CORNHILL BUILDING SERVICES LIMITED

💤Zombieactive

SC153618 · ltd · incorporated 1994-10-14

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

—

year to Oct 2025

Net worth

£39.9k

book net assets

Opportunity

74/100

Strong

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What this business does

Primary activity: Construction of commercial buildings

Sector: Construction

ALSO REGISTERED FOR

41202Construction of domestic buildings

Investor take

Pursue

Strong opportunity: asset-holding vehicle with strong profile and bankable structure.

Opportunity 74/100 (strong), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (68/100, director aged 55). 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).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

5 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 26.4y

30/100

under pressure

Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.

· Oldest live charge is 26.4 years old — likely at or near maturity.
· Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
· Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.

Data confidence

Overall: high (80/100)

Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.

Company profile

address, 2 SIC codes, incorporation date

100

Financials

2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed

Lenders & charges

5 charges (5/5 with lender, 5/5 with type)

Directors & officers

9 officers (1 active, 9 linked, 6 with DOB)

Ownership & PSC

1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared

Director network

3 connected companies via shared directors

Filing history

121 filings on record

Gazette notices

No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)

Opportunity Score

74/100Strong

PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional

Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.

Business quality

Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.

Acquirability

Some acquirability indicators.

Risk profile

Few red flags.

Signal strength

100

Good data coverage for analysis.

Signals from accounts

Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declared

Positive net assets

Net assets £39,883

Net assets shrinking

Down £130,420 YoY

Cash YoY

-4%

Year on year

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts

Cash

£95k

↓ 4.0% YoY

Net Worth

£40k

↓ 77% YoY

Current Assets

£120k

↓ 21% YoY

Current Liabilities

—

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown

Metric	2025-10-31	2024-10-31
Total assets	£39.9k	£267.7k
Current assets	£120.5k	£153.4k
Cash	£94.8k	£98.7k
Debtors	£25.7k	£54.7k
Net assets	£39.9k	£170.3k

Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.

🔒Filing-note intelligence

2 signals 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

Last 30 days

filing

• 1 accounts

Last 90 days

filing

• 1 accounts

Last 180 days

filings

• 1 accounts
• 1 mortgage

Counts from Companies House filing history.

Corporate timeline (48 events)Click to expand

2026-04-16
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-11-18
📄
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-11-18
🔓
Charge satisfied #4
2025-07-09
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-05-27
📄
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-05-27
🔓
Charge satisfied #2
2025-04-17
📄
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-04-17
📍
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2025-04-02
📄
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-04-02
🔓
Charge satisfied #5
2024-07-24
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-05-28
📄
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-05-24
➖
WALLACE, William resigned
director
2024-04-19
➖
THOMSON, Michael resigned
director
2024-04-19
📄
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-10-03
📄
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2023-05-31
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-03-18
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-12-14
📄
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2021-12-07
📄
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2021-10-28
📄
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2021-10-28
📄
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2021-10-27
📄
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2021-10-27
📄
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2021-10-26
➖
THOM, Steven resigned
secretary
2021-10-26
➖
THOM, Steven resigned
director
2021-07-29
📄
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2019-02-15
🔓
Charge satisfied #3
2018-11-09
➖
HANCOCK, George Edward resigned
director
2016-10-27
🔓
Charge satisfied #6
2016-03-24
🔒
Charge registered #6
Lender: Miller Homes Limited
2014-01-13
🔒
Charge registered #5
Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
2013-06-03
➕
THOMSON, Michael appointed
director
2013-06-03
➕
WALLACE, William appointed
director
2007-11-01
🔒
Charge registered #4
Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
2000-11-02
➕
HANCOCK, Michael John appointed
director
1999-12-24
🔒
Charge registered #3
Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
1999-12-15
🔒
Charge registered #2
Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
1998-01-31
➕
HANCOCK, George Edward appointed
director
1998-01-31
➖
HANCOCK, Michael John resigned
director
1994-10-21
➕
THOM, Steven appointed
secretary
1994-10-21
➖
OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED resigned
corporate-nominee-secretary
1994-10-21
➕
HANCOCK, Michael John appointed
director
1994-10-21
➕
THOM, Steven appointed
director
1994-10-21
➖
JORDANS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED resigned
corporate-nominee-director
1994-10-14
🏢
Company incorporated
As CORNHILL BUILDING SERVICES LIMITED
1994-10-14
➕
OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED appointed
corporate-nominee-secretary
1994-10-14
➕
JORDANS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED appointed
corporate-nominee-director

Owner dependency

85/100

Critical — business is the founder

The 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.
+Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 25 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.

Succession & seller-readiness

75/100

Likely off-market candidate

Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.

SIGNALS

primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 25 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 32 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 ·

Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern

medium

Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner

Name	Shares	Voting rights	Nature of control	Notified
Mr Michael John Hancock Individual · Scottish · DOB 11/1977 · age 49	25–50%	—	25-50% shares	14/10/2016

1 historic (ceased) PSC

Mr Steven Thomceased 26/10/2021· 25-50% shares

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 · Construction · EH postcode area

Company	Est. value	Turnover	Net worth	Staff	Age	Opp	Director
CSQ CONSULT LTD→ SC421143 · est 2012 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	14y	—	—
CU PLUMBING AND HEATING LTD→ SC832628 · est 2024 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	1y	—	—
CULLEN PLUMBING & HEATING LIMITED→ SC393940 · est 2011 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	15y	—	—
CULLROSS (BALLINDEAN) LIMITED→ SC685822 · est 2021 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	5y	—	—
CUMBRAE PROPERTY LIMITED→ SC492499 · est 2014 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	11y	—	—
CUMMINGS PLUMBING LIMITED→ SC463623 · est 2013 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	12y	—	—
CUTHBERTS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED→ SC626628 · est 2019 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	7y	—	—
D BLACK ELECTRICAL SERVICES LTD→ SC882032 · est 2026 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
D BLAKE HOLDINGS LIMITED→ SC187718 · est 1998 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	27y	—	—
DAMP DOCTORS NATIONAL LTD→ SC802980 · est 2024 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	2y	—	—
DARM UTILITIES LTD→ SC834449 · est 2025 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	1y	—	—
DAVID GRIERSON LTD→ SC381114 · est 2010 · no financials extracted	—	—	—	—	15y	—	—

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

Typeltd

Incorporated1994-10-14

Jurisdictionscotland

Primary SIC41201 — Construction of commercial buildings

Registered office

Office 34 Hecules House

Eskmills

Musselburgh

EH21 7PB

Scotland

Filing status

Accounts

Next due: 2027-07-31

Last made up to: 2025-10-31

Confirmation statement

Next due: 2026-10-22

Last: 2025-10-08

Officers (1 active · 8 resigned)

HANCOCK, Michael John→

director · ~55y · appointed 2000-11-02

View their other companies + combined net worth →

Active

THOM, Steven→

secretary · appointed 1994-10-21 · resigned 2021-10-26

Resigned

OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED→

corporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1994-10-14 · resigned 1994-10-21

Resigned

HANCOCK, George Edward→

director · ~79y · appointed 1998-01-31 · resigned 2018-11-09

Resigned

HANCOCK, Michael John→

director · ~55y · appointed 1994-10-21 · resigned 1998-01-31

Resigned

THOM, Steven→

director · ~66y · appointed 1994-10-21 · resigned 2021-10-26

Resigned

THOMSON, Michael→

director · ~56y · appointed 2013-06-03 · resigned 2024-04-19

Resigned

WALLACE, William→

director · ~68y · appointed 2013-06-03 · resigned 2024-05-24

Resigned

JORDANS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED→

corporate-nominee-director · appointed 1994-10-14 · resigned 1994-10-21

Resigned

Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.

Mortgages & charges

Total charges

Outstanding

Active lenders

Status:Lender:5 of 5 shown

		Type	Properties
satisfied	Miller Homes Miller Homes Limited	A registered charge	1 property	24/03/2016	27/10/2016
satisfied	Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC	A registered charge	1 property	13/01/2014	02/04/2025
satisfied	Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC	Standard security	1 property	01/11/2007	18/11/2025
satisfied	Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC	Standard security	1 property	24/12/1999	15/02/2019
satisfied	Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC	Bond & floating charge	1 property	15/12/1999	27/05/2025

Recent filings (121 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full

accounts · AA

2026-04-16

mortgage-satisfy-charge-full

mortgage · MR04

2025-11-18

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2025-10-19

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full

accounts · AA

2025-07-09

mortgage-satisfy-charge-full

mortgage · MR04

2025-05-27

change-person-director-company-with-change-date

officers · CH01

2025-04-17

change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address

address · AD01

2025-04-17

mortgage-satisfy-charge-full

mortgage · MR04

2025-04-02

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2024-10-08

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full

accounts · AA

2024-07-24

termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date

officers · TM01

2024-05-28

termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date

officers · TM01

2024-04-19

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates

confirmation-statement · CS01

2023-10-25

change-person-director-company-with-change-date

officers · CH01

2023-10-03

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full

accounts · AA

2023-05-31