ACORN NORFOLK LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
07448673 · ltd · incorporated 2010-11-23
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
hardening · 12-months
Already tight — no obvious softening catalysts on the horizon.
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
72/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Technical and vocational secondary education
Sector: Education
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 72/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 7 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (50/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
8 live charges · 7 lenders · oldest 15.1y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 15.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 7 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 38/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (61/100)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
8 charges (8/8 with lender, 8/8 with type)
90
Directors & officers
21 officers (3 active, 21 linked, 14 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
17 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
107 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
72/100Strong
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
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
4
filings
- • 2 accounts
- • 2 other
Last 90 days
4
filings
- • 2 accounts
- • 2 other
Last 180 days
4
filings
- • 2 accounts
- • 2 other
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (76 events)Click to expand
- 2026-06-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2026-06-02📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2026-06-02📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2026-06-02📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2025-11-14📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2025-10-22📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2025-10-02➕SMITH, Fiona Sarah Rachel appointedsecretary
- 2025-09-30➖LOGUE, Mary Joanne resignedsecretary
- 2025-05-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2025-05-28📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2025-05-28📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2025-05-28📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2025-04-17📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-02-27📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-02-27📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-02-27📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-02-27📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-02-27📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-02-14➕LECKY, Helen Elizabeth appointeddirector
- 2025-02-14➖COOKE, Richard John resigneddirector
- 2025-02-14➖JANET, Jean-Luc Emmanuel resigneddirector
- 2025-02-14➖LEATHERBARROW, David Jon resigneddirector
- 2024-06-10📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2024-06-10📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2024-06-10📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2024-06-10📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2024-04-26📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2024-04-17🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Kroll Trustee Services Limited as Security Agent
- 2024-01-17📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-01-17🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2023-06-05➕LOGUE, Mary Joanne appointedsecretary
- 2023-05-31➖DUFFY, Chris resignedsecretary
- 2020-11-06➕COOKE, Richard John appointeddirector
- 2020-10-29➖EDWARDS, Ryan David resigneddirector
- 2020-10-23➖LECKY, Helen Elizabeth resignedsecretary
- 2020-10-06➕DUFFY, Chris appointedsecretary
- 2019-09-25🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Lucid Trustee Services Limited (As Security Agent and Trustee)
- 2019-08-09🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2019-05-20➕POWER, Richard appointeddirector
- 2018-09-01➖ANDERSON, Iain James resigneddirector
- 2018-09-01➕LEATHERBARROW, David Jon appointeddirector
- 2018-07-02➖BYGRAVE, Anne resigneddirector
- 2018-03-09➕BYGRAVE, Anne appointeddirector
- 2017-10-06➕EDWARDS, Ryan David appointeddirector
- 2017-03-31➕ANDERSON, Iain James appointeddirector
- 2017-03-31➖MACDONALD, Natalie-Jane Anne, Dr resigneddirector
- 2016-09-08🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe Limited (As Security Agent for the Beneficiaries)
- 2016-08-17🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2014-11-13➕LECKY, Helen Elizabeth appointedsecretary
- 2014-11-13➖NAPIER-FENNING, William resignedsecretary
Showing most recent 50 of 76 events
Owner dependency
58/100
Moderate — manageable with handoverSome founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.
FACTORS
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
Succession & seller-readiness
36/100
Weak signalLimited succession signal. Not a near-term off-market candidate.
SIGNALS
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
Red flags
1 med ·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
Acorn Care And Education Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Acorn Care And Education Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
ACORN NORFOLK LIMITED
This company · 07448673
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Acorn Care And Education 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 · BL postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A ROBINSON MEDICAL SERVICES LTD→ 11975880 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| ACADEMIA CEREBRA LIMITED→ 14134265 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ACADEMY CHILDCARE LTD→ 12488835 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| ADVENTURE IN MUSIC CIC→ 16883299 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AIDING MINDS LTD→ 11692677 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| ALLIANCE LEARNING→ 01619564 · est 1982 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 44y | — | — |
| ALLIANCE LEARNING TRAINING LIMITED→ 10381804 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| ANDERTON CENTRE - LOAI LIMITED→ 06775169 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 17y | — | — |
| ARCHBISHOP TEMPLE CHURCH OF ENGLAND MULTI ACADEMY TRUST→ 10261477 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| ARK EDUCATION BARN LIMITED→ 14230029 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ASCOT COLLEGE LIMITED→ 08754705 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| ASPIRE BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT LIMITED→ 09206695 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2010-11-23
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC85320 — Technical and vocational secondary education
Registered office
Atria
Spa Road
Bolton
BL1 4AG
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-05-31
Last made up to: 2025-08-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-12-07
Last: 2025-11-23
Officers (3 active · 18 resigned)
SMITH, Fiona Sarah Rachel→
Activesecretary · appointed 2025-10-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
LECKY, Helen Elizabeth→
Activedirector · ~45y · appointed 2025-02-14
View their other companies + combined net worth →
POWER, Richard→
Activedirector · ~44y · appointed 2019-05-20
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DUFFY, Chris→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2020-10-06 · resigned 2023-05-31
LECKY, Helen Elizabeth→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2014-11-13 · resigned 2020-10-23
LOGUE, Mary Joanne→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2023-06-05 · resigned 2025-09-30
NAPIER-FENNING, William→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2011-04-11 · resigned 2014-11-13
SNR DENTON SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2010-11-23 · resigned 2011-04-11
ANDERSON, Iain James→
Resigneddirector · ~71y · appointed 2017-03-31 · resigned 2018-09-01
BYGRAVE, Anne→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2018-03-09 · resigned 2018-07-02
COOKE, Richard John→
Resigneddirector · ~47y · appointed 2020-11-06 · resigned 2025-02-14
CROGHAN, Mark Arnold→
Resigneddirector · ~63y · appointed 2011-04-11 · resigned 2012-08-10
EDWARDS, Ryan David→
Resigneddirector · ~49y · appointed 2017-10-06 · resigned 2020-10-29
HARRIS, Andrew David→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2010-11-23 · resigned 2011-04-11
JANET, Jean-Luc Emmanuel→
Resigneddirector · ~56y · appointed 2012-08-10 · resigned 2025-02-14
JOHNSON, David William→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2011-04-11 · resigned 2014-08-13
LEATHERBARROW, David Jon→
Resigneddirector · ~57y · appointed 2018-09-01 · resigned 2025-02-14
MACDONALD, Natalie-Jane Anne, Dr→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2013-09-16 · resigned 2017-03-31
PAGE, Stephen Robert→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2011-04-11 · resigned 2013-08-05
ROBINSON, Mike→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 2012-11-22 · resigned 2014-02-01
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
8
Total charges
2
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:8 of 8 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Kroll Trustee Services as Security Agent Kroll Trustee Services Limited as Security Agent | A registered charge | 1 property | 17/04/2024 | — | |
| satisfied | Lucid Trustee Services (As Security Agent and Trustee) Lucid Trustee Services Limited (As Security Agent and Trustee) | A registered charge | 1 property | 25/09/2019 | 17/01/2024 | |
| satisfied | Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe (As Security Agent for the Beneficiaries) Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe Limited (As Security Agent for the Beneficiaries) | A registered charge | 1 property | 08/09/2016 | 09/08/2019 | |
| satisfied | Ge Corporate Finance Bank Sas, London Branch (As Security Agent for the Beneficiaries) | A registered charge | 1 property | 03/09/2014 | 17/08/2016 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Deed of charge over credit balances | 1 property | 07/11/2012 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC (The Security Agent) | Legal charge | 1 property | 07/12/2011 | 05/09/2014 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC (The "Security Agent") | Confirmatory debenture relating to a debenture dated 18 january 2010 | 1 property | 08/08/2011 | 05/09/2014 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC (The Security Agent) | Accession deed | 1 property | 11/05/2011 | 05/09/2014 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (107 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2026-06-02
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2026-06-02
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2026-06-02
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2026-06-02
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-12-07
appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
officers · AP03
2025-11-14
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2025-10-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2025-05-28
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2025-05-28
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2025-05-28
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2025-05-28
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-04-17
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-02-27
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-02-27
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-02-27