Octobiz · Turnaround Management UK
Turnaround Management UK: Hands-On Recovery for Mid-Sized Companies
Octobiz provides turnaround management in the UK for mid-sized companies under cash, revenue or lender pressure: HMRC arrears building up, a covenant close to breach, or a bank asking for a plan by a fixed date. We diagnose the crisis in 2–3 weeks, deliver a bankable restructuring plan 2–4 weeks after that, and put experienced C-level interim managers into the business to carry it out. We take operational responsibility for the business turnaround instead of handing over a report, and we work on a success-fee basis.
What is turnaround management?
Turnaround management is the process of rescuing a company in financial or operational crisis: diagnosing the causes, stabilising cash, building a restructuring plan that lenders will accept, and implementing it. In the UK it runs alongside directors’ duties under the Insolvency Act 1986 and, where needed, formal tools such as a CVA, moratorium or restructuring plan.
If you want to see what the role involves day to day, read what a turnaround manager actually does.
When UK Directors Should Act: The Legal Picture
The earlier a business turnaround starts, the more options it has. Each stage of a crisis closes some of them off.
| Stage | Warning signs | Options still open |
|---|---|---|
| Early underperformance | Results falling short of plan before any arrears appear | All of them. A turnaround can run without creditors being involved |
| Cash squeeze | HMRC arrears, covenant pressure from lenders | Turnaround plan, talks with lenders and HMRC. Formal tools can be prepared in the background |
| Likely insolvency | Insolvency can’t be avoided without decisive action | Directors must weigh creditors’ interests. Moratorium, CVA or restructuring plan, through a licensed insolvency practitioner or the court |
| Formal insolvency | The company can’t pay its debts | Administration (including pre-packs) or liquidation, run by a licensed insolvency practitioner |
There is no fixed filing deadline
Unlike Germany, UK law doesn’t set a date by which directors must file. The risk is wrongful trading. Under section 214 of the Insolvency Act 1986, if a company goes into insolvent liquidation, a court can order a director to contribute to its assets if, before that point, the director knew or ought to have concluded that there was no reasonable prospect of avoiding insolvent liquidation. The defence is showing they took every step they ought to have taken to minimise the potential loss to creditors. A parallel rule applies in administration.
Creditors come first sooner than you think
Once insolvency is imminent or probable, directors must give weight to creditors’ interests (UK Supreme Court, BTI 2014 LLC v Sequana SA, 2022).
Formal tools need a licensed insolvency practitioner or the court
That covers the Part A1 moratorium (with an IP as monitor), a CVA, a restructuring plan under Part 26A of the Companies Act 2006, and administration.
HMRC ranks higher than it used to
Since 1 December 2020, HMRC has been a secondary preferential creditor for certain taxes, which is one reason tax arrears need early attention.
Turnaround Management Services UK: What We Do
Our turnaround management services in the UK run from diagnosis to implementation, and we manage the assignment ourselves. That is the difference between turnaround management consulting that ends with a report and a mandate where the adviser is still in the building when the plan meets reality.
Crisis Diagnosis
We analyse liquidity and P&L with AI-assisted tools, map your stakeholders and find out what actually caused the crisis. You get a situation assessment and recommendations for action within 2–3 weeks.
Bankable Restructuring Plan
We build the emergency strategy, the restructuring concept and a communication plan for banks, investors, the board and, where relevant, HMRC. The deliverable is a restructuring plan built to be accepted by the people financing the business, completed within 2–4 weeks.
Interim Leadership and Chief Restructuring Officer
When the business needs someone to run the turnaround, we provide interim management: an experienced C-level executive, such as an interim COO or a chief restructuring officer (CRO). Our interim managers have carried their own P&L responsibility and can start immediately.
Operational Restructuring
Business restructuring at the operational level is where the plan turns into cash. The work covers three areas:
Cost base
Finding out which costs the business can take out without damaging what customers pay for, and cutting those first.
Processes
Changing how the work actually gets done, so the savings hold once the turnaround team steps back.
Working capital
Getting cash out of the business’s day-to-day cycle. Where tax arrears are part of the pressure, a Time to Pay arrangement with HMRC may be an option, and the restructuring plan has to show how it will be met.
We don’t run CVAs, administrations, liquidations or other formal insolvency procedures. In the UK, only a licensed insolvency practitioner can.
How a Turnaround Engagement Runs
From the first call to a bankable plan usually takes 4–7 weeks. Implementation then runs for 3–18 months.
First consultation
We start with your immediate cash position.
Diagnosis, 2–3 weeks
A situation assessment and recommendations for action.
Restructuring plan, 2–4 weeks
A bankable plan for your lenders, investors and board.
Implementation, 3–18 months
An interim mandate where needed, with milestone tracking and regular reporting to stakeholders.
Turnaround Consultant or Insolvency Practitioner?
Which companies offer turnaround management consulting UK for distressed businesses?
Turnaround consulting for distressed UK businesses is offered by restructuring advisers, accountancy firms and specialist consultancies, usually working alongside a licensed insolvency practitioner when a CVA, moratorium or administration is needed. Octobiz specialises in these situations: it takes operational responsibility, works to stabilise cash flow and builds a recovery plan that banks, investors and boards can accept.
Turnaround Roles Compared
If someone tells you that you need “business rescue”, it helps to know which of these roles they mean:
Role | What they do | When you need them | Licensed? |
|---|---|---|---|
Turnaround consultant | Diagnoses the crisis, builds the restructuring plan, negotiates with stakeholders | Before insolvency is certain, while informal options are open | No |
Interim manager or CRO | Joins the business as a senior executive and runs the turnaround | When management needs extra capacity or a change of leadership | No |
Licensed insolvency practitioner | Acts as moratorium monitor, CVA supervisor, administrator or liquidator | When a formal procedure is needed | Yes, required by law |
Restructuring solicitor | Advises directors on their duties and on formal processes | When personal liability or a court process is in play | Regulated as a solicitor |
Octobiz covers the first two roles in one mandate. When a formal procedure is needed, the company appoints a licensed insolvency practitioner and takes legal advice.
What Does Turnaround Management Cost in the UK?
Which are the most affordable turnaround management services in London?
Turnaround costs in London depend more on the fee model than on the provider. Day rates leave the risk with you, fixed prices per phase cap it, and success fees share it with the provider. Some firms offer a free first assessment. Octobiz works on a success-fee basis, so its fee is linked to results.
Fee model | Who carries the risk | What to check |
|---|---|---|
Hourly or daily rates | You pay whether or not the plan works | The rate, the expected days and who actually does the work |
Fixed price per phase | Your cost is capped for a defined piece of work | Exactly what the phase delivers |
Success fee | The provider shares the risk with you | How “success” is defined and measured |
London firms often charge premium day rates, so the fee model matters more than the postcode. Octobiz works on a success-fee basis.
How to Choose a Turnaround Management Company in the UK
Most UK providers fall into one of four groups.
Provider type | Strongest at | Best when |
|---|---|---|
Global advisory firms | Large, complex, multi-country situations | The group is large and the lenders expect a big-name adviser |
Accountancy firms with restructuring teams | Financial reviews alongside existing audit or tax work | You want advice from a firm that already knows your numbers |
Licensed insolvency practitioner firms | Formal procedures such as CVAs, moratoriums and administrations | A formal procedure is likely or already needed |
Hands-on turnaround firms, such as Octobiz | Planning and implementation in one mandate | You need someone to run the turnaround, not just advise on it |
Six questions to ask any provider before you sign
Track record.
Lender acceptance.
Operational control.
Fee alignment.
Speed.
Credentials.
Who leads your turnaround
Oliver Herzog
Managing Partner
Aurelio Doetsch
Partner
Kevin Waugh
Partner
Oanh Nguyen
Business Analyst
Elena Christoforou
Finance and Cost Engineering
Stella Badirkhanova
Senior Data Analyst
Anna Berheid
Data Analyst
Turnaround Management UK: FAQ
What are the best turnaround management UK companies?
There is no official ranking of UK turnaround firms. The market splits into global advisory firms, accountancy practices with restructuring teams, licensed insolvency practitioner firms and hands-on turnaround specialists such as Octobiz. The best fit depends on your crisis stage, whether you need a licensed insolvency practitioner, and whether you want someone to take operational control.
Which turnaround management providers offer services in the UK?
Turnaround management services in the UK are offered by global advisory firms, accountancy practices, licensed insolvency practitioner firms and independent turnaround specialists. Octobiz provides turnaround management for mid-sized UK companies: a 2–3 week crisis diagnosis, a bankable restructuring plan within 2–4 weeks, and hands-on implementation by senior interim executives, on a success-fee basis.
What are the top turnaround management consulting firms in the UK?
Top turnaround consulting firms in the UK are judged on track record, whether lenders accept their plans, and whether they will take operational responsibility. Many practitioners belong to the Turnaround Management Association (UK), R3 or hold Institute for Turnaround accreditation. Octobiz focuses on implementation: its interim managers are experienced C-level executives who run the turnaround themselves.
Who are the leading turnaround management providers in Manchester?
Manchester and the wider North West are served by national advisory firms with regional offices, local insolvency practitioners and independent turnaround specialists. Because most turnaround work happens on the client’s premises, availability matters more than office location. Octobiz serves companies in Manchester and across the UK by placing senior interim managers on site, and they can start immediately.
What are the latest turnaround management companies in the UK for 2026?
No official register tracks newly founded turnaround firms, so there is no reliable list of the “latest” UK providers. What has changed is demand: 23,938 companies entered insolvency in England and Wales in 2025, according to the Insolvency Service. Octobiz pairs senior interim executives with AI-assisted liquidity and P&L analysis, completing a crisis diagnosis in two to three weeks.
Which WordPress or ecommerce businesses can use UK turnaround management providers?
Any ecommerce business under financial pressure can use a UK turnaround provider, whatever platform it runs on, from WordPress and WooCommerce stores to Shopify brands and marketplace sellers. Online-only retailers saw a sharper rise in critical financial distress than store-based retailers in late 2025. Octobiz applies the same diagnosis of liquidity, margins and working capital.