The final countdown – our best read stories of the year 30-21
As the year draws to a close and we all look forward to a week or so of eating and drinking too much, it’s time to take a look back at our best-read stories of the year.
2023 has been a fantastic year for TheBusinessDesk.com, with over two million people reading our stories, a series of a outstanding events – and a host of exclusive stories
In the third part of our top 50 best-read tales of the year, let’s find out what came in from numbers 30 to 21.
30. Stags CEO steps down – as former boss makes return
David Sharpe stepped down as chief executive of Mansfield Town in July – with Carolyn Radford taking over again.
Sharpe was appointed as the Stags’ director of football in May 2020 before being promoted to CEO five months later.
Radford reassumed the role of chief executive officer with immediate effect, following a previous nine-year spell in the position.
29. Sports car manufacturer stalls as it faces uncertain future
The future of Wellingborough automotive engineering company RML Group was unclear in June after the firm posted a notice of intention (NOI) to appointment administrators late last week.
RML posted the NOI through law firm Gateley on Thursday June 15.
The firm has been trading since 1984 and has evolved from a business that supported the Aston Martin racing car team, to today where it worked in the automotive, motorsport, defence and new energy sectors.
28. Engineering firm calls in administrators
In July, a Nottinghamshire engineering firm collapsed into administration.
Lindhurst Engineering, based in Sutton-in-Ashfield, appointed Ben Jones and Raj Mittal of FRP Advisory to look after the day-to-day running of the firm.
The move came after the firm had posted a notice of intention (NOI) to appoint administrators through Excello Law on June 20.
27. Over 100 jobs lost as lenders call in administrators
In November, over 101 staff at stricken Nottingham doorstep lender Morses Club and sister company Shelby Finance were made redundant after the firm collapsed into administration.
The administrators retained 272 staff across the two businesses while they assess options for it – but 101 people were laid off immediately.
The two companies provide short-term consumer loans, with Morses Club providing home collect credit and Shelby Finance providing loans online under the Dot Dot Loans brand.
26. Former Norton boss to be sentenced today
A story from March 2022 was so popular that it made our best-read of 2023!
It was the sentencing in the case of Stuart Garner, the former owner of Norton Motorcycles.
Garner was eventually sentenced to eight months in prison – suspended for two years – after pleading guilty to illegal pension investments.
25. Contractor collapsed owing creditors over £4.6m
A Nottingham contractor which went under in January owed over £4.6m to unsecured creditors when administrators were brought in, according to documents seen by TheBusinessDesk.com in March
DAKO Construction called in administrators from Quantuma on January 20. Shortly after, some 30 staff were made redundant.
In March, it emerged that DAKO collapsed owing some £4.61m to creditors – who weren’t going to see a penny of the cash due to them.
DAKO owed over £1.1m in VAT and PAYE to HMRC, according to administrators’ reports.
24. First look inside Nottingham’s newest bar
Nottingham sports bar, BOX, opened its doors to the public on Saturday November 11.
Spread over two floors in a Grade II listed building on the corner of Thurland Street and Pelham Street, the 16,000 sq ft bar is one of the city’s biggest venues.
New images showed how the venue embraces the building’s original architectural features, including high ceilings. These were blended with new features including the two metre mirror ball and “disco tunnel” with disco lights and tunes that come on with the press of a button.
23. Wilko rescue deal to cost investor £70m
At the beginning of August, it emerged that any rescue of stricken Nottinghamshire retailer Wilko would cost an investor up to £70m.
At the time Wilko’s adviser, PwC, was in talks with an unnamed rival discount retailer and a pair of private equity firms in a race to find a buyer for the discount retailer.
22. Groundworks firm collapses into administration
A £41m groundworks firm called in administrators in January, blaming the Covid-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine for its troubles.
The running of S&I Groundworks, which is based in Burton, was taken over by restructuring specialist KBL Advisory, which said inflation has caused S&I’s collapse, along with “increased competition for key staff”.
21. Contractor collapses after being defeated by football stadium contracts
In August, Buckingham Group, the contractor working on football stadia including Northampton Town, Birmingham City and Liverpool, ceased trading.
It had initially filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators before stopping work on its sites around the country.
Buckingham Group had worked on schemes across the Midlands, including a logistics scheme in Daventry, the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre £26.9m logistics scheme in Daventry and Panattoni’s warehouse in Tamworth.
