Jobs are at risk as multiple UK companies fall into administration
A well-established haulage company has entered administration alongside a UK holiday park and luxury homeware firm(Image: undefined undefined via Getty Images)
A homeware business and a long-established haulier are among the latest UK companies to enter administration, leaving workers facing job losses.
Designers Guild Limited has stopped trading, putting 93 jobs at risk, while all 43 employees at Cumbria-based JT Leyland Limited have been made redundant. The operator of Medmerry Holiday Park in West Sussex has also gone into administration, although the site has been closed since 2024. The cases come against rising costs, financial pressures and difficult trading conditions for businesses.
Designers Guild
Attempts to keep Designers Guild Limited afloat have failed, and the homeware company has closed entirely after struggling with higher costs and a challenging market.
The business, owned by founder Tricia Guild and chief executive Simon Jeffreys, has entered administration. All affected employees are expected to be made redundant, with 93 jobs at risk.
The closure follows Tricia Guild’s move to license the Designers Guild brand back from Dunelm just 16 months ago, after the retailer acquired the business.
Ms Guild and Mr Jeffreys expressed “great” sadness at the news, describing Designers Guild as a “passion” rather than simply a business.
Joint administrator Rick Harrison, managing director at Interpath, said: “For over 50 years, Designers Guild Limited has been one of the UK’s most recognised and respected names in the world of interior design, so it’s tremendously sad that the business has not been able to overcome its recent challenges.
“As a matter of priority, we will be supporting those members of staff who have been impacted by insolvency, while we also explore options for the Company’s remaining assets, including leftover stock.”
JT Leyland
After 50 years in business, logistics and haulage firm JT Leyland Limited has entered administration. From its base in Milnthorpe, Cumbria, the company provided distribution, warehousing and storage services to customers across the UK and Europe.
Administrators have confirmed that all 43 staff have been made redundant. A small number have been retained as consultants to help wind down operations.
Raj Mittal, joint administrator and a partner at FRP, said: “JT Leyland was a well-established business in the logistics and haulage sector, having built up a strong presence from its base in Milnthorpe.
“Our focus is now on managing an orderly wind down of the company’s operations, supporting employees affected by the redundancies and working closely with key stakeholders to maximise value from the company’s assets for the benefit of creditors.”
Holiday parks
Cove Communities Venture 2 Medmerry OpCo Limited, the company behind Medmerry Holiday Park, has gone into administration. This does not mark a fresh closure as severe flooding forced the West Sussex park to shut in 2024, but it will not reopen.
The 100-acre site had 308 self-catering chalets, a large outdoor swimming pool and a central pub and restaurant.
Administrative proceedings have also affected other subsidiaries linked to the group. These include the businesses behind Scotland’s eight-park Argyll Holidays portfolio, which includes Drimsynie Estate and Hunters Quay Holiday Village.
Gwel an Mor Resort in Cornwall and Solway Holiday Park in the Lake District are also caught up in the proceedings. Both remain open and continue to trade as administrators look for buyers, unlike the already-closed Medmerry site.
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