H Beardsley forced to close

Triple-whammy of high costs, staffing issues and lost contract kill off 67-year-old family business

End of the road for H Beardsley

By Chris Tindall

H Beardsley, a 67-year-old Nottinghamshire family haulage firm, has closed down after being hit by increased fuel and property costs, staff retention challenges and the loss of a major customer.

The company, which began operating in 1954, had already made all 32 employees redundant and ceased trading just days before RSM was appointed as administrator on 4 February.

The company operated a fleet of 26 HGVs and trailers and traded from premises in Huthwaite, Sommercotes and Annesley.

RSM said it had been able to sell the firm’s racking, desks and computer equipment to B Taylor & Sons for £65,000.

In addition, it has also granted the firm a licence to occupy Beardsley’s Huthwaite premises for three months.

Estimated debts to unsecured creditors are thought to be around £1.1m, but RSM said it was unlikely a dividend will be paid out.

“It became apparent on appointment that the vast majority of the company’s assets used in its dayto-day trading were subject to finance agreements, through hire purchase or lease agreements,” RSM said.

“Given the nature of these agreements, the joint administrators’ agents confirmed there was no residual equity in these assets that could be realised into the administration estate.”

Energy Haulage failure prompts financial probe

A Bucks-based events haulier collapsed into administration after seeing its work dry up during the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, administrators at Mazars LLP also said it had concerns regarding Energy Haulage’s underlying accounting records and the financing of assets, prompting a full forensic accounting investigation to establish the firm’s true financial position.

The company, which traded out of three operating centres in Buckingham and Aylesbury, became subject to financial distress and then subsequent failure due to the cancellation and postponement of events and festivals in spring 2020.

Problems also arose due to the administration of associated companies the business traded with, including Energy Generator Hire (EGH), which folded in January. EGH was part of a group of 13 connected companies, including Energy Haulage, and the administrators said they soon discovered the group financial affairs were not clearly separated.

In a report, Mazars said: “Furthermore, as there was doubt regarding the accuracy of the financial information available and there existed complex intercompany debt positions throughout the Energy Group, it was clear that a detailed investigation into each company’s affairs and assets would be required.”

Mazars added that the only known assets of Energy Haulage are its debtors and a transporter trailer.

Eddie Stobart improves site efficiency with ‘flexi’ forklifts

Eddie Stobart Contract Logistics has introduced new Flexi Truck forklifts at its site on Magna Park, Lutterworth, which it said would speed up pallet movements.

The new models have a lift height of 13.2m and eliminate mast deflection when tilting due to their hi-vis lift mast, CCTV system, lift height selectors, and integrated tilting and side-shifting fork carriages. The trucks, built by Narrow Aisle, have a highdefinition CCTV system, giving the operator a clear view when retrieving and putting away pallets at height.

A battery power charging and changing system has also been installed to provide round-theclock operation at minimum energy cost.

Hauliers urged to check industrial estate rules after ‘trespass’ charges

Logistics firm Fagan & Whalley is warning hauliers to check the rules when delivering to industrial parks after incurring around £7,500 of trespass charges accumulated by the company’s trucks stopping – in some cases for less than a minute – at Ransomes EuroPark in Ipswich, whilst delivering to clients.

Fagan & Whalley questions the safety of the park’s traffic management system, operated by Proserve Enforcement Solutions, which deems that stopping for any length of time constitutes a trespass, triggering a £250 charge.

Fagan & Whalley head of compliance, Martyn Richardson, said: “This removes the option for the driver, for example, to ask for the banksman, to call the security intercom, to undertake a safety observation on foot before commencing into the yard either forward or in reverse.

He added: “Since then, we have taken the decision to significantly reduce the amount of work we do on this estate.”

Proserve owner Stephen Duff refuted claims that the charges are unreasonable. He defended the policy of allowing no stops, no matter how short.

Duff said: “The aim of the enforcement procedures is to maintain clear roadways and protect motorists and pedestrians from obstruction and danger. Simply moving people on would make the system unworkable.

“Drivers would all wait until they were spoken to and the whole aim is to keep the site clear, and this would simply compound the issue.”

He claimed that Fagan & Whalley drivers are “persistent trespassers”, adding: “They are fully aware of the estate’s rules and regulations, nevertheless they continue to ignore them.”

Duncan Buchanan, RHA policy director, said: “There is a problem with the law that allows this sort of traffic management enforcement to happen.

“MPs need to step up and play a role in stopping this.”