UPDATE (25 March):
Belfield Leisure has now entered administration, with administrators from Interpath appointed on 23 March.
The Ilkeston-based business employs around 200 people locally and is part of a wider group employing around 500 staff across the UK.
The company will continue trading for now while a buyer is sought, although a small number of redundancies have already been made.
ILKESTON, 21 March: Two companies linked to a major Ilkeston-based manufacturer have filed notices of intention to appoint administrators, raising concerns about potential job losses.
Westbridge Furniture and Belfield Leisure, both part of the Belfield Group, have taken the step after failing to secure additional funding needed to continue trading.
The move gives the businesses short-term protection from creditors while options are explored, including the possibility of securing new investment or a sale. Restructuring specialists Interpath are expected to be appointed as administrators in the coming days if a rescue deal cannot be reached.
Westbridge Furniture Design operates across four UK sites and employs more than 1,300 people. The company manufactures sofas, mattresses and soft furnishings for major UK retailers.
Despite building its order book during 2025, the business has struggled to return to profitability. The group said a combination of operational disruption following its acquisition, the loss of a key customer and weaker trading at the start of 2025 had put significant pressure on cashflow.
Belfield Leisure, which supplies upholstery and furnishings to the caravan and holiday park sector, has also been impacted by a prolonged downturn in its market. While the business has made cost savings and regained some market share, it remains loss-making and is facing additional pressure from upcoming property-related costs at its Ilkeston site.
In a statement, chief executive Tom Prestwich said the decisions had been “extremely difficult” but necessary.
“In order to provide the necessary protections for both Westbridge and Belfield, and to enable these businesses, rapidly, to explore alternative funding options, it has been necessary to file notices of intention to appoint administrators,” he said.
“Both businesses were on the cusp of full recovery but required further funding to remain as solvent trading entities. As this funding has not been forthcoming, the Directors have been obliged to take these extremely difficult decisions.”
The group said efforts to secure further investment had so far been unsuccessful, despite additional funding from existing shareholders during 2025. It added that weaker consumer confidence and wider global uncertainty had made raising finance more challenging.
Other companies within the Belfield Group, including Tetrad Furniture and Clinchplain Foam and Fibre, are continuing to trade.
The situation is likely to be a worrying time for employees, with the coming days expected to be critical in determining whether a rescue deal can be secured.