IT Recovery and Asset Disposal for Insolvency Practitioners

For nearly four decades, OCM has built a solid reputation as a trusted partner for administrators and insolvency practitioners across the UK. With a practical, agile approach and a deep understanding of the challenges that come with business closures and distressed asset recovery, OCM has been instrumental in supporting the IT requirements of major insolvencies and company administrations—including some of the UK’s most high-profile retail brands.

A trusted partner to leading advisors

OCM has worked directly with some of the largest and most respected names in corporate recovery, including Deloitte, Teneo, PwC, Gordon Brothers, Moorfields and Alvarez & Marsal. The long-standing relationships with these firms are a testament to OCM’s reliability, responsiveness and ability to deliver at scale – even under immense pressure.

“OCM pride ourselves on being the partner administrators can rely on when time is short and expectations are high. Our team knows how to move fast, sensitively and sustainably to maximise value and ensure full compliance.” Richard Done, Director, OCM.

Delivering results during critical times

OCM’s portfolio of insolvency projects spans some of the UK’s best-known high street names and corporate entities:

Woolworths (2008–2009)

Tasked with clearing a large distribution centre in Rochdale, OCM also assisted with equipment recovery from various stores—some of which still had abandoned IT equipment years later.

Comet (2011)

Initially brought in to remove equipment from stores, the project quickly scaled to include the clearance of all Comet UK locations, including their Watford HQ. The volume was so substantial – 15 articulated lorry loads and over 400 pallets – that OCM acquired additional warehouse space, which has remained part of its infrastructure ever since.

Blockbuster

OCM managed the complete IT clearance of Blockbuster’s HQ near Uxbridge and coordinated the recovery of equipment from remaining stores – consolidating everything at its purpose-built facility.

Phones 4U

A particularly fast-moving project, OCM de-installed and removed all IT equipment from three major office buildings in Stoke-on-Trent, including an on-site data centre. The team also handled additional datacentre purchases and the acquisition of hundreds of till lanes.

Maplin, Toys R Us, Laura Ashley, Ted Baker

From closing more than 200 Maplin stores in 2017 to clearing 100 Toys R Us stores and a major distribution centre near Coventry in 2018, OCM’s team has continually demonstrated its ability to work nationwide—training drivers, managing logistics and responsibly processing assets. The involvement with Laura Ashley and Ted Baker further showcases their ability to adapt to rapidly evolving retail closures.

Honda UK (2021)

When Honda announced the planned closure of their UK facility in Swindon, OCM put together a plan for the careful consolidation and removal of all IT equipment over a 12-month period. Working collaboratively with Honda and the Administrators, the OCM team carefully managed this on their behalf. Together, we ensured the minimum impact to staff, whilst ensuring maximisation of revenues returned to the customer. On a very sad day in July 2021, OCM were there to respectfully remove the final pieces of IT equipment from the estate.

Wilko (2023)

On behalf of PwC and Hilco, OCM purchased and removed eight full artic loads of IT equipment from Wilko’s Nottinghamshire HQ. The £100,000 + upfront investment illustrated our ability to move quickly and decisively to help in such difficult circumstances.

Debenhams, Robin Hood Energy, Tonik Energy

From the rapid 48-hour site clearance for Robin Hood Energy to supporting Debenhams during and after administration, OCM consistently proved their value in time-sensitive scenarios. In the case of Tonik Energy, the team even coordinated laptop returns from 40 home-based staff, illustrating their meticulous attention to detail.

A proven, sustainable approach

Today, OCM isn’t just a leader in secure IT asset disposal – the experienced team are a vital partner for administrators looking to generate value and reduce waste. The environmentally conscious model helps minimise landfill, while donations to charities such as KANRA, the Salvation Army and local community projects reflect their broader social impact.

From facilitating the digital inclusion of vulnerable groups to helping housing associations like Sanctuary Housing meet ESG goals, OCM’s services extend above and beyond simple logistics. The established experts offer scalable, secure and sustainable IT recovery solutions – backed by decades of hands-on experience.

Summary

If you’re an insolvency practitioner looking for a responsive and proven IT asset partner, OCM is ready to act quickly, ethically and efficiently – just as OCM has done time and again.