Benlowe Group Limited (03779009): administration
- Status
- In administration
- Administration began
- 2026-04-30
- Administrators
- Martin Richard Buttriss, Thomas Harris
- Administrators' firm
- Begbies Traynor
- Formerly
- No. 386 Leicester Limited
- Incorporated
- 1999-05-27
- Location
- Leicester
- Industry
- 16230 Manufacture of other builders' carpentry and joinery
Why it went into administration
- Sustained trading losses
- Cash flow / liquidity pressure
- Rising costs / inflation
- Loss of a key customer, supplier or contract
- COVID-19
- Funding withdrawn / unable to refinance
- Creditor pressure / legal action
- Brexit
From the administrators' statement
The Company is a leading supplier of timber, windows doors and frames - a manufacturer of high-performance timber windows and doors, operating from its established manufacturing site since 1966 (formerly Bennett Windows and Thomas Lowe Joinery). Following a management buyout in 1999, the business developed a strong reputation supplying the UK new-build sector while retaining bespoke manufacturing capability.
The Company employed over 55 staff, with a current turnover of £4.5 million. The reasons for the Company’s insolvency
The Company began to experience financial difficulties as a consequence of sector change and customer concentration rather than manufacturing weaknesses. In recent years, turnover declined due to structural contraction in the traditional regional new-build timber market and the loss of two major customers in 2023 who transitioned from timber to uPVC. This resulted in a revenue reduction of approximately £2 million and turnover declining from £7.8 million to approximately £4.5 million. This reduction in turnover came after the Company had navigated challenging periods which had a detrimental impact to the Company, such as Brexit, Covid-19 and recent changes to Government. Shortly after coming into Government, significant changes were made to national insurance contributions and the national minimum wage, hindering a workforce of 55+ staff.
Administrators' statement of proposals (2026-05-20) · Companies House register