A construction company based in the UK has plummeted into administration. After being in business since 2014, G2 Housing Group Ltd entered administration at the end of last month.

Now, administrators Rob Keyes and David Taylor have been appointed as the company closes its doors. Insolvency practitioners are handling the administration proceedings at KRE Corporate Recovery. G2 Housing Group Ltd is a private limited company that has operated in building development and management consulting for 12 years.

This comes following a number of companies throughout the UK also plunging into administration. On June 18, Devonshire Homes Limited was appointed an administrator, as construction companies continue to struggle to keep operations moving forward.

The company, which was primarily involved in building development and management consulting, has its registered office in Waterlooville, Hampshire.

The company had a large focus on sustainable building initiatives. It was registered as a member of the UN-backed One Planet Network with a designated Director of Sustainability and Wellbeing, despite having historically listed a very small headcount of around 3 employees.

The active directors associated with the firm include: Gary Anthony Stirling, who served as chief executive officer. and has multi-decade experience in the affordable housing sector, managing parallel local entities such as Landspeed Affordable Homes Limited. David Alun Rees was appointed as a director in April 2021, and Christopher John Cullen is the active director involved in corporate management.

Land Registry entries indicate the firm held a fixed and floating charge over a notable freehold development asset, including land on the west side of Lipson Road, Plymouth. However, this property asset forms part of the undertaking now being assessed under the administration.

The company’s statutory filings fell behind shortly before insolvency, with its mandatory annual Confirmation Statement becoming overdue in May this year.

The Express has contacted the company and administrators for comment.

EasyJet has rejected a higher £4.93 billion approach from Castlelake but has extended the offer deadline to allow its US suitor more time to come up with a “more attractive proposal”.

The low cost carrier said Castlelake had submitted a fourth approach on Tuesday worth £6.50 a share. EasyJet said: “Having carefully reviewed it with its advisers, the board of easyJet continues to regard the fourth proposal as substantially undervaluing the company and its prospects and continuing to give rise to significant questions of deliverability.

“Accordingly, the board of easyJet has unanimously rejected the fourth proposal.

“However, the board believes that giving Castlelake access to limited commercial information, as Castlelake sought in the letter which contained the fourth proposal, might produce a more attractive proposal that better reflects the value of easyJet and its prospects and the interests of shareholders thereto.”

EasyJet added it “continues to be concerned about the ownership structure and deliverability of any offer from Castlelake”.

Earlier this week the budget carrier rejected another offer from Castlelake worth £4.74bn,accusing it of trying to buy the airline “on the cheap”.

Castlelake said it had made three further takeover approaches to the airline this month, all of which had been rejected.

The airline’s share price has risen by 40% over the past month amid prospects of a takeover. Shares were up 3.4% at 521p by early afternoon on Monday, making easyJet one of the top risers on the FTSE 250.

Founded by British‑Cypriot entrepreneur Stelios ⁠Haji‑Ioannou in 1995 EasyJet is one of Europe’s leading airlines. Last year they carried more than 90 million passengers with the airline operating across 38 countries on more than 1,200 routes.

EasyJet, which is headquartered in Luton, England, employs more than 16,000 people across the globe.

Castlelake, who already own a stake of about 2.14% in EasyJet through the funds it manages, previously bailed out collapsed Scandinavian Airlines before selling its shares to Air France-KLM.

A construction firm run by two bosses who have previously carried out work for Wetherspoon and JD Sports has been wound up. Juma Construction Group’s Matthew Hoyes and Julian Kirkpatrick have a combined 40 years worth of experience in the industry, according to the company’s website.

But the business based in Bolton, Greater Manchester, has been voluntarily ended after a special resolution was passed and joint liquidators appointed. Craig Johns and Jason Elliott from business advisory, Cowgills, are overseeing the process, which involves selling off assets, paying off any creditors and dishing out any funds to those who have a share in the firm.

Other firms Juma Construction Group’s directors have worked for under previous employers include BT, Sports Direct and Revolution Bars, the company website states.

The company offered office fit outs, renovations, refurbishments, gas and civil engineering.

According to the business, this included the design and build of a training facility at John Leggott College in Scunthorpe and a four month long fit out of The Bridge Hotel for Ask Drinks Ltd.

Juma Construction Group and Cowgills have been approached for comment.

News about the company, published by The Gazette on Monday (June 8), comes after the latest figures showed output in Britain’s construction industry declined at its fastest rate since Covid last month.

Worries about the Iran war as well as political uncertainty weighed on demand for building work in May, with the S&P Global UK construction PMI showing a reading of 38.2 – a steep decline from 39.7 in April.

A reading above 50.0 indicates activity in the industry is increasing while anything below means it is contracting.

The latest score was the lowest since May 2020, while construction output has been in decline for about a year-and-a-half despite the Labour Government’s manifesto pledge to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029.

S&P Global’s survey found elevated uncertainty about the economic and political climate was dampening demand, while firms were grappling with rising energy, fuel and transportation costs.

Builders surveyed suggested project delays and pushing back big investment decisions, as well as general cutbacks to their customers’ budgets, had resulted in fewer opportunities for work in May.

Some also pointed to political uncertainty having an impact on demand conditions, after Sir Keir Starmer fought to stay on as Prime Minister amid calls from Labour MPs for his resignation.

Max Jones, Head of Construction at Lloyds, said earlier this month: “While ongoing uncertainty weighs on output, many firms are staying focused on current work and planning for future growth.”

He said companies were continuing to invest in skills to be ready for new opportunities linked to cleaner energy and growing areas of importance, such as defence.

Nationwide has urged customers to follow its latest guidance carefully when switching bank accounts, warning that some payments could fail if the correct steps are not followed.

The building society said customers with subscriptions such as Netflix may need to take action to avoid any disruption to payments.

Talking about what’s included when you switch to Nationwide, it says that “in a full switch, your account balance will be brought over to your new account. It also says that you can get “updates on the progress of your account switch” if you supply them with your contact details when you apply. But not everything is included.

What is not included in a full switch?

Nationwide has warned customers with popular subscriptions, such as Netflix, that they may need to take action. It explains: “Regular bills and subscriptions you pay with your debit card, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. (You’ll need to give them your new debit card number.)”

The 2025 Which? Banking Brand of the Year also notes that if you use “mobile payments like Apple Pay, you’ll need to set these up again using your new debit card”.

It also says that the following is not included in a full switch:

What else is included in a full switch?

• Closing your old account once the switch is complete. This means your old debit card will stop working.
• Your list of payees (everyone you’ve sent payments to), so you won’t need to ask for their details again.
• Any new payments you’ve set up a week or more before your switch date. Once you’re within 7 days of your switch date, it’s best to set them up on your new account.
• Regular income like your salary, pension or benefits payments.
• Regular outgoings such as utility bills.
• A safety redirect to catch payments sent to your old account in case someone doesn’t use your new account details. Nationwide can also contact the sender and give them your new account details. If you don’t want the bank to do this, just let them know.

It adds: “There are other ways you can switch to Nationwide, like partial and manual switches.”

UK broadband firm VISPA has notified customers that it has stopped operating – and told them to ‘cancel direct debits’. The established provider revealed plans to “commence liquidation proceedings” in an email sent to subscribers.

Launched back in 1999, VISPA told its customer base they would need to “immediately” secure an alternative broadband provider. ISPreview reported.

The firm offered various Openreach-based broadband packages and had recently expanded into full fibre (FTTP) broadband networks, whilst also operating its own Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) network.

However, ISPreview had previously highlighted a range of problems affecting the company, including outstanding debts, complications with the firm’s registered address, and poor feedback on Trustpilot.

The publication has now revealed that numerous VISPA customers received an email from the company’s chief executive, which said: “We are writing to inform you that Vispa Limited has ceased trading and decided to commence liquidation proceedings.

“As a result, we regret to advise that Vispa will no longer be able to continue providing broadband services. To avoid any interruption to your connectivity, you will need to immediately choose a new Internet Service Provider (ISP) as soon as possible.

“Most providers on the Openreach network are able to take over your existing line with minimal disruption. You can find a list of alternative suppliers here: https://www.openreach.com/help-and-support/service-providers-on-our-network

“We also strongly recommend that you cancel any active Direct Debit or standing order you have in place with Vispa Limited to prevent any further payments being taken.

“We understand this news may be inconvenient and we sincerely apologise for the disruption this causes. We would like to thank you for your custom and support over the years.

VISPA director James Ormerod, who signed the correspondence, urged customers to “cancel your direct debit”.

VISPA’s announcement did not give its remaining customers a definitive date for the termination of the service. At present, the VISPA website’s service status page displays “down for maintenance”. It says: “The server is temporarily unable to service your request due to maintenance downtime or capacity problems. Please try again later.”

The Companies House website shows that Vispa Limited has an “active proposal to strike off”, meaning it is in the process of being removed from the register and dissolved.

Customer Dr Fender said on X: “My c***** internet service provider that hosts my domain and email, @vispainternet, has yet again gone down and they’re unresponsive. How do I complain? They’re not registered with the ombudsman or any of the schemes (of course). #Vispa #ISP #complaint.”

Poundland has announced that its restructuring programme which saw almost 150 stores close and helped it avoid plunging into administration is complete, but it says there’s still “much to do”. The major shake up was set in motion in June after the struggling high street band was bought by American investment firm Gordon Brothers from previous owners Pepco following a slump in sales.

In a bid to revive the chain’s fortunes, Poundland secured High Court approval last August for the plan which involved cutting its estate down from 800 to 651 stores, and reducing its work force from 14,200 to around 12,000 at the end of 2025, representing approximately 2,200 job losses. In a statement, Poundland has now said the wave of closures has come to an end. The company said: “Any future closures will be a consequence of standard business-as-usual lease events expected at a retailer with a large store network.”

However, Poundland emphasised that the work to turnaround their finances isn’t over. Christmas trading figures showed like-for-like underlying sales dropping 2.9% in the quarter to December 28 after the chain dropped prices.

However, comparable store sales by volume saw a 2% increase. Poundland managing director Barry Williams said: “While there’s been significant progress as we refocus and re-energise the business with lower prices and a sharper offer, we know we still have much to do.

He added that the chain’s focus on their costs has, “without doubt, given us a platform for future growth, but no sustainable turnaround can be based on cost management alone”.

“That’s why our focus in 2026 will be on delivering the kind of ranges and price simplicity our customers want right across the store – in clothing, homewares as well as our core grocery aisles,” he added.

Mr Williams said their customers had told them “loud and clear they want a simpler, more focused Poundland that keeps its promise of amazing value”.

“We have clear indications from the work we’ve already done that we’re on the right track.”

In a statement last year prior to the formal approval of the closures, Mr Williams said: “It’s sincerely regrettable that this plan includes the closure of stores and distribution centres, but it’s necessary if we’re to achieve our goal of securing the future of thousands of jobs and hundreds of stores.

“It goes without saying that if our plans are approved, we will do all we can to support colleagues who will be directly affected by the changes.”

London has retained its position as the world’s leading international financial centre for the sixth consecutive year, according to the City of London Corporation’s latest benchmarking analysis. The report, titled “Our global offer to business – London and the UK’s competitive strengths supporting investment and growth 2026”, evaluates competitiveness using 102 publicly available data metrics across key categories, including regulatory environment, talent and skills, business infrastructure, sustainable finance, and capital markets activity.

London’s consistent performance in sustainable finance, capital markets, and technology adoption secured its top ranking among seven major global financial centres. The Corporation’s analysis, published today, positions London ahead of New York, in second place, and Singapore in third.

This self-published benchmarking, while not fully independent, highlights regulatory reforms such as the Edinburgh Reforms, the Financial Services and Markets Act, and the Mansion House Compact as factors supporting London’s edge.

The report notes particular strengths in fintech, legal innovation, AI adoption, and international financial reach, with the UK maintaining a strong trade surplus in financial services exports.

However, challenges persist. The UK lags in digital infrastructure, with slower broadband speeds compared to rivals, and weaker IPO activity and office costs relative to some competitors (though London office prices remain roughly half those in New York).

Sustainable finance leadership is emphasised, though Singapore reportedly lags in this area, while Paris trails London and New York overall.

1. London
2. New York
3. Singapore
4. Frankfurt
5. Paris
6. Hong Kong
7. Tokyo

(This selection of seven leading centres is the focus of the Corporation’s annual exercise.)

For context, independent rankings such as the widely referenced Z/Yen Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI, latest editions) typically place New York first and London second, followed by Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seoul, and Shenzhen or Tokyo in the top 10. Shifts there are often modest, with score adjustments rather than major ranking changes.

The City of London Corporation’s Policy Chairman has previously stressed the need to maintain a competitive edge amid post-Brexit adaptation, tech competition, and infrastructure upgrades.

The 2026 report underscores London’s resilience as Europe’s largest financial hub and a global leader in areas like green finance and professional services, supporting investment and growth across the UK.

Analysts note that while the Corporation’s survey favours London, rival indexes incorporating more subjective surveys and broader metrics (over 140 in Z/Yen’s case) often give New York the edge due to deeper domestic capital markets and innovation ecosystems. Nevertheless, the announcement appears to reinforce London’s self-image as the pre-eminent international financial centre, attracting businesses seeking stability, talent pools, and regulatory predictability.

A beauty brand popular amongst UK shoppers has shut all of its British stores and paused its online sales in the UK. The company said it had exhausted all viable options, but in the end, it had no choice but to go into administration. The move will reportedly lead to redundancies. Malin + Goetz has seven UK stores, all in London. They are found in Islington, Canary Wharf, Soho, Battersea, Seven Dials, Spitalfields and Borough Yards. 

Its products are also sold through third-party retailers such as Liberty, John Lewis and Space NK. The brand specialises in skincare products, haircare, candles and fragrances. It was founded in the Chelsea neighbourhood of New York City in 2004 by founders Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz. A short maintenance period will mean online UK sales will pause while the company shifts e-commerce operations to its US team. 

A spokesperson told TheIndustry.beauty: “Following an extensive review of the business and after exhausting all viable alternatives, we have taken the difficult but necessary decision to put our UK business into administration, resulting in the closure of all UK stores that we operate and our head office.

“We recognise the impact this will have on our colleagues and customers, and the loss of jobs is deeply regrettable, but unavoidable under the circumstances.”

They added: “This structural change will allow the business to focus on our e-commerce and third-party retail channels where our customers increasingly choose to shop, while enabling us to operate more efficiently, and better serve customers in the long term.”

A new partnership with distributor Discovered Brands means that customers can continue to get Malin Goetz products through third-party retailers in the UK. 

Among the brand’s best-sellers are its travel skincare kit, its advanced renewal moisturiser, its Vitamin E face moisturiser and its all-purpose moisture balm. 

Work on a £140 million designer outlet shopping centre on the A1 is due to start this year and be completed by 2028, the developer has said. The new shopping centre, which is expected to have 137 shops, cafes, and leisure outlets, will bring more than 1,200 jobs to a rundown, struggling town close by.

The complex was originally scheduled to open in 2021, but work is finally set to begin this year. Giles Membrey, the managing director of Rioja Estates, said the scheme had suffered “a lot of setbacks”, but would become “a tourist attraction in its own right” when finished. As well as the usual chain stores, there will be facilities for local artisans and business pop-ups to help create a more town-centre feel. To that end, there will also be public green spaces and squares for shoppers to relax in and enjoy.

Grantham Designer Outlet Village will be the UK’s only premium outlet with a visible frontage and direct access from the UK’s 3rd busiest highway (A1), the developers say.

They said: “With the construction of the new junction south of Grantham on the A1 completed, Grantham Designer Outlet Village is one of the few Outlets in the UK to have both visibility and direct access from a major highway.

“At Grantham Designer Outlet Village, we’re creating a state-of-the-art retail destination that will transform our visitors’ shopping and leisure experience.

“Inspired by the surrounding countryside, our buildings are conceived as traditional forms with contemporary finishes and high-quality shop fronts. Our research tells us to expect 3.8M visitors to visit Grantham Designer Outlet Village.”

Last year, Grantham was described as a “dump” and a “shanty town” according to YouTube channel Turd Towns. Their video, entitled The Worst Towns In the Flat World of  Lincolnshire, names 7 Lincolnshire towns as being some of the worst in the country, including Grantham, Gainsborough, Grimsby, Boston, Cleethorpes, Scunthorpe and Skegness.

The new shopping centre will be just three miles from Grantham, as well as being easily accessible from the A1 motorway. The designer shopping village is expected to pull in visitors from Lincoln, Nottingham, Leicester, Peterborough and Cambridge.

It will be a 50 minute drive from Leicester and a 65 minute drive from Cambridge and 3.5 million shoppers are predicted to visit it annually.

The designer outlet village will include free wifi, fastcharge car park points, active media boards, a VIP suite, ATMs and shop mobility.

However not everyone is thrilled at the plans.Councillor Richard Davies, who represents Grantham West on the county council, criticised the delays and said he would prefer to see the site used to support local industrial companies, rather than retailers.

Plans for the Grantham Designer Outlet Village were originally approved by South Kesteven District Council in 2017.

Davies said it had faced “a lot of delays, and added:”Our little corner is crying out for business space, decent quality hi-tech workshops – space for businesses to grow,” he added.

However Mr Membrey said with the development he was trying to “create something that’s massively beneficial, not only for Grantham but also for Lincolnshire”.

The site was “one of the most strategic locations in the UK, in terms of where it sits on the A1”.

“So we are looking at other hotels and services on the site, so in total there’ll be around 1,200 to 1,300 jobs created,” he added.