GARDENWOOD LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
SC158110 · ltd · incorporated 1995-05-18
Investment thesis
Well-run mature business — low negotiation leverage; premium likely.
Why interesting: Textbook target; clean filings, stable trading.
Why risky: No pressure on seller; any deal likely at full price.
Opportunity decay
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 29.2y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Apr 2025
Net worth
£733.6k
book net assets
Opportunity
83/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: Other business support service activities n.e.c.
Sector: Administrative & support services
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 72-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 83/100 (exceptional), bankability 65/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 72). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Discharge stale live charges. 3 live charge(s) created 15+ years ago — likely paid but undischarged. Clean register. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
4 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 29.2y
50/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Oldest live charge is 29.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (79/100)Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.
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
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
14 officers (3 active, 14 linked, 8 with DOB)
81
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
1 connected companies via shared directors
48
Filing history
115 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
83/100Exceptional
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
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102Positive net assets
Net assets £733,631
Net assets shrinking
Down £11,852 YoY
Cash YoY
+4463%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£2k
↑ 4463% YoY
Net Worth
£734k
↓ 1.6% YoY
Current Assets
£1.0m
↓ 15% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2025-04-30 | 2024-04-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £1.00M | £800.2k |
| Current assets | £1.01M | £1.20M |
| Cash | £2.2k | £49 |
| Debtors | £524.9k | £91.5k |
| Net assets | £733.6k | £745.5k |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
3
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 officers
- • 1 persons-with-significant-control
Last 180 days
3
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 officers
- • 1 persons-with-significant-control
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (47 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-21📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2026-04-21📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2025-09-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-10📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2023-08-23📄capital-allotment-sharescapital · SH01
- 2023-08-22📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2023-08-03📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2023-08-01📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-06-30➖ROSS, Andrew Vass resigneddirector
- 2023-06-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2022-08-26📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2022-08-26📄capital-return-purchase-own-sharescapital · SH03
- 2022-07-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2021-06-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2021-01-19📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2021-01-08📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2021-01-08📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2020-11-11📄capital-allotment-sharescapital · SH01
- 2020-10-20➖HARKISS, Niall Fraser resignedsecretary
- 2020-10-20➖HARKISS, Niall Fraser resigneddirector
- 2018-11-07➕COULL, Leonard Archibald appointeddirector
- 2014-01-13➕ROSS, Gary appointeddirector
- 2014-01-13➕HARKISS, Niall Fraser appointedsecretary
- 2014-01-13➕HARKISS, Niall Fraser appointeddirector
- 2014-01-13➕ROSS, Andrew Vass appointeddirector
- 2013-07-01🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
- 2013-01-15➖GRINDLAY, David resignedsecretary
- 2013-01-15➖GRINDLAY, David resigneddirector
- 2007-02-10➖MACDONALD, Adam Gunn resigneddirector
- 2003-10-17🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1999-10-25🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1997-03-15🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1995-11-19➖SHIELDS, George Herriot resigneddirector
- 1995-11-16➕GRINDLAY, David appointedsecretary
- 1995-11-11➖DUNN, George Alexander resignedsecretary
- 1995-11-11➖DUNN, George Alexander resigneddirector
- 1995-06-01➕HARKISS, James appointeddirector
- 1995-06-01➕DUNN, George Alexander appointedsecretary
- 1995-06-01➖OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED resignedcorporate-secretary
- 1995-06-01➕DUNN, George Alexander appointeddirector
- 1995-06-01➕GRINDLAY, David appointeddirector
- 1995-06-01➕MACDONALD, Adam Gunn appointeddirector
- 1995-06-01➕SHIELDS, George Herriot appointeddirector
- 1995-06-01➖JORDANS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED resignedcorporate-director
- 1995-05-18🏢Company incorporatedAs GARDENWOOD LIMITED
- 1995-05-18➕OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 1995-05-18➕JORDANS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED appointedcorporate-director
Owner dependency
75/100
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 31 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 72 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
90/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 72 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 31 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 31 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
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Gary Ross Individual · British · DOB 08/1982 · age 44 | 25–50% | — | 25-50% shares | 27/03/2026 |
James Harkiss Individual · British · DOB 01/1954 · age 72 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 06/04/2016 |
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 · Trade services · IV postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DONNACHAIDH PROPERTY LIMITED→ SC259850 · est 2003 | — | — | — | 0 | 22y | 84 | 81y |
| ANKERVILLE NURSERY (ALNESS) LTD.→ SC304455 · est 2006 | — | — | £1.27M | — | 19y | 83 | 67y |
| INDEPENDENT CARE PLANS U.K. LTD.→ SC156942 · est 1995 | — | — | £331.4k | — | 31y | 83 | 69y |
| LOGIC ALARMS LIMITED→ SC211267 · est 2000 | — | — | £1.90M | — | 25y | 83 | 74y |
| MORAY FIRTH TRAINING GROUP→ SC104619 · est 1987 | — | — | — | 6 | 39y | 83 | 79y |
| QHS SCOTLAND LTD→ SC315075 · est 2007 | — | — | £1.30M | — | 19y | 83 | 64y |
| ROSEFIELD SALVAGE LIMITED→ SC184024 · est 1998 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 28y | 83 | 65y |
| TARVIE CROFTING ENTERPRISE→ SC191732 · est 1998 | — | — | — | 0 | 27y | 83 | 73y |
| A HORNE PROPERTIES LTD.→ SC377750 · est 2010 | — | — | £713.0k | — | 16y | 82 | 65y |
| ALASTAIR STEWART & SON MEMORIALS LIMITED→ SC360633 · est 2009 | — | — | — | 3 | 16y | 82 | 60y |
| ALLAN W J WILSON LIMITED→ SC096831 · est 1986 | — | — | £98.3k | — | 40y | 82 | 72y |
| ALLIED SOUTER & JAFFREY LIMITED→ SC261173 · est 2003 | — | — | £77.9k | — | 22y | 82 | 61y |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
8 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
Incorporated1995-05-18
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC82990 — Other business support service activities n.e.c.
Registered office
Gardenwood Ltd
Blarliath Industrial Estate
Tain
IV19 1EB
Scotland
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-01-31
Last made up to: 2025-04-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-04-11
Last: 2026-03-28
Officers (3 active · 11 resigned)
COULL, Leonard Archibald→
Activedirector · ~65y · appointed 2018-11-07
View their other companies + combined net worth →
HARKISS, James→
Activedirector · ~72y · appointed 1995-06-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
DUNN, George Alexander→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1995-06-01 · resigned 1995-11-11
GRINDLAY, David→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1995-11-16 · resigned 2013-01-15
HARKISS, Niall Fraser→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2014-01-13 · resigned 2020-10-20
OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 1995-05-18 · resigned 1995-06-01
DUNN, George Alexander→
Resigneddirector · appointed 1995-06-01 · resigned 1995-11-11
GRINDLAY, David→
Resigneddirector · ~72y · appointed 1995-06-01 · resigned 2013-01-15
HARKISS, Niall Fraser→
Resigneddirector · ~45y · appointed 2014-01-13 · resigned 2020-10-20
MACDONALD, Adam Gunn→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · appointed 1995-06-01 · resigned 2007-02-10
ROSS, Andrew Vass→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2014-01-13 · resigned 2023-06-30
SHIELDS, George Herriot→
Resigneddirector · ~87y · appointed 1995-06-01 · resigned 1995-11-19
JORDANS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-director · appointed 1995-05-18 · resigned 1995-06-01
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
4
Total charges
4
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 01/07/2013 | — | |
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 17/10/2003 | — | |
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 25/10/1999 | — | |
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Floating charge | 1 property | 15/03/1997 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (115 total)
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-21
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2026-04-21
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2026-04-21
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2025-09-13
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-04-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2024-07-10
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-03-28
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-08-23
capital-allotment-shares
capital · SH01
2023-08-23
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2023-08-22
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2023-08-03
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-08-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2023-06-05
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-08-27
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2022-08-26