After 55 years of trading, construction plant dealer Warwick Ward (Machinery) Ltd has collapsed into administration.
Most of the 89 employees have been let go already
James Lumb and James Clark from Interpath were appointed joint administrators to Warwick Ward (Machinery) Ltd on 3rd December 2025.
Founded in 1970 by Warwick Ward, the business has grown to become one of the largest stockists and suppliers of new and used earthmoving and waste recycling equipment in the UK. The company operates from headquarters in Barnsley, with additional depots on Bromsgrove and Harlow. Machinery manufacturers that it represents include Case, Terex, Ausa, Faresin and Sunward.
In June 2023 owner-directors Ashley and Matt Ward sold the company to an employee ownership trust. In its last year of ownership under the Wards, it made a pre-tax profit of £679,000 on sales of £51.2m. In its first year under employee ownership, it sank to a pre-tax loss of £1.3m with sales revenue falling 11% to £45.3m.
According to the administrators, the company had faced significant financial difficulties in recent times, exacerbated by the general drift in capital spending witnessed across the building and construction and waste recycling sectors. In response, the company explored options for refinancing, sale and investment. But, when a solvent solution could not be found, the directors took steps to file for the appointment of administrators.
James Lumb, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, said that the recent change of ownership was a factor in Warwick Ward’s failure. “Employee ownership trusts (EOTs) can often be highly successful, creating an exit route for shareholders, and bringing long-term operational and cultural advantages across the business. However, the additional debt that many such companies take on as part of the sale to an EOT can prove to be a burden further down the line, particularly if trading conditions become difficult,” he said.
“In Warwick Ward’s case, the debt accrued as part of its transition to employee ownership was certainly a contributory factor in its difficulties. Ultimately, however, it was the wider economic headwinds buffeting the construction and waste recycling sectors that served to place unsustainable pressure on the company’s cashflow, which in turn led to our appointment as administrators.”
He added: “Our immediate priority will be to support all those workers impacted by redundancy, while we also explore options for the company’s assets.”
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