B. Riley Advisory Services

Independent schools across the UK are under growing financial strain. Spiralling costs, revenue pressures, and unsupportive policy changes are all accelerating a trend of school closures. The burdens are structural: operating costs are rising, pupil intakes are falling, revenues are constrained, and governance frameworks are often ill-equipped to navigate rapid financial change.

As insolvency practitioners and advisors, directors often ask us two questions: “Am I liable? And for what?”

After much consultation with industry professionals and other stakeholders, in late 2024 the Home Office released detailed guidance relating to the new corporate criminal offence of failure to prevent fraud (“FTPF”), which forms part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 ("ECCTA").

Australia’s traffic control industry is currently facing significant financial distress, largely due to the cascading effects of challenges in other sectors, particularly construction and events management. This article explores the interconnected nature of these industries and highlights the growing number of insolvencies within the traffic control sector.