A BETTER SERVICE LTD

🌳Matureactive
03186899 · ltd · incorporated 1996-04-16
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Dec 2025
Net worth
£2.49M
book net assets
Opportunity
74/100
Strong
🔔
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What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 38210
Sector: Water supply & waste
Investor take
Pursue
Strong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.

Opportunity 74/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 3 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: strategic trade sale (63/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

3 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 26.2y

30/100
under pressure

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

  • · Oldest live charge is 26.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
  • · Cashflow trend is negative — lender view likely cautious.

Data confidence

Overall: high (82/100)

Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.

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
3 charges (3/3 with lender, 3/3 with type)
90
Directors & officers
13 officers (3 active, 13 linked, 9 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
9 connected companies via shared directors
72
Filing history
131 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
74/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

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

Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
50
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
85
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 £2,492,383
Net assets shrinking
Down £2,820,309 YoY
Cash draining
Cash down 82% YoY
Cash YoY
-82%
Year on year

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
£337k
↓ 82% YoY
Net Worth
£2.5m
↓ 53% YoY
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
£0£1.1m£2.1m£3.2m£4.3m£5.3mDec 2024Dec 2025

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown
Metric2025-12-312024-12-31
Cash£337.4k£1.89M
Net assets£2.49M£5.31M

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

🔒Filing-note intelligence

2 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
2
filings
  • • 1 accounts
  • • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
2
filings
  • • 1 accounts
  • • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (52 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-05-05
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  2. 2025-07-02
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  3. 2025-05-07
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
  4. 2025-02-03
    📄
    change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
    accounts · AA01
  5. 2025-01-23
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  6. 2024-12-18
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  7. 2024-10-31
    ➖
    BICKNELL, Darren John resigned
    director
  8. 2024-05-07
    📄
    memorandum-articles
    incorporation · MA
  9. 2024-05-07
    📄
    statement-of-companys-objects
    change-of-constitution · CC04
  10. 2024-05-07
    📄
    resolution
    resolution · RESOLUTIONS
  11. 2024-05-04
    📄
    second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-date
    confirmation-statement · RP04CS01
  12. 2024-05-02
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  13. 2024-05-02
    📄
    termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM02
  14. 2024-05-02
    📄
    mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
    mortgage · MR01
  15. 2024-05-01
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  16. 2024-05-01
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  17. 2024-05-01
    📄
    notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
  18. 2024-05-01
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  19. 2024-05-01
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  20. 2024-05-01
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  21. 2024-05-01
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  22. 2024-05-01
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  23. 2024-04-30
    ➕
    BACON, Edmund Anthony appointed
    director
  24. 2024-04-30
    ➕
    MOUNSEY-HEYSHAM, Ben appointed
    director
  25. 2024-04-30
    ➕
    NELSON, Thomas Phillip appointed
    director
  26. 2024-04-30
    ➖
    BICKNELL, Darren John resigned
    secretary
  27. 2024-04-30
    ➖
    BICKNELL, Gary Michael resigned
    director
  28. 2024-04-30
    ➖
    BICKNELL, Katrina resigned
    director
  29. 2024-04-30
    ➖
    COBB, Claire Anne resigned
    director
  30. 2024-04-30
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: Darren John Bicknell
  31. 2024-04-18
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  32. 2024-04-18
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  33. 2024-03-25
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  34. 2021-04-23
    ➕
    BICKNELL, Katrina appointed
    director
  35. 2021-04-23
    ➕
    COBB, Claire Anne appointed
    director
  36. 2015-11-06
    ➖
    BICKNELL, Michael resigned
    director
  37. 2014-06-03
    ➖
    BICKNELL, Carol resigned
    secretary
  38. 2014-06-03
    ➕
    BICKNELL, Darren John appointed
    secretary
  39. 2014-06-03
    ➖
    BICKNELL, Carol resigned
    director
  40. 2010-04-08
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  41. 2006-10-14
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  42. 2003-03-01
    ➕
    BICKNELL, Darren John appointed
    director
  43. 2003-03-01
    ➕
    BICKNELL, Gary Michael appointed
    director
  44. 2000-04-04
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  45. 1996-04-18
    ➕
    BICKNELL, Carol appointed
    secretary
  46. 1996-04-18
    ➖
    BRIGHTON SECRETARY LIMITED resigned
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  47. 1996-04-18
    ➕
    BICKNELL, Carol appointed
    director
  48. 1996-04-18
    ➕
    BICKNELL, Michael appointed
    director
  49. 1996-04-18
    ➖
    BRIGHTON DIRECTOR LIMITED resigned
    corporate-nominee-director
  50. 1996-04-16
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As A BETTER SERVICE LTD
Showing most recent 50 of 52 events

Owner dependency

50/100
Moderate — manageable with handover

Some founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.

Succession & seller-readiness

30/100
Weak signal

Limited succession signal. Not a near-term off-market candidate.

Red flags

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

Group structure

Cleanstream Group Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.

🏛️
Cleanstream Group Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
ultimate parent
⬇
A BETTER SERVICE LTD
This company · 03186899

Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Cleanstream Group Limited
Corporate entity
75–100%
75–100%board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control30/04/2024
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
  • Mr Darren John Bicknellceased 30/04/2024· 25-50% shares
  • Mr Gary Michael Bicknellceased 30/04/2024· 25-50% shares

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

🔒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 →

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Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions

6 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
Incorporated1996-04-16
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC38210 — SIC 38210

Registered office

The Homestead
Park Lane
Charvil
Berkshire
RG10 9TR

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2027-09-30
Last made up to: 2025-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-04-30
Last: 2026-04-16

Officers (3 active · 10 resigned)

BACON, Edmund Anthony→
director · ~40y · appointed 2024-04-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MOUNSEY-HEYSHAM, Ben→
director · ~40y · appointed 2024-04-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
NELSON, Thomas Phillip→
director · ~35y · appointed 2024-04-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BICKNELL, Carol→
secretary · appointed 1996-04-18 · resigned 2014-06-03
Resigned
BICKNELL, Darren John→
secretary · appointed 2014-06-03 · resigned 2024-04-30
Resigned
BRIGHTON SECRETARY LIMITED→
corporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1996-04-16 · resigned 1996-04-18
Resigned
BICKNELL, Carol→
director · ~80y · appointed 1996-04-18 · resigned 2014-06-03
Resigned
BICKNELL, Darren John→
director · ~57y · appointed 2003-03-01 · resigned 2024-10-31
Resigned
BICKNELL, Gary Michael→
director · ~59y · appointed 2003-03-01 · resigned 2024-04-30
Resigned
BICKNELL, Katrina→
director · ~55y · appointed 2021-04-23 · resigned 2024-04-30
Resigned
BICKNELL, Michael→
director · ~84y · appointed 1996-04-18 · resigned 2015-11-06
Resigned
COBB, Claire Anne→
director · ~50y · appointed 2021-04-23 · resigned 2024-04-30
Resigned
BRIGHTON DIRECTOR LIMITED→
corporate-nominee-director · appointed 1996-04-16 · resigned 1996-04-18
Resigned

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

Mortgages & charges

3
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:3 of 3 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
Darren John Bicknell / Gary Michael Bicknell
A registered charge—30/04/2024—
satisfied
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Debenture1 property08/04/201025/03/2024
satisfied
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Mortgage debenture1 property04/04/200014/10/2006
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (131 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2026-05-05
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-16
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-07-02
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
2025-05-07
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-04-30
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
accounts · AA01
2025-02-03
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-01-23
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-12-18
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2024-05-07
statement-of-companys-objects
change-of-constitution · CC04
2024-05-07
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2024-05-07
second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-date
confirmation-statement · RP04CS01
2024-05-04
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2024-05-02
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2024-05-02
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2024-05-02