1ST CLASS HOLIDAYS LIMITED
📉Decliningactive
03445248 · ltd · incorporated 1997-10-06
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
Opportunity decay
drifting distress · 6-months
Drifting toward distress — expect more negotiability in 3–6 months, but also more friction.
- · Lifecycle stage drifting downward
- · Currently "declining"
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
£17.75M
year to Sept 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
80/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Travel agency activities
Sector: Administrative & support services
Investor take
PursueConservative operator with a 64-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 77/100. Strong seller-intent signal (60/100, director aged 64). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 5 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: strategic trade sale (78/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
7 live charges · 5 lenders · oldest 25.7y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 25.7 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 5 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: high (80/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
7 charges (7/7 with lender, 7/7 with type)
90
Directors & officers
8 officers (3 active, 8 linked, 5 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
5 connected companies via shared directors
60
Filing history
139 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
🔒Estimated company valuation
Sector-multiple EBITDA, turnover, and NAV-proxy valuation range with confidence tier — derived from extracted iXBRL financials.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Opportunity Score
80/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
85
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102Profitable
Profit before tax £874,004
Turnover YoY
+4%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2024-09-30 | 2023-09-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover | £17.75M | £17.11M |
| Gross profit | £3.37M | £3.01M |
| Operating profit | £831.6k | £1.26M |
| Profit before tax | £874.0k | £1.27M |
| Average employees | 4400 | 3900 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
3 signals detected in this company's narrative notes — going-concern language, audit opinion, contingent liabilities, related-party transactions.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 officers
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (44 events)Click to expand
- 2026-02-23📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-06-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-10-03📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2024-10-03📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-08-31➖MASON, Sharon Rose resignedsecretary
- 2024-08-31➖MASON, Sharon Rose resigneddirector
- 2024-06-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-06-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-06-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-06-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-06-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-03-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-12-17📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2018-12-17📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2018-06-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-03-21📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2018-03-21📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2018-03-12➕BLAND, Paul Neil appointeddirector
- 2018-03-12➕GATHERCOLE, Daniel Edward appointeddirector
- 2017-10-13📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2015-12-18➖TREFFERS, Henri resigneddirector
- 2014-03-27🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2012-03-28🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2011-08-25🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2011-08-25🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2011-08-25🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2011-08-22🔒Charge registered #7Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2011-07-01🔒Charge registered #6Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2010-05-18🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Kbc Bank Nv
- 2008-01-10🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Kbc Bank N.V., London Branch
- 2007-10-26🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Kbc Bank N.V., London Branch
- 2007-10-18🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2005-05-05🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2005-01-13🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2004-07-01➕MASON, Sharon Rose appointeddirector
- 2004-07-01➕TREFFERS, Henri appointeddirector
- 2000-07-31🔒Charge registered #1Lender: The Manchester Ship Canal Company
- 1997-10-13➕AINSWORTH, Paul appointeddirector
- 1997-10-13➕MASON, Sharon Rose appointedsecretary
- 1997-10-06🏢Company incorporatedAs 1ST CLASS HOLIDAYS LIMITED
- 1997-10-06➕FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1997-10-06➖FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1997-10-06➕FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD appointedcorporate-nominee-director
- 1997-10-06➖FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD resignedcorporate-nominee-director
Owner dependency
68/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 29 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 64 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
80/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 64. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 29 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 29 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
- supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.
Red flags
1 med ·Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Group structure
1st Class Holidays (Holdings) Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
1st Class Holidays (Holdings) Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
1ST CLASS HOLIDAYS LIMITED
This company · 03445248
Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1st Class Holidays (Holdings) Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- 1st Class Holidays (Holdings) Limitedceased 16/04/2016· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
🔒Co-director network graph
Radial SVG graph showing every company connected via shared directors, colour-coded by status.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Similar companies
Active · Leisure & entertainment · M postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 COACHING LTD→ 15090301 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 10IRONWOMEN LTD→ 15378640 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 13 PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL LTD→ 08663615 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| 1416 FITNESS LTD→ 15946857 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 1ST4ARTS LIMITED→ 09388894 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| 2 BE A DJ LIMITED→ 16008334 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 200 SPORTS MANAGEMENT LIMITED→ 16213506 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 208NETBALL LTD→ 17011700 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2108 LIMITED→ 16520527 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 23 STUDIOS MCR LTD→ 15253693 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 23:13 MANAGEMENT LTD→ 17064079 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 24N FITNESS LTD→ 14437446 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
7 specific questions generated from this company's actual signals — liquidity, leverage, director age, charge count, red flags, age-of-company.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →🔒Advanced scoring suite
Exit-route ranking, improvement thesis, quiet-distress detector, covenant-pressure proxy, extraction monitor, approaching triggers, ownership drift, local cluster, value trap, debt capacity, archetype classification — 48+ scoring modules.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Company details
Statusactive
Typeltd
Incorporated1997-10-06
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC79110 — Travel agency activities
Registered office
Trafford House
Chester Road Old Trafford
Manchester
M32 0RS
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-06-30
Last made up to: 2024-09-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last: 2025-09-16
Officers (3 active · 5 resigned)
AINSWORTH, Paul→
Activedirector · ~64y · appointed 1997-10-13
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BLAND, Paul Neil→
Activedirector · ~40y · appointed 2018-03-12
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GATHERCOLE, Daniel Edward→
Activedirector · ~43y · appointed 2018-03-12
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MASON, Sharon Rose→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1997-10-13 · resigned 2024-08-31
FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1997-10-06 · resigned 1997-10-06
MASON, Sharon Rose→
Resigneddirector · ~58y · appointed 2004-07-01 · resigned 2024-08-31
TREFFERS, Henri→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · appointed 2004-07-01 · resigned 2015-12-18
FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 1997-10-06 · resigned 1997-10-06
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
7
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:7 of 7 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Charge of deposit | 1 property | 22/08/2011 | 27/03/2014 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 01/07/2011 | 28/03/2012 | |
| satisfied | Kbc Bank Nv | Charge | 1 property | 18/05/2010 | 25/08/2011 | |
| satisfied | Kbc Bank N.V., London Branch | Debenture | 1 property | 10/01/2008 | 25/08/2011 | |
| satisfied | Kbc Bank N.V., London Branch | Debenture | 1 property | 26/10/2007 | 25/08/2011 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 05/05/2005 | 18/10/2007 | |
| satisfied | The Manchester Ship Canal Company | Deed of deposit of rent relating to suite 3 and two storerooms on the first floor dock office trafford road manchester | 1 property | 31/07/2000 | 13/01/2005 |
Recent filings (139 total)
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2026-02-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-09-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-06-05
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2024-10-03
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-10-03
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-09-16
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-06-14
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-09-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-06-08
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-09-30
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2022-06-14
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-10-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2021-06-02
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-10-05
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2020-06-01