SMITH SERVICES LIMITED
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (73/100, director aged 86). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. 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 (65/100).
Refinance opportunity
3 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 38.8y
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 38.8 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: high (80/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsHover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2025-03-31 | 2024-03-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 33 | 3100 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
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
- • 1 accounts
Corporate timeline (30 events)Click to expand
- 2025-12-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-12-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-12-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-12-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-08-30📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2021-08-26📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2021-08-26📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2021-08-26📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2021-08-26📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2021-03-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-12-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-06-12📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2019-06-12📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2019-06-12🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2019-06-11🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Skipton Business Finance Limited
- 2018-12-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2017-12-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2011-09-08🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2011-08-26🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Rbs Invoice Finance Limited
- 2010-09-05➖RIGBY, Neal resigneddirector
- 2006-07-13➕RIGBY, Neal appointeddirector
- 2006-02-01➕SMITH, Scott Callum appointeddirector
- 1996-01-26➕SMITH, Sheila appointedsecretary
- 1996-01-26➖SMITH, Scott Callum resignedsecretary
- 1996-01-26➖SMITH, Scott Callum resigneddirector
- 1992-07-21➖LESLIE, Norman Farquhar resigneddirector
- 1989-11-01➕LESLIE, Norman Farquhar appointeddirector
- 1987-07-22🔒Charge registered #1Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 1986-08-08🏢Company incorporatedAs SMITH SERVICES LIMITED
Owner dependency
The business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.
- +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "SMITH" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 20 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 86 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 86 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 20 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 40 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
1 med ·Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Group structure
Smith Cleaning Services Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Smith Cleaning Services Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 26/08/2016 |
3 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mr Scott Callum Smithceased 26/08/2016· 25-50% shares
- Mrs Sheila Smithceased 26/08/2016· 25-50% shares
- Mr Samuel David Smithceased 26/08/2016· 25-50% shares
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
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 · Trade services · PH postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT CAMERON HAIR LTD→ SC555207 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| ROCOCO LTD→ SC543485 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| SG APPLIANCE REPAIRS LTD→ SC784999 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| SILVER LINING HAIR STUDIO LIMITED→ SC747088 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| SOFIA SPMU LIMITED→ SC786868 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| SOURCE TOURISM SOLUTIONS LIMITED→ SC298238 · est 2006 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 20y | — | — |
| SPEY TURBO MACHINERY LTD→ SC551511 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| SPEYSIDE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LTD→ SC766456 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| SSE GROUP LIMITED→ SC126049 · est 1990 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 35y | — | — |
| ST.PIERRE OFFSHORE LTD→ SC794373 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| STEVEN MACRAILD (ELECTRICAL) LIMITED→ SC652885 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| STOCKWELL MOUNT LIMITED→ SC062479 · est 1977 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 48y | — | — |
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 →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
Registered office
Filing status
Officers (4 active · 4 resigned)
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Skipton Business Finance Skipton Business Finance Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 11/06/2019 | — | |
| satisfied | NatWest Group Rbs Invoice Finance Limited | Floating charge | 1 property | 26/08/2011 | 12/06/2019 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 22/07/1987 | 08/09/2011 |