The short version
- Andrew Woosnam’s recruitment firms have entered insolvency twice since late 2025, leaving creditors with millions in unpaid debts including significant sums owed to HMRC.
- A new entity called Xpertis Talent has appeared with former staff and similar branding, though Woosnam is not listed as a shareholder in the latest filings.
- Critics point to pre-pack administration risks, noting that promised payments from revived companies often fail to materialize for original creditors.
The recruitment sector has seen another instance of corporate restructuring that leaves creditors behind, centered on the activities of Andrew Woosnam. His business ventures have collapsed twice in recent months, yet a new entity bearing striking similarities to his former operations has emerged. This pattern highlights ongoing concerns regarding pre-pack administrations, where assets are transferred to connected parties before or during insolvency proceedings, often resulting in limited recovery for those owed money.
Woosnam built a substantial career in recruitment over three decades, establishing his own firm at the turn of the millennium. During its peak, Premier Group Recruitment was recognized as an award-winning business. Woosnam held 99% of the shares and extracted significant value from the company through salaries, dividends, and loans. These funds allowed him to acquire high-value assets, including a Berkshire property previously owned by comedians Dawn French and Lenny Henry, which he purchased for £2.2 million in 2013.
The financial trajectory shifted sharply in September 2025 when Premier Group entered administration. The company owed approximately £2.9 million to various creditors, including more than £647,000 to HM Revenue and Customs. Enforcement proceedings had already begun against the firm before its collapse. Just three days after entering administration, the assets were acquired by PGGBR Ltd, a new company also owned by Woosnam.
The acquisition structure involved an initial payment of £10,000 from Woosnam to the administrators, with a promise to transfer an additional £600,000 through monthly installments over two years. This arrangement theoretically outbid a competing offer of £321,000 in cash. However, such deals are frequently criticized for favoring owners at the expense of creditors. Studies suggest that phoenix companies formed through these mechanisms have higher failure rates and poorer outcomes for those left with unpaid debts.
The promised payments from PGGBR did not materialize as expected. Instead, the new company accumulated further liabilities, including an additional £400,000 debt to HMRC according to recent filings. Woosnam had previously received a £1.2 million director’s loan from Premier Group and nearly £2 million in dividends since 2022. He also appears to have taken another £200,000 via a director’s loan from PGGBR before that entity was placed into liquidation last month.
Despite the apparent terminal nature of these failures, business activity continues under a new banner. Xpertis Talent, established in July 2026, now employs at least eight former staff members from Premier Group. The resemblance between the old and new operations is so strong that employees have expressed confusion about the transition. Marketing materials on professional networking sites have attributed past industry awards won by Premier Group to the new venture, blurring the lines between the insolvent entities and the current operation.
One former employee posted online that he began working for Xpertis before it was officially registered with Companies House. This rapid succession of entities raises questions about continuity and accountability. While Woosnam did not respond to requests for comment, his absence from the shareholder list of Xpertis is notable. Filings indicate the new company is wholly owned by an individual based in Thailand.
It remains unclear whether Woosnam is directly involved in the management or ownership of Xpertis Talent. He is understood to have family connections in Thailand, but it is not confirmed if these relatives are linked to the new business. The case underscores the complexities of modern insolvency law and the challenges creditors face when businesses reorganize through phoenix structures. Insolvency professionals continue to pursue recovery efforts, with Woosnam’s Berkshire property currently under scrutiny by representatives acting on behalf of unpaid creditors.
The broader implications extend beyond this single case. Pre-pack administrations allow connected parties to buy back businesses on deferred terms, a practice that has drawn criticism for its potential to disadvantage creditors. As regulatory bodies and industry observers examine these trends, the Woosnam saga serves as a prominent example of how quickly corporate fortunes can reverse while leaving significant financial obligations unresolved. The situation remains fluid as legal and financial professionals assess the viability of recovering funds from the various entities involved.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian World↗The boss whose twice-bust business appears to be back despite £3m debts
