ACORN WORKS LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
03622898 · ltd · incorporated 1998-08-27
Investment thesis
Well-run mature business — low negotiation leverage; premium likely.
Why interesting: Textbook target; clean filings, stable trading.
Why risky: No pressure on seller; any deal likely at full price.
Opportunity decay
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 25.8y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to May 2025
Net worth
£89.0k
book net assets
Opportunity
83/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Other construction installation
Sector: Construction
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with exceptional profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 83/100 (exceptional), bankability 65/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Discharge stale live charges. 4 live charge(s) created 15+ years ago — likely paid but undischarged. Clean register. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
5 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 25.8y
50/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Oldest live charge is 25.8 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (79/100)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
5 charges (5/5 with lender, 5/5 with type)
90
Directors & officers
8 officers (3 active, 8 linked, 6 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
1 connected companies via shared directors
48
Filing history
96 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
83/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
85
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declaredPositive net assets
Net assets £89,045
Net assets shrinking
Down £14,360 YoY
Cash YoY
+0%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£107k
~ YoY
Net Worth
£89k
↓ 14% YoY
Current Assets
£167k
↑ 10% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-05-31 | 2024-05-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £104.0k | £138.3k |
| Current assets | £166.9k | £151.5k |
| Cash | £107.4k | £107.2k |
| Debtors | £51.7k | £42.5k |
| Net assets | £89.0k | £103.4k |
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
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (40 events)Click to expand
- 2025-09-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-11-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2024-01-17📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2024-01-08📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-01-08📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-01-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2022-09-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2022-08-22📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-08-22📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-08-16➕DAVIS, Patrick Charles appointeddirector
- 2022-08-16➕REYNOLDS, Liam Christopher Joel appointeddirector
- 2022-05-03📄capital-name-of-class-of-sharescapital · SH08
- 2022-04-26📄capital-allotment-sharescapital · SH01
- 2022-01-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-08-18📄capital-return-purchase-own-sharescapital · SH03
- 2021-06-14📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2021-06-11📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2021-05-17📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2021-05-17📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2021-05-17📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2021-05-11➖MITCHELL, Paul Andrew resigneddirector
- 2021-05-04📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2021-05-04🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2020-09-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-01-16🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Barclays Security Trustee Limited
- 2015-07-31➖FOREMAN, Neil Anthony resignedsecretary
- 2010-07-23➖JACKSON, Paul Marcus resigneddirector
- 2008-10-01➕TOMLIN, Stephen Bruce appointeddirector
- 2008-10-01➕JACKSON, Paul Marcus appointeddirector
- 2008-10-01➖MILLS, Christopher Harrington resigneddirector
- 2004-01-08🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Breckland District Council
- 2002-09-12🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Breckland District Council
- 2001-05-04🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Breckland District Council
- 2000-09-18🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Breckland District Council
- 1999-11-17➕MILLS, Christopher Harrington appointeddirector
- 1998-08-27🏢Company incorporatedAs ACORN WORKS LIMITED
- 1998-08-27➕FOREMAN, Neil Anthony appointedsecretary
- 1998-08-27➕SWIFT INCORPORATIONS LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1998-08-27➖SWIFT INCORPORATIONS LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1998-08-27➕MITCHELL, Paul Andrew appointeddirector
Owner dependency
68/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 18 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 62 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
63/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 62. Early succession window.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 18 years.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 28 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
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Stephen Bruce Tomlin Individual · British · DOB 05/1964 · age 62 | 50–75% | 50–75% | board control50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mr Paul Andrew Mitchellceased 11/05/2021· 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · board control
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 →Similar companies
Active · Construction · PE postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A CLASS SERVICES HOME AND GARDEN LTD→ 15578912 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| A D MILLS KITCHENS & BATHROOMS LIMITED→ 10715616 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| ABI BUILDING & RESTORATION LTD→ 07749738 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| ABLEWOOD LTD→ 05249225 · est 2004 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 21y | — | — |
| ACORN TREE CARE & LANDSCAPES (CAMBS) LTD→ 11178366 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| ACOUSTIC CLARITY LTD→ 16871528 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ACTIV 143 LTD→ 14791864 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ACTONDEV LIMITED→ 15346346 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ACW KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS LTD→ 07879945 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| AD CARPETS FLOORING AND BLINDS LTD→ 13567918 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ADAM J COOPER LTD→ 09854306 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| ADAMIST LTD→ 15655974 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1998-08-27
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC43290 — Other construction installation
Registered office
37 Turbine Way
Ecotech Innovation Business Park
Swaffham
Norfolk
PE37 7XD
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-02-28
Last made up to: 2025-05-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-09-02
Last: 2025-08-19
Officers (3 active · 5 resigned)
DAVIS, Patrick Charles→
Activedirector · ~41y · appointed 2022-08-16
View their other companies + combined net worth →
REYNOLDS, Liam Christopher Joel→
Activedirector · ~34y · appointed 2022-08-16
View their other companies + combined net worth →
TOMLIN, Stephen Bruce→
Activedirector · ~62y · appointed 2008-10-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FOREMAN, Neil Anthony→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1998-08-27 · resigned 2015-07-31
SWIFT INCORPORATIONS LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1998-08-27 · resigned 1998-08-27
JACKSON, Paul Marcus→
Resigneddirector · ~60y · appointed 2008-10-01 · resigned 2010-07-23
MILLS, Christopher Harrington→
Resigneddirector · ~60y · appointed 1999-11-17 · resigned 2008-10-01
MITCHELL, Paul Andrew→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 1998-08-27 · resigned 2021-05-11
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
5
Total charges
4
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:5 of 5 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Security Trustee Limited | A registered charge | — | 16/01/2019 | 04/05/2021 | |
| outstanding | Breckland District Council | Tenancy agreement | 1 property | 08/01/2004 | — | |
| outstanding | Breckland District Council | Tenancy agreement | 1 property | 12/09/2002 | — | |
| outstanding | Breckland District Council | Tenency agreement | 1 property | 04/05/2001 | — | |
| outstanding | Breckland District Council | Charge | 1 property | 18/09/2000 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (96 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-08-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2024-11-07
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-08-20
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2024-01-17
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-01-08
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-01-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2024-01-03
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-08-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2022-09-06
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-08-23
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2022-08-22
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2022-08-22
capital-name-of-class-of-shares
capital · SH08
2022-05-03
capital-allotment-shares
capital · SH01
2022-04-26