ABSOLUTE RETURN FOR KIDS (ARK)
🌳Matureactive
04589451 · private-limited-guarant-nsc-limited-exemption · incorporated 2002-11-13
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.
Opportunity decay
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 16.4y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
82/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Educational support services
Sector: Education
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 69-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 82/100 (exceptional), bankability 80/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 69). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Discharge stale live charges. 1 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
1 live charge · oldest 16.4y
65/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Oldest live charge is 16.4 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Single lender — cleanest path to refinance.
- · Legal-friction score 30/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: low (52/100)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
1 charges (1/1 with lender, 1/1 with type)
90
Directors & officers
22 officers (5 active, 22 linked, 14 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
No PSCs filed (unusual — worth investigating)
35
Director network
16 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
110 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
82/100Exceptional
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
82
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
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (59 events)Click to expand
- 2025-05-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2024-09-27➕GODFREY, Kathryn Anna appointedsecretary
- 2024-09-27➖MANNION, Megan resignedsecretary
- 2024-09-27📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2024-09-27📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2024-09-10📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2024-09-09📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2024-09-09📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2024-05-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2024-05-24➖DAWSON, Elizabeth resignedsecretary
- 2024-05-24➕MANNION, Megan appointedsecretary
- 2024-05-24📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2024-05-24📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2023-06-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2022-05-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2021-06-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2020-09-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2020-07-14📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2020-02-19➕DAWSON, Elizabeth appointedsecretary
- 2020-02-19➖SANDALL, Michael resignedsecretary
- 2020-02-19📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2020-02-19📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2019-12-04📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2019-10-15📄auditors-resignation-companyauditors · AUD
- 2019-03-30➖WILLIAMS, Anthony Geraint resigneddirector
- 2018-11-08➕CLAKE, Anthony Peter appointeddirector
- 2018-07-31➖GUNDLE, Kevin Roy resigneddirector
- 2018-04-07➖MOSES, Jennifer resigneddirector
- 2017-08-02➖DUNNING, Paul Fraser resigneddirector
- 2016-07-05➖JENKINS, Nicholas David resigneddirector
- 2016-07-05➖TOMLINSON, Blaine John resigneddirector
- 2015-11-16➖BUSSON, Andre Arpad Pascal Cyril resigneddirector
- 2015-11-16➖PLATT, Michael Edward resigneddirector
- 2012-09-25➕JENKINS, Nicholas David appointeddirector
- 2011-07-06➖MYNERS, Paul, Lord resigneddirector
- 2010-11-30➕MYNERS, Paul, Lord appointeddirector
- 2010-09-28➕WILLIAMS, Anthony Geraint appointeddirector
- 2010-03-15➖GORTON, David Michael resigneddirector
- 2010-01-05🔒Charge registered #1Lender: A & a Kingsway Holdings Limited
- 2009-06-30➕PLATT, Michael Edward appointeddirector
- 2009-03-24➖BERNSTEIN, Paul resignedsecretary
- 2009-03-24➕SANDALL, Michael appointedsecretary
- 2009-01-30➖BROWN, Stephen John resignedsecretary
- 2009-01-29➕BERNSTEIN, Paul appointedsecretary
- 2007-07-19➕GORTON, David Michael appointeddirector
- 2006-03-03➕BROWN, Stephen John appointedsecretary
- 2006-03-03➖VIGGERS, Gordon David resignedsecretary
- 2004-04-26➕FINK, Stanley, Lord appointeddirector
- 2003-03-11➖BRADLEY, Steven John resignedsecretary
- 2003-03-11➕VIGGERS, Gordon David appointedsecretary
Showing most recent 50 of 59 events
Owner dependency
65/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 24 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 69 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
70/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 69. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 24 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.
Red flags
1 lowMultiple registered office changes
lowMultiple address changes in a short period can indicate operational instability or admin disorder.
🔒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 · Education & training · W postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100DAYSOFNOCODE LTD→ 12763351 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| 1987 COMMITTEE LTD→ 16555138 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3DOM EDUCATION LTD→ 15133385 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 54 AFRICAN DRIVES IMPACT CIC→ 16947794 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A786EDUCATION LTD→ 11774266 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| AARYA EDUCATION SERVICES LIMITED→ 13861061 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ABACUS ARK HOLDINGS LTD→ 15816598 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ABLE TUTORS LTD→ 15105704 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ABM FINTECH TECHNOLOGY UK LTD→ 13588218 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| ABS BRIDGE LTD→ 12163543 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| ABUNDANCE ARTS→ 04042960 · est 2000 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 25y | — | — |
| ABZORB.IT LTD→ 12547437 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
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
Typeprivate-limited-guarant-nsc-limited-exemption
Incorporated2002-11-13
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC85600 — Educational support services
Registered office
1 Edcity Edcity Walk
London
W12 7TF
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-05-31
Last made up to: 2024-08-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-11-28
Last: 2025-11-14
Officers (5 active · 17 resigned)
GODFREY, Kathryn Anna→
Activesecretary · appointed 2024-09-27
View their other companies + combined net worth →
CLAKE, Anthony Peter→
Activedirector · ~46y · appointed 2018-11-08
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FINK, Stanley, Lord→
Activedirector · ~69y · appointed 2004-04-26
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MARSHALL, Paul Roderick Clucas→
Activedirector · ~67y · appointed 2002-11-13
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WACE, Ian Gerald Patrick→
Activedirector · ~63y · appointed 2002-11-13
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BERNSTEIN, Paul→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2009-01-29 · resigned 2009-03-24
BRADLEY, Steven John→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2002-11-13 · resigned 2003-03-11
BROWN, Stephen John→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2006-03-03 · resigned 2009-01-30
DAWSON, Elizabeth→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2020-02-19 · resigned 2024-05-24
MANNION, Megan→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2024-05-24 · resigned 2024-09-27
SANDALL, Michael→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2009-03-24 · resigned 2020-02-19
VIGGERS, Gordon David→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-03-11 · resigned 2006-03-03
BUSSON, Andre Arpad Pascal Cyril→
Resigneddirector · ~63y · appointed 2002-11-13 · resigned 2015-11-16
DUNNING, Paul Fraser→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2002-11-13 · resigned 2017-08-02
GORTON, David Michael→
Resigneddirector · ~63y · appointed 2007-07-19 · resigned 2010-03-15
GUNDLE, Kevin Roy→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2002-11-13 · resigned 2018-07-31
JENKINS, Nicholas David→
Resigneddirector · ~59y · appointed 2012-09-25 · resigned 2016-07-05
MOSES, Jennifer→
Resigneddirector · ~65y · appointed 2002-11-13 · resigned 2018-04-07
MYNERS, Paul, Lord→
Resigneddirector · ~78y · appointed 2010-11-30 · resigned 2011-07-06
PLATT, Michael Edward→
Resigneddirector · ~58y · appointed 2009-06-30 · resigned 2015-11-16
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
1
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:1 of 1 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | A & a Kingsway Holdings A & a Kingsway Holdings Limited | Rent security deposit deed | 1 property | 05/01/2010 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (110 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-11-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2025-05-19
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-11-14
appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
officers · AP03
2024-09-27
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2024-09-27
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2024-09-10
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2024-09-09
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2024-09-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2024-05-29
appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
officers · AP03
2024-05-24
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2024-05-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-11-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2023-06-08
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-11-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2022-05-30