England and Wales registered 1,845 company insolvencies in June 2026, marking a 10% decline compared with the same month last year, according to the latest figures from the Insolvency service.

The total was stable compared with the 1,849 insolvencies recorded in May 2026. However, administrations rose 45% month-on-month to 191, driven by approximately 60 connected real estate companies entering the process.

The overall figures for the month also included 1,364 creditors’ voluntary liquidations, which fell 3% from May 2026 to account for 74% of all cases. Compulsory liquidations fell 2% to 276, while there were 14 company voluntary arrangements and no receiverships.

In the 12 months to 30 June 2026, the insolvency rate fell to 50.5 per 10,000 active companies, equivalent to one in 198 businesses. This represents a decrease from the rate of 52.4 per 10,000 recorded in the previous 12-month period.

In the retail, wholesale and hospitality sectors, combined insolvencies reached 6,696, accounting for 29% of the total in the year to June 2026.

While the modern insolvency rate has risen from the historic lows seen during the pandemic, it remains significantly below the peak of 113.1 per 10,000 registered during the 2008–09 recession, largely because the total number of registered firms has more than doubled.

In Scotland, company insolvencies remained stable at 104 in June 2026, consisting of 61 creditors’ voluntary liquidations, 41 compulsory liquidations and two administrations. Northern Ireland recorded 18 company insolvencies over the same period, marking a 28% decrease compared with June 2025.

Giuseppe Parla, Restructuring and Insolvency director at Menzies, said: “Amid the transition to a new Prime Minister and continued debate over proposed tax reforms, businesses are facing a period of heightened uncertainty. With key fiscal policies yet to be confirmed, many organisations are unable to plan ahead with confidence.

“While hospitality has benefited from increased consumer spending in pubs, driven by England’s World Cup campaign and longer opening hours, this relief is only temporary, and long-term issues facing the sector must be addressed by the incoming government.”

She added: “In particular, the hospitality and retail industries continue to pay high business rates – the effect of which is compounded by increased National Insurance contributions, labour, energy and food costs. The longer these industries wait for announcements on relief measures, the longer they continue to accrue increased costs without clear foresight on how their bottom lines will be affected.

“If confirmed by the incoming government, proposed cuts to business rates could offer much-needed relief following several challenging years, and could prevent businesses from being forced to further increase costs for customers or cut staff in response to high taxation.”