Appletree Joinery Products Enters Administration
County Durham wood manufacturer Appletree Joinery Products Limited has entered administration. A notice published in The Gazette on 15 October 2026 confirms the appointment of administrators following proceedings in the High Court of Justice Business and Property Courts in Leeds.
Creditors and commercial counterparties facing an unexpected formal insolvency must act immediately to determine their exposure, lodge proof of debt, and review existing retention of title clauses. When a trading partner enters administration, counterparty exposure crystallises, and standard collection actions are paused by operation of law.
Gazette notice details
The statutory appointment was advertised under code 2410 (Appointment of administrators) on 15 October 2026:
- Company Name: APPLETREE JOINERY PRODUCTS LIMITED
- Company Number: 01931775
- Court: High Court of Justice Business and Property Courts in Leeds Company and Insolvency List
- Case Number: No 001036 of 2026
- Notice Date: 15 October 2026
- Appointing Party: [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor)
- Administrators and Firm: [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor)
Full details of the appointed insolvency practitioners and notice addresses are recorded in the published notice on The Gazette.
Company snapshot
Public filings at Companies House document the commercial background of the company:
- Incorporation Date: 18 July 1985
- Company Status: Active (administration appointment pending full register update)
- Registered Office: Howden Road, Aycliffe Industrial Estate, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, DL5 6EU
- Principal Activity (SIC 16290): Manufacture of other products of wood; manufacture of articles of cork, straw and plaiting materials
- Latest Filed Figures: Not stated in the supplied register extract
Directors and ownership
Public register facts from Companies House confirm the current and former board appointments and controlling interests. Register facts only are detailed below; insolvency proceedings attach to the corporate entity rather than individual officers.
Current Officers
- Ms Fiona Morrison: Director, appointed 12 October 2017. British nationality, resident in England, born October 1963.
- Ms Nicola Louise Young: Director, appointed 12 October 2017. British nationality, resident in England, born July 1965.
Significant Control (PSC)
- Tempest Research Limited (Company Number 05553010): Corporate Person with Significant Control, notified on 12 October 2017. Holds 75% to 100% of shares, 75% to 100% of voting rights, and the right to appoint and remove directors.
Historical Officers
- Mr John Pardoe: Director, appointed 1 September 2002, resigned 12 October 2017 (previously appointed and resigned 18 April 1997).
- Mrs Shirley Pardoe: Director, resigned 12 October 2017.
- Mr Basil Henry Porritt: Director, appointed 1 September 2002, resigned 12 October 2017 (previously appointed and resigned 18 April 1997).
- Mrs Doreen Porritt: Director and Secretary, resigned 12 October 2017.
Two historic persons with significant control statements notified on 22 August 2016 ceased to apply on 12 October 2017.
What administration means for creditors and customers
Administration is a statutory process governed by Schedule B1 to the Insolvency Act 1986. The primary statutory purpose is to rescue the company as a going concern, achieve a better result for creditors as a whole than an immediate liquidation, or realise property to make a distribution to secured or preferential creditors.
This summary provides general legal information and does not constitute formal legal advice:
1. Statutory Moratorium: Upon the appointment of administrators, an automatic statutory moratorium takes effect under Paragraph 43 of Schedule B1. Creditors cannot initiate or continue legal proceedings, execute judgments, or enforce security against company assets without court permission or administrator consent.
2. Supplier Accounts and Deliveries: Unpaid trade creditors cannot repossess goods on site unless they have valid, registered retention of title terms that are accepted by the administrators. Any ongoing supply required by the administrators will typically be treated as an expense of the administration.
3. Filing Claims: Creditors must submit formal proofs of debt directly to the appointed insolvency practitioners once formal notification is received. Administrator details can be verified via the original notice.
Decision checklist for affected suppliers
| Step | Action Required | Professional Consideration |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 1 | Freeze credit terms | Stop any pending shipments or credit services immediately. |
| 2 | Assert Retention of Title (ROT) | Review sales contracts for ROT clauses and submit an inventory claim before goods are commingled or sold. |
| 3 | Run a court registry search | Conduct a winding up search to ensure no competing compulsory liquidation petitions predate the administration. |
| 4 | Request administrator contact pack | Obtain formal proof of debt documentation to register claims before distribution deadlines. |
Manual checks versus automated intelligence
Credit professionals and insolvency solicitors managing counterparty default often rely on disjointed manual workflows. Teams manually search court cause lists, check the London Gazette feed, order PDF filings at Companies House, and dial the court rolls to check for prior petitions.
These manual checks create critical blind spots. Statutory administration notices frequently appear days after court filings, during which time goods may be delivered without payment protection. Incorporating a real-time winding up petition search into automated onboarding workflows protects suppliers from providing unsecured trade credit to distressed entities.
Organisations that set up free company monitoring receive instant daily email notifications covering administration filings, Gazette entries, and board restructuring, removing the delay inherent in manual registry checks.
Recent filings and Gazette activity
According to official records, the only recent statutory Gazette filing recorded for the company is the administration appointment notice published on 15 October 2026 under court reference No 001036 of 2026 in the Leeds Business and Property Courts.
For credit teams and commercial suppliers
Credit controllers, trade lenders, and commercial landlords must enforce rigid insolvency check gates before approving credit terms or extending commercial leases. Missing an interim petition or notice of intention to appoint administrators can leave thousands of pounds in delivered stock frozen behind a statutory moratorium. Before releasing high-value orders or renegotiating debt, run a certified winding up search to establish the true legal status of any corporate counterparty.
FAQ
What court handled the Appletree Joinery Products administration?
The proceedings are listed in the High Court of Justice Business and Property Courts in Leeds Company and Insolvency List under case number No 001036 of 2026.
Can creditors take legal action against the company now?
No. Paragraph 43 of Schedule B1 to the Insolvency Act 1986 imposes an automatic moratorium. Creditors cannot start or continue legal proceedings without administrator permission or an order from the court.
How can creditors claim unpaid invoices?
Creditors must obtain the formal proof of debt form from the appointed administrators named in the Gazette notice and return it alongside relevant purchase orders, delivery notes, and unpaid invoices.
How can I monitor changes to this company's status?
You can follow company status changes, officer resignations, and insolvency updates by activating free company monitoring to receive direct email alerts as filings occur.