Insolvency Filing for VMS (Fleet Management) Limited
A court application concerning VMS (Fleet Management) Limited was recorded on 15 October 2026 under case number CR-2026-007890 at the Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions via the HM Courts and Tribunals Service CE-File system. The filing is designated as "Companies - Application - Notice of Appointment to appoint an administrator". The filing of an application or presentation of a petition does not represent a judicial determination of insolvency, nor does it guarantee an administration order will take effect; the final outcome remains subject to the court process.
Professional counterparties tracking high-exposure accounts can review newly listed filings on the today's cause list or inspect the specific entity profile on VMS (Fleet Management) Limited.
Filing details
The details recorded on the court filing system are outlined below:
- Case number: CR-2026-007890
- Case title: VMS (Fleet Management) Limited
- Case type: Companies - Application - Notice of Appointment to appoint an administrator
- Filing date: 15 October 2026
- Source: Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions (CE-File public search)
- Applicant / Petitioning creditor: [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor)
- Hearing date: [Check the creditor report →](#offers-creditor)
Company snapshot
According to records maintained at Companies House, VMS (Fleet Management) Limited is an active private limited company incorporated on 21 May 2002.
- Company number: 04443331
- Registered office: Avnet House, Rutherford Close, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2EF, England
- Company status: Active
- Standard Industrial Classification (SIC):
- 45200 (Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles)
- 77110 (Renting and leasing of passenger cars and light motor vehicles)
- 77120 (Renting and leasing of trucks and other heavy vehicles)
- Financial statements: [Check the creditor report →](#offers-creditor)
Directors and ownership
Public filings at Companies House disclose the following officers and ownership structure for VMS (Fleet Management) Limited. These records reflect statutory filings and do not imply involvement in insolvency proceedings or personal liability.
Current officers
- Mr Martin Harold James: Director (appointed 30 May 2002; British; born October 1963; resident in the United Kingdom); Secretary (appointed 8 June 2026; previously secretary between 30 May 2002 and 1 May 2010).
- Mr Aaron William Laraman: Director (appointed 31 March 2022; British; born January 1979; resident in England).
Past officers
- Mr Richard James Horrex: Director (appointed 1 February 2013; resigned 31 March 2024); Secretary (appointed 1 May 2010; resigned 31 March 2024).
- Ms Natalie Louise Taylor: Director (appointed 1 April 2024; resigned 8 June 2026); Secretary (appointed 1 April 2024; resigned 8 June 2026).
- Mr Mark William Laraman: Director (appointed 1 April 2024; resigned 25 June 2026).
- Mr Daniel Glenn Miller: Director (appointed 1 April 2024; resigned 25 June 2026).
- Mr Scott Douglas Tedman: Director (appointed 1 April 2024; resigned 25 June 2026).
- Mr Gary Colin Prentice: Director (appointed 30 May 2002; resigned 31 March 2022).
- Mr Colin Peter Fordham: Director (appointed 30 May 2002; resigned 30 May 2002).
- Mr Neil Roderick Walmsley: Director (appointed 21 May 2002; resigned 30 May 2002).
- Mr David John Medcalf: Director (appointed 21 May 2002; resigned 30 May 2002); Secretary (appointed 21 May 2002; resigned 30 May 2002).
Persons with significant control (PSC)
- VMS (Holdings) Ltd (company number 07349834): Corporate person with significant control (notified 6 April 2016; holds 75% to 100% of shares).
- Mr Martin Harold James: Individual person with significant control (notified 6 April 2016; holds significant influence or control).
- Mr Garry Colin Prentice: Formerly notified as a person with significant control (notified 6 April 2016; shareholding and voting rights ceased 1 June 2016; significant influence or control ceased 31 December 2021).
Recent filings and Gazette activity
No recent statutory notices concerning this case have been identified in The Gazette. Statutory notices of appointment or winding-up advertisements are typically lodged following specific procedural thresholds under the Insolvency Act 1986 and the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016.
What this means for suppliers, creditors and counterparties
An entry on the CE-File registry concerning administration or winding up is a critical early signal for trade creditors and suppliers. When formal administration proceedings or winding-up actions are initiated, statutory restrictions can alter how debts are settled and contracts are performed.
| Assessment Area | Commercial Consideration | Immediate Action |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Credit Terms | Risk of payment default or asset freezing | Move trade accounts to pro-forma or cash-on-delivery |
| Retention of Title | Goods supplied on credit may be frozen under a moratorium | Identify, inventory, and verify unconsumed stock on site |
| Open Deliveries | Risk of unsecured creditor status for ongoing orders | Review pending dispatches and halt unfulfilled shipments |
| Cross-Guarantees | Exposure to parent or group liabilities | Check parent company guarantees via VMS (Holdings) Ltd |
For counterparties reviewing multiple business relationships, executing a winding up search across active ledgers provides advance notice before insolvency notices are gazetted or published on statutory registers.
Counterparty risk protocol
Credit controllers and risk managers facing insolvency signals on active commercial accounts should apply a structured response:
1. Verify court registry entries: Confirm whether the filing represents a creditor's petition, an application for administration, or a company-led appointment.
2. Audit outstanding exposure: Reconcile all outstanding ledger balances, unbilled work, and work-in-progress.
3. Assess security interests: Inspect recorded debentures and asset charges on the register; consider performing a company charge check to establish where claims sit relative to secured creditors.
4. Review retention of title clauses: Review standard contracts to verify whether valid retention of title terms exist and can be legally asserted prior to an administration order.
5. Monitor registry updates: Implement automated alerts or monitor a UK company free to capture supplemental filings, administrator appointments, or Gazette notices as they occur.
Practical scenario
Consider an equipment supplier with £45,000 in open invoices and £15,000 in transit to an automotive operator. If court records indicate a notice of appointment to appoint an administrator, an interim moratorium may arise under Schedule B1 of the Insolvency Act 1986. Suppliers acting on the CE-File notification can redirect vehicles before formal handover, avoiding conversion of physical assets into an unsecured claim.
For credit teams and suppliers
Credit professionals and finance directors evaluate court filings to prevent bad debt write-offs before credit agency downgrades take place. A winding up search before extending high-value trade credit flags critical distress events weeks before Companies House reflects an administration status. Identifying filings at presentation protects margin and preserves commercial recovery options.
How to investigate further
To conduct due diligence on this entity:
- Inspect filed accounts and charge registers at Companies House.
- Check The Gazette for petitions, notices of administrator appointment, or creditor meetings.
- Query the Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions to confirm ongoing court listings.
- Set up free company monitoring on the entity profile to receive immediate alerts on registry changes.
If performing counterparty diligence across other suppliers or customers, run a winding up petition search to ensure potential distress is detected across your supply chain.
FAQ
What is a notice of appointment to appoint an administrator?
A notice of appointment is a formal document filed with the court by a company, its directors, or a qualifying floating charge holder to appoint an administrator under Schedule B1 of the Insolvency Act 1986, transitioning the company into administration to rescue the business or achieve a better realization of assets.
Does this filing mean the company has entered administration?
Not automatically. While some appointments take effect upon filing, court applications may require a formal hearing or judicial consideration before an administration order is made. The registry filing marks the beginning of the legal process.
How does an administration filing differ from a winding-up petition?
A winding-up petition aims to liquidate the company and dissolve it, whereas an administration filing is typically intended to protect the business under a statutory moratorium to explore restructuring, sale as a going concern, or controlled asset realization.
Where can I check if other companies have active court petitions?
You can search the court cause list or conduct a winding up search through Corp Intel to verify whether any corporate entity is subject to active insolvency filings.
Disclaimer
This report summarises a petition recorded at the Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions. Presentation of a petition is not a determination of insolvency; the outcome is a matter for the court. Companies believing they are named incorrectly should email contact@corp-intel.co.uk.