Caldwell Construction has appointed administrators after mounting cashflow pressures
Caldwell Construction’s base in Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent(Image: Google)
A construction company that sponsors the south stand at Stoke City’s bet365 Stadium has gone into administration following “significant” cashflow difficulties. Caldwell Construction Ltd, which employs over 400 staff at its headquarters in Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, and offices in Warrington, has been forced to appoint administrators at time when the construction sector is facing many challenges.
The groundworks specialist carries out construction projects on housing and commercial developments throughout the Midlands and North West. The firm’s services include earthworks, foundations, piling, masonry, finished flooring, pathways, driveways, sewer connections and various excavation activities.
Administrators from PKF Littlejohn Advisory UK LLP were formally appointed yesterday (15 January), after efforts to identify a sustainable path forward proved unsuccessful. In the year ending March 2025, Caldwell Construction Ltd reported revenues exceeding £58 million, reports Stoke on Trent Live.
Joint administrator Oliver Collinge said: “The directors at Caldwell have taken the difficult decision to place the company into administration. Our immediate focus is now on supporting employees and stakeholders while we assess the position of the business and its assets.”
The administration comes amid a challenging environment for groundworks and civil engineering contractors, with delayed payments, rising costs and project slowdowns persistently eroding profit margins throughout the housebuilding supply chain. Paul Smith, a partner at PKF Littlejohn Advisory UK LLP, commented: “The construction sector has faced challenging trading conditions over recent years. This includes increasing costs, delays to schemes, and wider market uncertainty.
“These pressures were exacerbated at Caldwell in recent weeks, placing significant strain on cash flow and operations. PKF Littlejohn Advisory teams in Manchester and Leeds had worked closely with Caldwell’s management over the past few months to explore all available options and potential solutions for the business.
“Unfortunately, despite extensive efforts, it was not possible to secure a way forward that would allow the company to continue trading outside of an insolvency process.”
The firm has a partnership with Stoke City FC, with the South Stand at the bet365 Stadium called The Caldwell Construction Stand. Those impacted by the administration are advised to reach out to PKF Littlejohn Advisory via email at: Caldwellconstructionlimited@pkf-l. com.
