WITHERSLACK TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
04899348 · ltd · incorporated 2003-09-15
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.
Why now
Window opening · high confidence
More negotiable than before — 3 signals weakening over the last 30 days.
- · Hygiene score: 85 → 65
- · Opportunity score: 77 → 68
- · Bankability: 77 → 67
- · Distress / opportunity: avoid → speculative
Opportunity decay
softening · 6-months
Softening — cumulative signals suggest this becomes more negotiable over the next 3–6 months.
- · 3 recent signals weakening vs 0 strengthening
What changed my view
Last 30 days
Picture worsened over the last 30 days — 3 negative signals vs 0 positive.
- ↓Opportunity score: 77 → 68
- ↓Hygiene score: 85 → 65
- ↓Bankability: 77 → 67
- ·Distress / opportunity: avoid → speculative
Last 90 days
No snapshot from 90 days ago — start tracking from today.
Last 180 days
No snapshot from 180 days ago — start tracking from today.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
68/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Post-secondary non-tertiary education
Sector: Education
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed active trading company — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 68/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (60/100, director aged 61). Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 3 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
3 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 15.5y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 15.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (59/100)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
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
3 charges (3/3 with lender, 3/3 with type)
90
Directors & officers
15 officers (2 active, 15 linked, 7 with DOB)
79
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
10 connected companies via shared directors
75
Filing history
108 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
68/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
70
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
59
Some moderate concerns — review 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 (56 events)Click to expand
- 2025-10-09📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-09-11➖FLETCHER-RAY, Tracey resigneddirector
- 2025-07-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2025-07-09📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2025-06-13📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2025-06-13📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2024-07-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-23📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2024-07-23📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2024-07-23📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2023-06-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2023-06-08📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2023-06-08📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2023-06-08📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2023-02-02📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-01-19📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2023-01-19📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-01-19📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-01-19📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2022-11-14➕FLETCHER-RAY, Tracey appointeddirector
- 2022-10-07➕BACON, Stephen appointedsecretary
- 2022-10-07➕BACON, Stephen appointeddirector
- 2022-10-07➖JONES, Judith resignedsecretary
- 2022-10-07➖JONES, Philip David resigneddirector
- 2022-05-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2022-05-31📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2022-05-31📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2021-09-02🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2020-01-17➖DYSON, Kevin Frederick resignedsecretary
- 2020-01-17➕JONES, Judith appointedsecretary
- 2018-09-05➖BAXTER, Craig resignedsecretary
- 2018-09-05➕DYSON, Kevin Frederick appointedsecretary
- 2017-09-04🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2017-08-24🔒Charge registered #3Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC as Security Agent
- 2014-12-23🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2014-12-11🔒Charge registered #2Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2013-10-21➕BAXTER, Craig appointedsecretary
- 2013-10-21➖JONES, Judith resignedsecretary
- 2011-08-30➖COUSINS, Anthony Walter resigneddirector
- 2011-06-15➕JONES, Judith appointedsecretary
- 2011-06-15➖SCAIFE, Sally resignedsecretary
- 2011-05-16➖BOWERS, James Francis resigneddirector
- 2011-01-28🔒Charge registered #1Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC (In Its Capacity as the Security Agent)
- 2010-05-06➖BRADY, Geoffrey resigneddirector
- 2008-07-24➖MILLS, Charles Gerard resigneddirector
- 2006-04-04➕BRADY, Geoffrey appointeddirector
- 2006-04-04➕JONES, Philip David appointeddirector
- 2006-04-04➕MILLS, Charles Gerard appointeddirector
- 2003-09-15🏢Company incorporatedAs WITHERSLACK TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
- 2003-09-15➕SCAIFE, Sally appointedsecretary
Showing most recent 50 of 56 events
Owner dependency
83/100
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.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 61 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
65/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 61. Early succession window.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 23 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: 2026-07-20
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Group structure
Witherslack Group Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Witherslack Group Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
WITHERSLACK TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
This company · 04899348
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%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Witherslack Group Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
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 · Education & training · LA postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLEAR PATHWAYS PROJECT C.I.C.→ 16221394 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| CREATIVE COMMUNITIES C.I.C.→ 11127011 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| CSS TRAINING AND CONSULTANCY LIMITED→ 15358022 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| CUMBRIA TEACHING AGENCY LIMITED→ 09466666 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| DECOMCONNECT LTD→ 07253022 · est 2010 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
| DROP ZONE YOUTH PROJECTS LTD.→ 06332726 · est 2007 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| EAGLE HOUSE (MITCHAM) LIMITED→ 06200956 · est 2007 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 19y | — | — |
| EDUCATION SMART LIMITED→ 07811969 · est 2011 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| ELEVATE HER COLLECTIVE CIC→ 16935253 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ELITE DANCE ASSOCIATES COMMUNITY CIC→ 16795926 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ELITE WOOL INDUSTRY TRAINING (UK) LTD→ 14634000 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ENRICH EDU UK LIMITED→ 16426644 · 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
Incorporated2003-09-15
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC85410 — Post-secondary non-tertiary education
Registered office
Lupton Tower
Lupton
Carnforth
Lancashire
LA6 2PR
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-08-31
Last made up to: 2024-08-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-07-20OVERDUE
Last: 2025-07-06
Officers (2 active · 13 resigned)
Active
BACON, Stephen→
Activedirector · ~61y · appointed 2022-10-07
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BAXTER, Craig→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2013-10-21 · resigned 2018-09-05
DYSON, Kevin Frederick→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2018-09-05 · resigned 2020-01-17
JONES, Judith→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2020-01-17 · resigned 2022-10-07
JONES, Judith→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2011-06-15 · resigned 2013-10-21
SCAIFE, Sally→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-09-15 · resigned 2011-06-15
YORK PLACE COMPANY SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2003-09-15 · resigned 2003-09-15
BOWERS, James Francis→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2003-09-15 · resigned 2011-05-16
BRADY, Geoffrey→
Resigneddirector · ~73y · appointed 2006-04-04 · resigned 2010-05-06
COUSINS, Anthony Walter→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · appointed 2003-09-15 · resigned 2011-08-30
FLETCHER-RAY, Tracey→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2022-11-14 · resigned 2025-09-11
JONES, Philip David→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2006-04-04 · resigned 2022-10-07
MILLS, Charles Gerard→
Resigneddirector · ~73y · appointed 2006-04-04 · resigned 2008-07-24
YORK PLACE COMPANY NOMINEES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2003-09-15 · resigned 2003-09-15
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
3
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:3 of 3 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC as Security Agent | A registered charge | — | 24/08/2017 | 02/09/2021 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | — | 11/12/2014 | 04/09/2017 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC (In Its Capacity as the Security Agent) | Debenture | 1 property | 28/01/2011 | 23/12/2014 |
Recent filings (108 total)
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-10-09
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-07-24
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2025-07-09
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2025-07-09
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2025-06-13
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2025-06-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2024-07-23
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2024-07-23
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2024-07-23
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2024-07-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-07-08
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-07-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2023-06-08
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2023-06-08
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2023-06-08