W H Darby Limited (05337453): administration
- Status
- In administration
- Administration began
- 2026-02-13
- Administrators
- Andrew James Pear, Milan Vuceljic
- Administrators' firm
- Moorfields
- Formerly
- W H Darby (UK) Limited
- Incorporated
- 2005-01-19
- Location
- London
- Industry
- 25990 Manufacture of other fabricated metal products n.e.c.
Why it went into administration
- HMRC / tax arrears
- Funding withdrawn / unable to refinance
- Rising costs / inflation
- Cash flow / liquidity pressure
- Sustained trading losses
From the administrators' statement
The Company was incorporated as W H Darby (UK) Limited on 19 January 2005 and later changed its name to W H Darby Limited (“the Company”) on 25 May 2005. On incorporation, the directors were L&A Registrars Limited, Linda Margaret Hobbis and Stephen John Hobbis.
The Company is a family-owned manufacturing business based in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter that traces its roots back to 1886. The Company operated as a manufacturer and supplier of jewels, medals and badges. The Company has a number of well-known customers including Aston Martin, local authorities / councils, football associations and independent customers.
The Company’s sole shareholder is Vaughtons Holdings Limited, which is a connected company by virtue of its common director, NH. The previous and original owners of the Company, Linda and Stephen Hobbis, are the parents of current director NH, rendering the business in second-generation ownership. The Company still owes Linda and Stephen Hobbis deferred consideration of £718,342.
Administrators' statement of proposals (2026-03-24) · Companies House register