely safer than share purchase given structural signals. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 11 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
9 live charges · 8 lenders · oldest 39.2y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 39.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 8 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (78/100)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
9 charges (9/9 with lender, 9/9 with type)
90
Directors & officers
10 officers (2 active, 10 linked, 8 with DOB)
86
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
138 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
71/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
59
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102Positive net assets
Net assets £53,235
Net assets shrinking
Down £213,208 YoY
Cash YoY
+382%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£19k
↑ 382% YoY
Net Worth
£53k
↓ 80% YoY
Current Assets
£705k
↓ 14% YoY
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £1.44M | £1.64M |
| Current assets | £705.1k | £823.4k |
| Cash | £19.0k | £3.9k |
| Debtors | £561.1k | £694.5k |
| Net assets | £53.2k | £266.4k |
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
6
filings
- • 2 accounts
- • 2 officers
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (54 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2026-04-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2026-02-18📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2026-02-16📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2026-02-16📄change-person-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH03
- 2025-06-05➖BROWN, Bonnie Lorna resigneddirector
- 2025-06-05➖BROWN, Robert William resigneddirector
- 2025-06-05📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-06-05📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-03-05📄gazette-filings-brought-up-to-dategazette · DISS40
- 2025-03-04📄gazette-notice-compulsorygazette · GAZ1
- 2024-10-04📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-02-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2023-09-08📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-04-05➖HEDLEY, Jonathan James resigneddirector
- 2023-02-16📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2023-02-09🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Investacc Pension Trustees Limited
- 2023-01-17➕BROWN, Bonnie Lorna appointeddirector
- 2023-01-17➕BROWN, Robert William appointeddirector
- 2023-01-17➕HEDLEY, Jonathan James appointeddirector
- 2023-01-17📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-01-17📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-01-17📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-12-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2022-12-14📄capital-return-purchase-own-sharescapital · SH03
- 2022-12-06📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-12-06🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2022-11-18📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-11-14📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2022-11-11📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2022-11-03➖HEDLEY, John Charles resigneddirector
- 2017-01-09🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Investacc Pension Trustees Limited, Carol Jean Brown, John Charles Hedley and Pauline Virginia Hedley as Trustees of the Blue Diamond Engineering LTD Pension Scheme
- 2014-02-21🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance LTD
- 2011-05-11🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2011-05-11🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2011-05-11🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2011-05-11🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2006-06-21🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Alex. Lawrie Receivables Financing Limited
- 2004-01-14🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Alex Lawrie Receivables Financing Limited
- 2001-07-01➕BROWN, Carol Jean appointedsecretary
- 2001-06-30➖BURN, Dorothy resignedsecretary
- 2001-06-30➖BURN, Dorothy resigneddirector
- 2000-05-31➖BURN, Brian William resigneddirector
- 1999-01-19🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Alex Lawrie Receivables Financing Limited
- 1998-08-12➖WATSON, Paul resigneddirector
- 1995-09-16🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 1995-07-06🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 1995-05-31➕BROWN, Carol Jean appointeddirector
- 1995-05-31➕HEDLEY, John Charles appointeddirector
- 1995-05-31➕WATSON, Paul appointeddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 54 events
Owner dependency
93/100
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
- +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 31 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 62 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
80/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 62. Early succession window.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 31 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 40 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
Red flags
1 high · 1 med ·Confirmation statement overdue
highAnnual confirmation statement not filed on time. Required statutory filing — overdue is a strong discipline signal.
Evidence: Next due: 2026-07-14
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mrs Carol Jean Brown Individual · British · DOB 10/1964 · age 62 | 50–75% | 50–75% | board control50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · board control | 01/07/2016 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mr John Charles Hedleyceased 03/11/2022· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
Similar companies
Active · Manufacturing · DL postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AYCLIFFE FABRICATIONS LIMITED→ 04310888 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 24y | — | — |
| BDE SOLUTIONS LTD→ 16495969 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BS FABRICATIONS LIMITED→ 02673334 · est 1991 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 34y | — | — |
| BTL TIMBER AND HARDWARE LIMITED→ 06533279 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| BTS FABRICATIONS LIMITED→ 05724242 · est 2006 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 20y | — | — |
| BUILD MY RIG LTD→ 17033752 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BULLET LINER UK LTD→ 14779569 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| BUSH INTERIORS LTD→ 13933077 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| C & A AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING LIMITED→ 06339893 · est 2007 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| C. C. JENSEN LIMITED→ 02504210 · est 1990 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 35y | — | — |
| C&A EMBROIDERY AND PRINT LTD→ 12193380 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| CABCO MANUFACTURING LTD→ 16769698 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
8 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
Incorporated1987-01-19
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC25620 — Machining
Registered office
Factory Bt 6/9
Shildon Industrial Estate
Shildon
County Durham
DL4 2QN
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-07-14OVERDUE
Last: 2025-06-30
Officers (2 active · 8 resigned)
Active
BROWN, Carol Jean→
Activedirector · ~62y · appointed 1995-05-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BURN, Dorothy→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2001-06-30
BROWN, Bonnie Lorna→
Resigneddirector · ~29y · appointed 2023-01-17 · resigned 2025-06-05
BROWN, Robert William→
Resigneddirector · ~28y · appointed 2023-01-17 · resigned 2025-06-05
BURN, Brian William→
Resigneddirector · ~87y · resigned 2000-05-31
BURN, Dorothy→
Resigneddirector · ~85y · resigned 2001-06-30
HEDLEY, John Charles→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 1995-05-31 · resigned 2022-11-03
HEDLEY, Jonathan James→
Resigneddirector · ~40y · appointed 2023-01-17 · resigned 2023-04-05
WATSON, Paul→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 1995-05-31 · resigned 1998-08-12
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
9
Total charges
2
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:9 of 9 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Investacc Pension Trustees / Carol Jean Brown / John Charles Hedley / Pauline Virginia Hedley Investacc Pension Trustees Limited / Carol Jean Brown / John Charles Hedley / Pauline Virginia Hedley | A registered charge | — | 09/02/2023 | — | |
| satisfied | Investacc Pension Trustees , Carol Jean Brown, John Charles Hedley and Pauline Virginia Hedley as Trustees of the Blue Diamond Engineering Pension Scheme Investacc Pension Trustees Limited, Carol Jean Brown, John Charles Hedley and Pauline Virginia Hedley as Trustees of the Blue Diamond Engineering LTD Pension Scheme | A registered charge | — | 09/01/2017 | 06/12/2022 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance LTD | A registered charge | 1 property | 21/02/2014 | — | |
| satisfied | Alex. Lawrie Receivables Financing Alex. Lawrie Receivables Financing Limited | Chattel mortgage | 1 property | 21/06/2006 | 11/05/2011 | |
| satisfied | Alex Lawrie Receivables Financing Alex Lawrie Receivables Financing Limited | All assets debenture | 1 property | 14/01/2004 | 11/05/2011 | |
| satisfied | Alex Lawrie Receivables Financing Alex Lawrie Receivables Financing Limited | First fixed charge & floating charge | 1 property | 19/01/1999 | 11/05/2011 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | Single debenture | 1 property | 06/07/1995 | 11/05/2011 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Guarantee & debenture | 1 property | 24/10/1989 | 16/09/1995 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 01/06/1987 | 17/09/1990 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (138 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2026-04-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2026-04-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-09
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2026-02-18
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2026-02-16
change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
officers · CH03
2026-02-16
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-06-05
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-06-05
gazette-filings-brought-up-to-date
gazette · DISS40
2025-03-05
gazette-notice-compulsory
gazette · GAZ1
2025-03-04
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-10-04
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-09-10
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2024-02-22
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-09-22
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-09-08