Winding Up Petition Filed Against HMES Limited
On 23 October 2026, a winding-up petition was presented against HMES Limited at the Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions under case reference CR-2026-008109. The petition was registered via the High Court CE-File system.
The presentation of a winding-up petition is an initial procedural filing by an applicant seeking a court order to wind up a company. It does not constitute a legal determination of insolvency or an assessment of liability, which remain matters for determination by the court.
Petition details
The court record on CE-File reflects the following initial filing parameters:
| Case detail | Public record entry |
| --- | --- |
| Case number | CR-2026-008109 |
| Case title | Hmes Limited |
| Case type | Companies - Petition - Winding Up Petition |
| Filing date | 23 October 2026 |
| Filing source | Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions |
| Petition debt amount | [Check the creditor report →](#offers-creditor) |
| Petitioning creditor | [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor) |
Company snapshot
HMES Limited is a private limited company incorporated on 15 August 2016. Its registered office is at 10 Stadium Court, Stadium Road, Bromborough, Wirral, England, CH62 3RP. Corporate details can be tracked on the HMES Limited profile and the official Companies House register entry.
The business is registered under SIC code 82990, covering other business support service activities not elsewhere classified. Companies House currently records the company status as active with an active proposal to strike off. Filed balance sheet figures and turnover figures are [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor).
Directors and ownership
Public filings at Companies House record the current statutory appointments and ownership structure as follows:
- Joe Edward O'Neill: Appointed as director on 15 August 2016. Born in September 1987, British nationality, resident in England.
- Georgia Brown: Appointed as company secretary on 22 January 2019.
- Mr Joe O'Neill: Recorded as a person with significant control (PSC) notified on 15 August 2016, holding 75% to 100% of company shares.
These details reflect formal statutory notifications on the public register. Public filings do not attribute insolvency or wrongdoing to any appointed individual.
Recent filings and Gazette activity
Companies House currently flags the company with an active proposal to strike off. Compulsory strike-off actions initiated by the registrar are routinely published in The Gazette. However, when a winding-up petition is filed in the High Court, the registrar is typically notified, leading to the suspension of administrative strike-off procedures pending the court's hearing.
No advertisement of this petition has yet been recorded in the supplied Gazette notices. A petition is generally advertised no earlier than seven business days after service, in accordance with the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016.
What this means for suppliers, creditors and counterparties
The presentation of a winding-up petition carries immediate legal and operational consequences under UK insolvency law. Counterparties dealing with the company must understand the primary statutory exposure:
- Section 127 dispositions: Under section 127 of the Insolvency Act 1986, any disposition of the company's property made after the presentation date is void if the court subsequently makes a winding-up order, unless specifically validated by court order.
- Bank account operation: Financial institutions routinely monitor court filings. Once aware of a petition, banks often freeze corporate accounts to avoid liability for void post-petition dispositions, preventing standard outgoing payments.
- Execution and distraint: Enforcement action by unsecured creditors, including bailiff action or statutory demands, cannot proceed without permission of the court once a petition has been presented.
Practical scenario
Consider a commercial supplier delivering £12,000 of outsourced administrative support under open credit terms. If the supplier delivers work or accepts payment after 23 October 2026 without an approved validation order, the liquidator could demand repayment of those funds should a winding-up order follow. Conducting a timely winding up search before approving substantial credit or contract extensions mitigates this risk.
Counterparty risk assessment framework
Commercial counterparties should apply a structured process when managing exposure:
1. Halt unsecured credit terms: Transition future deliverables to pro-forma payment or cash-on-delivery structures.
2. Audit current ledger balances: Identify all invoices issued, pending payments, and unbilled work in progress.
3. Review contract security: Check agreements for retention of title (ROT) clauses, personal guarantees, or rights to terminate on the presentation of an insolvency petition.
4. Confirm court status: Verify the filing on the Central Registry or obtain formal proof via an official winding up search.
For credit teams and suppliers
For commercial credit teams, conducting a winding up petition search as part of routine onboarding or major transaction due diligence prevents accidental exposure to section 127 recovery actions. Relying solely on Companies House filings often means learning of distress weeks after a petition has been filed. To remain ahead of register changes, credit departments can establish free company monitoring to capture public status alerts.
How to investigate further
Parties assessing exposure should check updates on today's cause list to see when hearing dates are set by the court. Official confirmation for legal files can be obtained through a formal certificate: [Get a Winding Up Search Certificate →](#offers-certificate).
FAQ
Does presenting a winding-up petition mean the company is in liquidation?
No. Presenting a petition is the opening step of formal court proceedings. The company continues to trade until the court hears the case and decides whether to dismiss the petition, adjourn the matter, or make a winding-up order.
What is the impact of section 127 on suppliers receiving payment?
Payments made by the company after the petition filing date are potentially void if a winding-up order is made. Liquidators have the power to claw back these payments unless the court grants a validation order authorising them.
How quickly does a winding-up petition proceed to a hearing?
Hearing dates typically fall between six and ten weeks from the filing date, depending on court scheduling and service of proceedings.
Can a petition be withdrawn before a hearing?
Yes. If the petitioning debt is settled or disputed on genuine substantial grounds, the petitioner can apply for permission to withdraw the petition before it is advertised in The Gazette.
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.