August listicle

Insolvencies, departures, closures, and criminal activity – print’s toughest month

Printweek's top 10 stories alone generated more than 39,000 clicks
Printweek's top 10 stories alone generated more than 39,000 clicks

If our most-read listicle is anything to go by, then August must be in the running for print’s cruellest month in 2024 because, much like with the UK summer, sunshine was in short supply.

Charlesworth Press in administration 6,167 clicks

Administrators have been appointed at H Charlesworth & Co – which trades as Charlesworth Press – just eight weeks after the business merged with TJ Books.


2 Print boss bankrupted 4,648 clicks

Matthew Herbert, former director of a number of failed print businesses, has been bankrupted by a creditor. 


3 RNB Group sold out of administration 3,040 clicks

RNB Group has been sold after calling in advisers to assist with a fast-track sale after the firm was stymied by a cash crunch.  


4 Gemini Print shortfall tops £6m 2,961 clicks

The statement of administrator’s proposal for commercial printer Gemini Print, which ceased trading in June, has revealed that the business had an estimated deficiency of well over £6m when it went into administration.


5 TJ Books buys Charlesworth in pre-pack deal 2,945 clicks

TJ Books has bought Charlesworth’s business and assets from the company’s administrators in a pre-pack deal and has TUPE’d over its 60 staff.


6 Walstead York future unclear 2,381 clicks

The future for Walstead York remains unclear with the factory still out of action and no word from Walstead Group on its plans for the site.


7 Walstead EU boss to leave group 2,331 clicks

Walstead’s recently appointed CEO for its EU operations has decided to leave the business, in a surprise move that comes just two months after he took up the new role.


8 DecTek and Big Bang appoint liquidators 2,253 clicks

Pontypridd sister companies Big Bang and DecTek have simultaneously appointed joint liquidators and appear to have ceased trading.


9 Northwolds Richardson Group in administration 2,233 clicks

Family-run print company Northwolds Richardson Group, formed last year following the merger of North Wolds Printers and Wood Richardson, has gone into administration.


10 Euro forger who produced fake banknotes arrested 1,787 clicks

A counterfeiter who printed and sold €8m (£6.82m) worth of fake banknotes across Europe, with another €3m worth ready to go at his Naples-based printing premises has been arrested.