The Audit Lab appoints administrators owing almost £0.5m

Bolton digital agency The Audit Lab has entered voluntary administration owing almost half a million pounds, according to documents filed with Companies House.

Tom Bowes and Andrew David Rosler of Bolton’s Ideal Corporate Solutions have been appointed administrators at the agency, which Companies House records reveal owed £453,007 at the time notice of the administrators’ appointment, along with a resolution to wind up and a statement of affairs, were filed on October 18.

The debt included over £390,000 to HMRC in unpaid taxes, VAT and PAYE remittances. Other major creditors included Barclay’s Bank and London recruitment firm and talent consultancy Inventum Group.

The Audit Lab’s LinkedIn profile lists the company as employing 14 staff, and among recent activities the firm appointed a new head of paid search and entered into a new partnership with Bolton Lads and Girls Club, one of the largest youth clubs in the country, over the summer. The company also became a patron of the youth club, with Claire Crompton [pictured], co-founder and commercial director of The Audit Lab, saying of the partnership at the time: “We’re proud to be supporting such an important charity and giving back to the Bolton community. As well as becoming patrons, we’re also volunteering to support and mentor those in need to hopefully make a difference. As a business, we’re going to encourage the wider team to become involved, to hopefully help with office morale and teambuilding.”

The firm had also committed to an annual £10k fund for staff training and development and a bespoke personal development plan for employees as recently as May.

Prolific North has contacted The Audit Lab and Ideal Corporate Solutions for comment.