
Is there a genuine company rescue culture in Scotland?
There is only one company driving the rescue culture in Scotland, and you have found it!
I am Keith Steven. Our firm KSA Group, who run this website, are responsible for a significant proportion of CVA led rescue work in Scotland.
If you run an insolvent or struggling Scottish company the chance of rescue is low. Amazingly, less than 1% of insolvent companies are rescued by a company voluntary arrangement or CVA each year! This is compared to England and Wales, where proportionally, the CVA is used 4 times as often.
Here are statistics from the Q2 of 2020 that show the "rescue culture" still has a long way to go.
Overall, there were 127 company insolvencies in Scotland for the second quarter of 2020, this being a decrease of 49% compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
This figure is made up of 48 compulsory liquidations, 59 CVLS, 16 administrations, 4 CVAs and no receiverships.
Scottish Insolvency Statistics for Q4 2019

So always ask your advisors these questions - What about a CVA - would that work? What is the comparison between CVA and liquidation? What is the comparison between CVA and administration? Please explain why you have chosen one particular solution whilst not considering the others.
There are many myths and misconceptions about CVAs. So if you have been told they don't work then read our worries and mistruths page here to see if this is the case. We have done over 500 CVAs so we are speaking from experience and we know what we are talking about.
The standard approach in Scotland seems to be - if a company is struggling, whack in a winding-up petition and knock the company over or place it into liquidation yourself.
Almost all insolvency practitioners in Scotland will tell you that HMRC WON'T SUPPORT A CVA!
Interestingly, HMRC in Scotland are very supportive of rescues, and would much rather see the company survive in CVA than be liquidated and start again. We have never had a CVA rejected by HMRC in Scotland. We have a good working relationship with HMRC in Scotland and with the Voluntary Arrangement Service in England who are currently dealing with all Scottish CVAs.
Whether you are dealing with a CVA (company voluntary arrangement), creditors voluntary liquidation, Phoenix, administration or pre-pack administration sale we can help you find the RIGHT SOLUTION!
If your business is unsalvageable, then there is still the option to liquidate - we can help assist with this. Call us on 08009700539 or 0131 242 0081. We have fully trained advisors ready to talk to you between 8 am and 6 pm every weekday.
Our regional manager for Scotland and Northern Ireland, Derek Robinson, will be able to visit you at short notice and go through all the options. Please call our Edinburgh number on 0131 242 0081.
The Ultimate Guide For Worried Directors
Worried about poor cashflow? Covid-19?, How to pay wages on pay day? For expert advice on a range of issues download our free Ultimate Guide For Worried Directors today. Or just call us on 0800 9700539
Please note that the guide includes updates due to Covid-19 For instance there have been some changes to insolvency legislation that limits creditors actions and relaxes rules regarding wrongful trading. A new 20 day moratorium for distressed businesses has also been introduced.