ACCESS DRILLING SERVICES LTD.

💤Zombieactive
02802240 · ltd · incorporated 1993-03-22
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
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
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: Other specialised construction activities n.e.c.
Sector: Construction
Investor take
Pursue
Strong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and bankable structure.

Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 80/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. 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 (58/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

2 live charges · oldest 9.8y

45/100
under pressure

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

  • · Oldest live charge is 9.8 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
  • · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.

Data confidence

Overall: low (46/100)

Sparse data coverage. Treat AI-generated outputs as preliminary. Manual diligence essential.

Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
2 charges (2/2 with lender, 2/2 with type)
90
Directors & officers
11 officers (1 active, 11 linked, 7 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
No PSCs filed (unusual — worth investigating)
35
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
106 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
60
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Recent activity

Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
1
filing
  • • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (40 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-02-12
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  2. 2025-10-29
    📄
    gazette-filings-brought-up-to-date
    gazette · DISS40
  3. 2025-10-28
    📄
    gazette-notice-compulsory
    gazette · GAZ1
  4. 2025-02-12
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  5. 2023-10-18
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  6. 2023-02-15
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  7. 2022-02-02
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  8. 2021-11-08
    📄
    termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM02
  9. 2021-11-08
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  10. 2021-08-11
    ➖
    NADIN, Marie resigned
    secretary
  11. 2021-08-11
    ➖
    NADIN, Marie resigned
    director
  12. 2020-10-23
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  13. 2020-04-30
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  14. 2020-04-30
    📄
    change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH03
  15. 2019-11-10
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  16. 2019-01-08
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  17. 2018-05-14
    📍
    change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
    address · AD01
  18. 2018-01-31
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  19. 2016-10-21
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
  20. 2016-10-14
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
  21. 2011-06-24
    ➖
    WILLIAMS, John Michael resigned
    director
  22. 2011-06-24
    ➖
    WILLIAMS, Pauline resigned
    director
  23. 2004-01-02
    ➕
    BANCROFT, Paul Oliver appointed
    director
  24. 2004-01-02
    ➕
    NADIN, Marie appointed
    secretary
  25. 2004-01-02
    ➖
    SIMONS, Penny Marie resigned
    secretary
  26. 2004-01-02
    ➕
    NADIN, Marie appointed
    director
  27. 2004-01-02
    ➖
    SHIELDS, Brendan resigned
    director
  28. 2004-01-02
    ➖
    SIMONS, Mark Roger resigned
    director
  29. 2004-01-02
    ➕
    WILLIAMS, John Michael appointed
    director
  30. 2004-01-02
    ➕
    WILLIAMS, Pauline appointed
    director
  31. 2000-06-01
    ➖
    SIMONS, Gordon Ernest resigned
    director
  32. 1994-03-01
    ➕
    SIMONS, Gordon Ernest appointed
    director
  33. 1993-04-01
    ➕
    SIMONS, Penny Marie appointed
    secretary
  34. 1993-04-01
    ➖
    BRITANNIA COMPANY FORMATIONS LIMITED resigned
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  35. 1993-04-01
    ➕
    SHIELDS, Brendan appointed
    director
  36. 1993-04-01
    ➕
    SIMONS, Mark Roger appointed
    director
  37. 1993-04-01
    ➖
    DEANSGATE COMPANY FORMATIONS LIMITED resigned
    corporate-nominee-director
  38. 1993-03-22
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As ACCESS DRILLING SERVICES LTD.
  39. 1993-03-22
    ➕
    BRITANNIA COMPANY FORMATIONS LIMITED appointed
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  40. 1993-03-22
    ➕
    DEANSGATE COMPANY FORMATIONS LIMITED appointed
    corporate-nominee-director

Owner dependency

85/100
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.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 23 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.

Succession & seller-readiness

75/100
Likely off-market candidate

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

SIGNALS
  • primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
  • primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 23 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 33 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

clean
No red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)

Similar companies

Active · Construction · SK postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
A3H DEVELOPMENTS LTD→
14609774 · est 2023 · no financials extracted
————3y——
AA PLUS PLUMBING LTD→
12028585 · est 2019 · no financials extracted
————6y——
ABBOTT FLOORING PROJECTS LIMITED→
14002734 · est 2022 · no financials extracted
————4y——
ABODE DESIGN & BUILD LTD→
11401786 · est 2018 · no financials extracted
————7y——
ABODE ELECTRICAL LTD→
11582627 · est 2018 · no financials extracted
————7y——
ABODE PD LIMITED→
13801708 · est 2021 · no financials extracted
————4y——
ABODE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT LTD→
09775844 · est 2015 · no financials extracted
————10y——
ABS PLUMBING&HEATING LTD→
16303994 · est 2025 · no financials extracted
————1y——
ABSOLUTE PLANTATION SHUTTERS LIMITED→
09298600 · est 2014 · no financials extracted
————11y——
ACAELIA HOME DESIGN LTD→
11603172 · est 2018 · no financials extracted
————7y——
ACCOYA JOINERY LTD→
10891625 · est 2017 · no financials extracted
————8y——
ACCOYA WINDOWS LTD→
10890671 · est 2017 · no financials extracted
————8y——
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
Incorporated1993-03-22
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC43999 — Other specialised construction activities n.e.c.

Registered office

Unit 6 Marsh Lane Industrial Estate Marsh Lane
New Mills
High Peak
SK22 4PP
England

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2027-02-28
Last made up to: 2025-05-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-25
Last: 2025-08-11

Officers (1 active · 10 resigned)

BANCROFT, Paul Oliver→
director · ~55y · appointed 2004-01-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
NADIN, Marie→
secretary · appointed 2004-01-02 · resigned 2021-08-11
Resigned
SIMONS, Penny Marie→
secretary · appointed 1993-04-01 · resigned 2004-01-02
Resigned
BRITANNIA COMPANY FORMATIONS LIMITED→
corporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1993-03-22 · resigned 1993-04-01
Resigned
NADIN, Marie→
director · ~53y · appointed 2004-01-02 · resigned 2021-08-11
Resigned
SHIELDS, Brendan→
director · ~74y · appointed 1993-04-01 · resigned 2004-01-02
Resigned
SIMONS, Gordon Ernest→
director · ~92y · appointed 1994-03-01 · resigned 2000-06-01
Resigned
SIMONS, Mark Roger→
director · ~64y · appointed 1993-04-01 · resigned 2004-01-02
Resigned
WILLIAMS, John Michael→
director · ~77y · appointed 2004-01-02 · resigned 2011-06-24
Resigned
WILLIAMS, Pauline→
director · ~77y · appointed 2004-01-02 · resigned 2011-06-24
Resigned
DEANSGATE COMPANY FORMATIONS LIMITED→
corporate-nominee-director · appointed 1993-03-22 · resigned 1993-04-01
Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

2
Total charges
2
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:2 of 2 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
A registered charge1 property21/10/2016—
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
A registered charge—14/10/2016—
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (106 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2026-02-12
gazette-filings-brought-up-to-date
gazette · DISS40
2025-10-29
gazette-notice-compulsory
gazette · GAZ1
2025-10-28
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-02-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-10-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-09-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-02-15
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-09-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-02-02
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2021-11-08
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-11-08
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2021-11-08
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-06-02