Red Flag Alert Report - Q1 2025 - UK Businesses Under Pressure Ahead of Impending Tariff and Tax Changes

UK Businesses Under Pressure Ahead of Impending Tariff and Tax Changes

 ‘Critical’ financial distress up by 13.1% year-on-year, despite 3.1% decrease across first quarter of 2025

• The number of businesses in ‘critical’ financial distress rose 13.1% year-on-year in Q1 2025, with 45,416 companies now affected (Q1 2024, 40,174)
• This follows a 3.1% decline in the number of businesses in ‘critical’ financial distress versus Q4 2024 (46,853)
• Consumer-facing industries – Bars & Restaurants (+31.2%) and Travel & Tourism (+25.5%)  experienced the greatest increase in ‘critical’ financial distress over the last 12 months
• Nearly two-thirds (14 of 22) of the sectors covered by Red Flag Alert research experienced double-digit percentage growth of companies in ‘critical’ financial distress over the last year
• ‘Significant’ financial distress rose 4.5% year-on-year to 579,276 firms (Q1 2024: 554,554), despite an 11.5% fall from 654,765 in Q4 2024
• Hotels & Accommodation (+15.4%), Real Estate & Property Services (+12.1%) and Leisure & Cultural Activities (+9.5%) saw the highest year-on-year growth in ‘significant’ financial distress

The latest “Red Flag Alert” report from Begbies Traynor, which has provided a snapshot of British corporate health for almost two decades, highlights how tens of thousands of UK businesses are struggling as the economy heads towards major tariff and tax regime changes.

As of 31 March 2025, 45,416 businesses were in ‘critical’ financial distress – a 13.1% rise versus Q1 2024, despite a 3.1% fall during the first quarter of 2025 (Q4 2024, 46,853). Nearly two-thirds (14 of 22) of sectors covered by Red Flag Alert experienced a double-digit percentage increase of companies in ‘critical’ financial distress over the last year.  

The picture is most concerning in the UK’s consumer-facing economy where ‘critical’ financial distress leapt across Bars & Restaurants (+31.2%), Travel & Tourism (+25.5%) and General Retailers (+12.4%).

Importantly, three of the bellwether sectors in the UK: Real Estate & Property Services (6,480 companies), Construction (6,367 companies) and General Retailers (3,401 companies), represented more than a third of the companies in ‘critical’ financial distress, highlighting the perilous situation for the UK economy.

Levels of ‘significant’ distress rose 4.5% in the last twelve months (Q1 2024, 554,554; Q1 2025, 579,276), despite the 11.5% decrease during the first quarter of 2025 (Q4 2024, 654,765). The highest increase in ‘significant’ distress since Q1 2024 was seen in the Hotels & Accommodation (+15.4%), Real Estate & Property Services (+12.1%) and Leisure & Cultural Activities (+9.5%) sectors. 

Overall, ‘significant’ financial distress is most pronounced in the Support Services (86,725), Construction (86,312) and Real Estate & Property Services (68,744) sectors.  

Julie Palmer, Partner at Begbies Traynor, said:

“As we progress through 2025, optimism remains in short supply for UK businesses. The first quarter of the new year started positively with unexpected economic growth figures, positive retail sales and cooling inflation – and that is reflected in our latest data. 

“Indeed, the travel and hospitality sectors may see an opportunity to attract tourists looking to holiday somewhere else other than the United States. However, every business in the UK will have their eyes fixed on the impact of US tariffs and increases to homegrown taxes and that could make the situation even worse.

“Worryingly, the consumer-facing corners of the economy, which have been on the frontline over the last few years, are clearly continuing to struggle. Bars & Restaurants have seen a 31.2% year-on-year increase in critical distress, while Travel & Tourism is not far behind with a 25.5% rise. These sectors, which are notorious for operating on tight margins, are bracing themselves for further economic fallout from both domestic tax increases and US tariffs which could push many over the edge. 

“However, there is a small window of opportunity for business leaders who stand at the crossroads and must decide which path to take. Restructuring, refinancing, selling or closing will be options many will have to decide between, so navigating towards the right outcome will be the target for 2025. Sadly, I fear there will be many potholes that cannot be avoided later this year which will prove too much for some.”

Ric Traynor, Executive Chairman of Begbies Traynor, said:

“After a year characterised by weakening consumer confidence and the spectre of a higher tax burden, 2025 looks like it will offer more challenges.

“Whilst the number of critically distressed businesses did fall in the first quarter of 2025, it feels like this could be the calm before the storm as uncertainty around US tariffs are likely to impact growth and suppress profitability for some time. Businesses will be watching trade talks closely.

“Additionally, the recent increases to both employers’ national insurance contributions and the national minimum wage is likely to result in increased distress levels later in the year as many marginal businesses struggle to absorb further cost inflation.

“Ultimately, if the current pressures on businesses do not ease over the next 12 months, Red Flag Alert’s data points to a large number of these critically distressed businesses progressing towards formal insolvency.”

Top 10 Sector Ranking – Significant Financial Distress                    Top 10 Sector Ranking – Critical Financial Distress                                                                                               

Significant distress by region                                                                        Critical distress by region