Gardner & Co (Kent) Enters Administration
Kent-based building and services firm GARDNER & CO. (KENT) LIMITED has entered administration, according to an official notice published in The Gazette on 9 October 2026. The administration proceedings are recorded in the High Court of Justice under case number CR-2026-007249.
Gazette notice details
According to The Gazette notice published under notice code 2410:
- Company Name: GARDNER & CO. (KENT) LIMITED
- Company Number: 02577082
- Court: High Court of Justice
- Case Number: CR-2026-007249
- Notice Date: 9 October 2026
- Notice Type: Appointment of administrators
- Appointing Party & Administrators: [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor) text
Company snapshot
According to Companies House, GARDNER & CO. (KENT) LIMITED was incorporated on 28 January 1991 under company number 02577082. Its registered office is recorded at 5 London Road, Rainham, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 7RG.
The company operates under Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes:
- 41201: Construction of commercial buildings
- 43220: Plumbing, heat and air-conditioning installation
Directors and ownership
Companies House records list the current officers and persons with significant control (PSCs) for the company.
Current Officers
- Mark John Harrington: Appointed director on 31 July 2006; appointed company secretary on 2 February 2009.
- Peter John Legge: Appointed director on 17 July 1997.
- Richard John Legge: Appointed director on 1 September 2004.
- Stephen James Legge: Appointed director on 31 December 2002.
Resigned Officers
- Margaret Legge: Served as director (17 July 1997 to 2 February 2009) and secretary (30 November 2001 to 2 February 2009).
- Alan Tindell: Served as director (21 January 1996 to 30 November 2001).
- Jennifer Ann Tindell: Served as director (resigned 30 November 2001) and secretary (28 January 1991 to 30 November 2001).
- Alexander Sidney Heselgrave: Served as director (1 June 1994 to 21 January 1996).
- Lesley Joyce Graeme: Served as nominee director (28 January 1991 to 28 January 1991).
- Dorothy May Graeme: Served as nominee secretary (28 January 1991 to 28 January 1909 [as filed]).
Persons with Significant Control
- Mr Peter John Legge: Notified on 6 April 2016 as having the right to appoint and remove directors and holding significant influence or control as a firm.
- Jetvine Limited: Corporate entity notified on 31 December 2016 as holding 75% to 100% of company shares.
All details are drawn directly from public registry filings. These entries record corporate appointments only and carry no implication of individual conduct or insolvency fault.
What administration means for creditors and customers
When a company enters administration under Schedule B1 to the Insolvency Act 1986, a statutory moratorium takes effect immediately. Key implications include:
1. Moratorium on Legal Action: Creditors cannot commence or continue legal actions or enforce security against the company without court permission or administrator consent.
2. Management Control: Executive control transfers from directors to the appointed insolvency practitioners, who act as officers of the court and agents of the company.
3. Creditor Claims: Unsecured creditors must submit proof of debt to the administrators. Payment distributions follow the statutory order of priority set by UK insolvency legislation.
This summary provides general legal context and does not constitute financial or legal advice.
Recent filings and Gazette activity
The Gazette published the notice of administrator appointment on 9 October 2026 under High Court case reference CR-2026-007249. Statutory proposals and progress reports will be submitted to Companies House in due course.
Running a winding up petition search during due diligence
To identify corporate distress before formal administration notices appear in public listings, credit managers and legal teams perform systematic checks. Performing a formal winding up search allows risk professionals to detect petitions presented in the High Court before administration appointments take effect.
| Monitoring Method | Scope | Speed | Primary Risk Mitigated |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Companies House Check | Registered filings, charges, accounts | Delayed (post-filing) | Outdated status updates |
| Gazette Notice Search | Formal insolvency appointments | Gazette publication date | Unaware of formal administration |
| Winding Up Petition Search | Court cause lists & High Court registries | Pre-advertisement | Late exposure to insolvency proceedings |
Conducting a timely winding up petition search before entering high-value contracts provides early visibility into counterparty financial health.
Modern insolvency intelligence vs manual register tracking
Traditionally, credit controllers and legal advisers tracked insolvency filings manually across Companies House, Gazette releases, and regional court cause lists. This fragmented approach often led to missed early-warning indicators, such as petition presentations or late-filed accounts.
With platform automation, professionals monitor corporate insolvency status in real time. By leveraging automated alerting via free company monitoring, commercial teams receive instant alerts on High Court filings, secured charges, and officer movements.
For credit teams and suppliers
Credit managers, subcontractors, and equipment suppliers assessing exposure to construction sector counterparties require rapid access to court registries. Failing to conduct a thorough pre-credit check or winding up search prior to extending trade credit can result in unrecoverable debts once statutory moratoriums take effect. Commercial lenders can also complete a company charge check to review existing debentures and fixed or floating charges.
FAQ
What happens after a company enters administration?
Upon entering administration under Schedule B1 of the Insolvency Act 1986, licensed insolvency practitioners assume operational control. The administrators assess company assets, manage business operations, and seek to achieve statutory insolvency outcomes.
How can creditors submit a claim?
Creditors should submit a formal proof of debt detailing outstanding invoices to the appointed administrators once their contact details are confirmed in official filings.
Does administration mean the business closes immediately?
Not necessarily. Administration provides a temporary statutory moratorium allowing administrators time to restructure, sell the business as a going concern, or realise assets for the benefit of creditors.
How can suppliers track insolvency filings earlier?
Suppliers can perform a direct winding up search across High Court registries or set up real-time court cause-list monitoring to spot petition filings before administration takes effect.
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