RecoupIQ Forensic Intelligence Report
Sterling Digital Agency Ltd
Companies House 12345678 · Generated 22/09/2026, 13:26:03
Report ID
RIQ-SAMPLE7E5T
What this report covers
19-section forensic intelligence report. RecoupIQ doesn't just look up public records, it runs purpose-built machine learning models trained on millions of UK company filings to detect patterns and early warning signals that raw data alone cannot reveal. This report combines Companies House live data, the Gazette, HMRC, and the RecoupIQ debtor-payment network with model-driven risk scores, detection signals, and a prioritised next-action recommendation.
Section 1 · disclaimer
Important Information
“This report draws on publicly available data from Companies House, the London Gazette, HMRC, and the RecoupIQ network, but the value is not in the raw data. RecoupIQ runs purpose-built machine learning models trained on millions of UK company filings to detect patterns, correlations, and early warning signals that no human could spot by reading filings alone. The risk scores, detection signals, and financial health assessments in this report are the output of these models, not simple lookups of public records. This report is provided for informational purposes only. It is NOT financial advice, NOT legal advice, and NOT a regulated credit rating. The information should not be used as the sole basis for any business decision. We recommend consulting a qualified accountant, solicitor, or licensed insolvency practitioner before taking action. RecoupIQ is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.”
Please read before continuing
This report draws on publicly available data from Companies House, the London Gazette, HMRC, and the RecoupIQ network, but the value is not in the raw data. RecoupIQ runs purpose-built machine learning models trained on millions of UK company filings to detect patterns, correlations, and early warning signals that no human could spot by reading filings alone. The risk scores, detection signals, and financial health assessments in this report are the output of these models, not simple lookups of public records. This report is provided for informational purposes only. It is NOT financial advice, NOT legal advice, and NOT a regulated credit rating. The information should not be used as the sole basis for any business decision. We recommend consulting a qualified accountant, solicitor, or licensed insolvency practitioner before taking action. RecoupIQ is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Section 2 · executive_summary
Executive Summary
“3 findings require attention. Click any finding below to jump to the relevant section.”
Financial indicators suggest this company may be under stress. Review the full assessment.
Moderate distress signal from our ML model, not critical but worth noting.
4 of 11 detection patterns triggered, review each flagged signal.
Gazette notices, HMRC defaults, or petitions were found, review details.
No phoenix-pattern links found between this company and dissolved predecessors.
Estimated statutory entitlement under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.
This company has Gazette notices and HMRC default entries on record. These are serious warning signs.
Section 3 · identification
Company Identification
“Sterling Digital Agency Ltd (private limited company), active. Incorporated 2017-03-14. Software development services, primarily B2B retail and finance clients.”
Registered name
Sterling Digital Agency Ltd
Status
active
Incorporated
2017-03-14
SIC code
62012, Business and domestic software development
Registered office
The Old Print Works, 12 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 3BD
Company type
ltd
Section 4 · indicators
At-a-glance Indicators
“At-a-glance: status active · Gazette notices present · HMRC defaults present. Two material flags worth reviewing before extending new credit.”
Active status
active
Age (years)
9
CCJs
none recorded
Gazette notices
present
HMRC defaults
present
Section 5 · directors
Directors & Directorships
“3 active officers. 1 of 3 active officers holds positions in companies showing elevated distress signals, review for cross-company risk exposure.”
Total active officers
3
1 of 3 active officers holds positions in companies showing elevated distress signals, review for cross-company risk exposure.
Mr James Whitfield
director · since 2017-03-14
4 other directorships
2 high-stress
Ms Priya Patel
director · since 2019-08-02
1 other directorships
Mr David O’Connor
company-secretary · since 2020-01-10
0 other directorships
Section 6 · group_structure
Group Structure
“2 persons with significant control · 0 parent companies · 1 subsidiary mapped.”
Immediate parent company
Whitfield Holdings Ltd
09876543 · Active
Section 7 · negative
Negative Information
“3 negative signals surfaced across Gazette, HMRC, and winding-up petition feeds. Review each item before extending new credit.”
Total negative signals
3
Gazette notices
- winding-up-petition, 2026-03-12 · TechStack Hosting Ltd · £18,450
HMRC defaults
- £24,300, 2025-Q4
- £8,920, 2025-Q3
Section 8 · payment_data
Payment Data, Days Beyond Terms
“Across 14 observed invoices, average days beyond terms is 23, on-time rate 31%. Sourced from the RecoupIQ network, peer software-agency observations, not supplier-feed extrapolation.”
Avg DBT (days)
23
On-time %
31%
Observed invoices
14
RecoupIQ network signal
Sourced from the RecoupIQ network. Each invoice you and other UK software agencies process improves this signal, Creditsafe DBT comes from supplier feeds; ours comes from peer agencies.Section 9 · financials
Financial Statements
“Latest period end 2025-03-31. Auditor noted material uncertainty over going concern relating to a major customer concentration risk and reliance on a single key engineering hire.”
Latest period end: 2025-03-31
Turnover
£1,840,000
Net assets
£142,500
Profit
-£68,400
Director loans
-£89,200
Current ratio
0.82
Audit qualified
yes
Going concern note
Auditor noted material uncertainty over going concern relating to a major customer concentration risk (top 1 customer = 42% of revenue) and reliance on a single key engineering hire.Section 10 · network
Directorate Network Scan (Officer Graph)
“RecoupIQ has mapped 6 structural entity links. Detected 2 non-active entity links, verification of cross-company guarantee exposure recommended.”
Total network links
6
High-risk links
2
- Sterling Digital Labs Ltdlow
- Whitfield Holdings Ltdlow
- Capulet Studios (Dissolved)high
- Stratford Software Ltd (Dissolved)high
- Patel Consulting Ltdlow
- JW Ventures Ltdlow
Section 11 · phoenix
Phoenix Pattern Detection
“Phoenix-pattern signal: this company shares directors with 1 dissolved predecessor dissolved within the phoenix detection window. Review carefully before extending credit.”
Phoenix verdict
Phoenix-pattern signal detected
Phoenix-pattern signal: this company shares directors with 1 dissolved predecessor dissolved within the phoenix detection window. Review carefully before extending credit.
Predecessor companies
- Capulet Studios Ltd (09876543) · dissolved 2017-01-08 · 1 shared officer
Director phoenix history
- Mr James Whitfield, 2 dissolved companies
Section 12 · detection_engine
Detection Engine (Multi-Signal Sweep)
“RecoupIQ's detection engine ran 11 machine-learning-driven pattern checks. 4 detection patterns fired in combination, significantly elevated risk profile. Review each flagged signal before extending material credit. 4 signal sources are pending ingestion.”
Sweep summary
4 of 11 signals fired
RecoupIQ's detection engine ran 11 machine-learning-driven pattern checks. 4 detection patterns fired in combination, significantly elevated risk profile. Review each flagged signal before extending material credit. 4 signal sources are pending ingestion.
Gazette notices
This company has published Gazette insolvency-related notices (winding-up petitions, striking-off, or administration).
1 Gazette notice on file for this company.
Sentinel counterparty insolvency
Same-day Companies House status-change in the officer-graph (24-48h ahead of Gazette publication).
News counterparty distress
A counterparty appearing in distressed UK news in the last 30 days, matched via officer-graph overlap.
Director-network risk
Active officers hold positions on dissolved or stressed companies, proxy for spread risk and phoenix-pattern history.
2 dissolved companies in the active-officer history.
Phoenix pattern
Shared-officer link to a dissolved predecessor within the phoenix detection window (Insolvency Act 1986 ss.216-217).
1 dissolved predecessor shares active officer(s) with this company.
HMRC public deliberate defaulter
Cross-match against HMRC's Public Deliberate Defaulters register (published quarterly).
Listed on HMRC PDDD: 2 entry/entries.
Death-spiral pattern
iXBRL-trajectory similarity to known UK pre-administration patterns (multi-quarter accelerating cash burn + debtor stretch).
Trade-debtor absorption
Trade debtors up >30% YoY while cash down >20% YoY, early bad-debt-absorption signal from filed accounts.
Altman Z'-score: distress zone
The company's five key financial ratios place it in the insolvency distress zone (Altman 1983, private-company model).
New going-concern note
The company's latest accounts carry a going-concern note where prior-year accounts did not.
Audit opinion drift
Accounts downgraded to micro-entity or auditor newly qualified their opinion, a structural reduction in financial transparency.
Section 13 · benchmark
BBL Exposure (COVID-Era Lending)
“Companies House records show an OUTSTANDING Bounce Back Loan charge filed by BARCLAYS BANK PLC. Outstanding BBLs are a recognised insolvency-precursor indicator when combined with declining cash positions and should be considered alongside the fiduciary score above.”
BBL Charge Filed
Yes
Lender
BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Charge Status
Outstanding
Charge Date
2020-06-22
Section 14 · fiduciary
Solvency Assessment (Fiduciary Diagnostic)
“Solvency score: 41/100. These figures suggest the company may be under financial stress. This is not financial advice and not a credit rating, consult a qualified professional before acting on this information.”
Composite
41/100
Under Stress
Current Ratio
0.82
Asset Protection
Positive
Director Loans
Directors owe/are owed money
ML distress probability
34.2%
Money owed to the company by customers
↑ Increases risk
Cash in the bank
↓ Reduces risk
Number of employees
↓ Reduces risk
Section 15 · context
Company Overview (Entity Context)
“Sterling Digital Agency Ltd is active, trading for 9 years, in Business and domestic software development, with 3 negative signals on record.”
Company status
active
Years trading
9
Business activity
Business and domestic software development
Active officers
3
Latest turnover
£1,840,000
Net assets
£142,500
Section 16 · qualification
Report Scope & Data Coverage (Qualification)
“This report checked 7 of 10 available data sources (70% coverage). 3 signal sources are pending, coverage will improve as new data pipelines come online.”
Best fit
- Companies House identification
- Filed accounts & financial statements
- Director and officer records
- Gazette & public notices
- Phoenix pattern detection
Not ideal for
- Statutory audit opinion or legal advice
- Regulated credit ratings or investment recommendations
- A substitute for your own commercial judgement
Live data sources
7
Pending sources
3
Overall coverage
70%
Section 17 · recovery
Statutory Recovery Estimate (Capital Discovery)
“Based on publicly filed data, RecoupIQ estimates £18,200 may be recoverable within the 6-year statutory limitation window. After estimated costs, the net figure is approximately £13,104 under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. These are estimates only, actual recovery depends on the debtor's ability to pay and your specific circumstances. Seek legal advice before pursuing a claim.”
Gross pot
£18,200
Net adjusted
£13,104
- Statutory Interest (8%)£11,830
- Fixed Compensation (£70 avg)£4,550
- Statutory Recovery Costs£1,820
Section 18 · recommendation
What To Do Next (Recommended Actions)
“Based on the signals in this report: Investigate the phoenix pattern before extending further credit.”
- high impact
Priority 1
Investigate the phoenix pattern before extending further credit
This company shares directors with previously dissolved companies. This is a recognised insolvency-risk pattern. Consider whether past company failures are relevant to your commercial relationship.
- high impact
Priority 2
Review the negative information carefully
This company has Gazette notices and HMRC default entries on record. These are serious warning signs. If you are owed money, consider sending a formal demand under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 sooner rather than later.
- high impact
Priority 3
Assess whether the company can realistically pay
The financial data suggests this company may be under significant stress, an auditor has raised doubts about whether it can continue trading. Consider whether a payment plan or early settlement discount is more practical than pursuing the full amount.
Section 19 · shield
Report Verification & Integrity (Evidence Shield)
“This report (RIQ-SAMPLE7E5T) has been signed with a cryptographic hash to prove it has not been altered since delivery. The underlying data comes from Companies House filings, the London Gazette, HMRC, and the RecoupIQ network. Every risk score, detection signal, and financial health assessment is produced by RecoupIQ's purpose-built machine learning models, not by simple data lookups. We recommend independent verification of any material claims before acting on them.”
- T-0sReport integrity hash generatedCOMPLETE
- T-2sCompanies House accounts data retrievedCOMPLETE
- T-4sGazette and public records cross-referencedCOMPLETE