A Bedfordshire-based civil engineering contractor has entered administration.
Ants Group turned over £19.3m in its last reported financial period, which covered the 18 months to 31 March 2024. The group carried out civil engineering work, as well as drilling and renewable energy installation.
However, it appointed David Kemp and Richard Hunt of Exigen Group as administrators on 14 August.
The company made a pre-tax loss of £100,000 in its last reported financial period, with net assets of £246,000. At that time, Ants Group owed more than £6.3m to creditors, which needed to be repaid within 12 months.
The firm was based in Bedford, with other offices in Northamptonshire and Newcastle. It operated around the UK, particularly in the East of England, and employed around 34 staff.
Ants Group worked on the £165m Papworth Hospital project, completed by Skanska in 2019 for Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Trust, as well as the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool and the Halifax regional office of Lloyds Bank.
It also worked for major university clients including the University of West London, Oxford Brookes and Jesus College Cambridge as well as local authorities such as Luton Council, Cambridgeshire Council and Northamptonshire Council.
Exigen Group and Ants Group’s former managing director Liam Parker were contacted for comment.