HIDDEN STORY C.I.C.
💤Zombieactive
13515962 · private-limited-guarant-nsc · incorporated 2021-07-16
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.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
70/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Other education n.e.c.
Sector: Education
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and bankable structure.
Opportunity 70/100 (strong), bankability 75/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Broaden director team. Sole director creates succession risk and reduces buyer comfort. Appoint a second director or strong #2. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (58/100).
Data confidence
Overall: medium (57/100)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
Confirmed no charges registered
85
Directors & officers
6 officers (1 active, 6 linked, 6 with DOB)
90
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
26 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
70/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
65
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
55
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
90
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
3
filings
- • 1 gazette
- • 1 dissolution
- • 1 accounts
Last 90 days
5
filings
- • 3 accounts
- • 1 gazette
- • 1 dissolution
Last 180 days
5
filings
- • 3 accounts
- • 1 gazette
- • 1 dissolution
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (33 events)Click to expand
- 2026-07-14📄gazette-notice-voluntarygazette · GAZ1(A)
- 2026-07-01📄dissolution-application-strike-off-companydissolution · DS01
- 2026-06-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2026-06-17📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2026-04-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-11-18➖DOWNES, Victoria Esther resigneddirector
- 2025-11-18➖SALMON, Gavin Peter resigneddirector
- 2025-11-18➖SIMPSON, Hope Caitlin resigneddirector
- 2025-11-18➖STONEHOUSE, Jacqueline Valerie resigneddirector
- 2025-11-18📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-11-18📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-11-18📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-11-18📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-07-07➕DOWNES, Victoria Esther appointeddirector
- 2025-07-07📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-06-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-04-07📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2024-03-30📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-03-30📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-03-28➕SALMON, Gavin Peter appointeddirector
- 2024-03-28➕STONEHOUSE, Jacqueline Valerie appointeddirector
- 2023-11-22➖TINKLIN, Gillian Ruth resigneddirector
- 2023-11-22📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-11-07📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2023-10-17➕TINKLIN, Gillian Ruth appointeddirector
- 2023-10-17📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-10-17📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2023-10-17📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2023-04-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-07-16🏢Company incorporatedAs HIDDEN STORY C.I.C.
- 2021-07-16➕GAMBLE, Gillian Thomasina appointeddirector
- 2021-07-16➕SIMPSON, Hope Caitlin appointeddirector
Owner dependency
75/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
Succession & seller-readiness
45/100
Moderate signalSome succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.
SIGNALS
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
Red flags
1 med ·4 director resignations in last 12 months
mediumMultiple recent departures can indicate governance disagreement, succession event, or preparation for sale/stress.
Evidence: DOWNES, Victoria Esther resigned 2025-11-18; SALMON, Gavin Peter resigned 2025-11-18; SIMPSON, Hope Caitlin resigned 2025-11-18
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ms Gillian Gamble Individual · British · DOB 07/1986 · age 40 | — | 25–50% | board control25-50% voting · board control | 01/11/2023 |
Miss Hope Caitlin Simpson Individual · British · DOB 02/2001 · age 25 | — | 25–50% | board control25-50% voting · board control | 16/07/2021 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mrs Gillian Thomasina Gambleceased 01/01/2023· 25-50% 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 · Education & training · DL postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBM SAFETY TRAINING LTD→ 13493709 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| BEYOND THE BREED LIMITED→ 15617794 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ECS GAS TRAINING NORTH EAST LTD→ 09951261 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| ENTER C.I.C.→ 07272081 · est 2010 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
| EVOLUTION GOALKEEPER COACHING LTD→ 11606776 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| FUTURESKILLS NORTH EAST C.I.C.→ 09444845 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| GENIUS BIDCO LIMITED→ 09489643 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| GLOW CHURCH UK LTD→ 08703834 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| GOLD STAR ACADEMY LTD→ 16082232 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| GREEN LANE NURSERY AND CHILD CARE CENTRE→ 04176113 · est 2001 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 25y | — | — |
| HEART FOR THE GARDEN C.I.C.→ 13199828 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| HIGH IMPACT DEVELOPMENT LIMITED→ 06966327 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2021-07-16
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC85590 — Other education n.e.c.
Registered office
2b Staindrop Road
West Auckland
Bishop Auckland
DL14 9JX
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2028-01-31
Last made up to: 2026-04-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-07-29
Last: 2025-07-15
Officers (1 active · 5 resigned)
GAMBLE, Gillian Thomasina→
Activedirector · ~40y · appointed 2021-07-16
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DOWNES, Victoria Esther→
Resigneddirector · ~47y · appointed 2025-07-07 · resigned 2025-11-18
SALMON, Gavin Peter→
Resigneddirector · ~42y · appointed 2024-03-28 · resigned 2025-11-18
SIMPSON, Hope Caitlin→
Resigneddirector · ~25y · appointed 2021-07-16 · resigned 2025-11-18
STONEHOUSE, Jacqueline Valerie→
Resigneddirector · ~63y · appointed 2024-03-28 · resigned 2025-11-18
TINKLIN, Gillian Ruth→
Resigneddirector · ~56y · appointed 2023-10-17 · resigned 2023-11-22
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Recent filings (26 total)
gazette-notice-voluntary
gazette · GAZ1(A)
2026-07-14
dissolution-application-strike-off-company
dissolution · DS01
2026-07-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2026-06-23
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
accounts · AA01
2026-06-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2026-04-30
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-11-18
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-11-18
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-11-18
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-11-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-07-30
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-07-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-06-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-07-31
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-07-15
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2024-04-07