prabhu
The collapse of PLM Global, a Nottingham-based computer hardware supplier, has resulted in the loss of all jobs at the company, marking a significant blow to the local technology sector. Less than three years after a seven-figure management buyout, the firm entered administration on 25 June 2025, with administrators from RSM UK confirming the immediate redundancy of all staff due to a sharp decline in orders. This article explores the circumstances surrounding PLM Global’s closure, its impact on Nottingham’s economy, and the broader context of the region’s evolving tech and energy sectors.
PLM Global’s Rise and Fall
Company Background
Founded in 2014, PLM Global specialised in supplying, repairing, and maintaining handheld data capture devices, mobile print, and EPoS hardware for sectors such as retail, manufacturing, transport, and logistics. Operating from facilities in Nottingham and Portishead, the company built a reputation as an agile, independent provider, working with top-tier brands like Zebra, Honeywell, and Datalogic. By 2021, PLM Global had grown from four to 21 employees, expanded its client base by 100 to 458, and achieved a turnover of £3.1 million, with ambitions to reach £5 million within three years. The opening of a flagship repair and distribution centre in Nottingham solidified its regional presence and created new job opportunities, including apprenticeships through the Kickstarter scheme.
Management Buyout and Growth
In August 2022, PLM Global underwent a management buyout, with Shane Watson becoming CEO and majority shareholder, supported by SME Capital and local firms HSKSG Corporate Finance Specialists and Acton’s Solicitors. The buyout aimed to fuel further growth, leveraging the company’s innovative approach and global reach across six continents. Despite economic challenges from Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic, PLM Global thrived, offering tailored solutions, short-term service agreements, and high-quality refurbished hardware. The Nottingham site was central to its strategy, enhancing resilience and supporting plans to expand OEM product supply.
Collapse into Administration
Despite its earlier success, PLM Global faced a sudden decline in trade, rendering it unable to meet financial obligations. On 25 June 2025, the company’s lender appointed Gordon Thomson and Damian Webb of RSM UK Restructuring Advisory LLP as joint administrators. A spokesperson for RSM stated, “Due to a decline in trade, the director made the staff redundant and ceased trading. The administrators are exploring options to realise the company’s assets.” The closure resulted in the loss of all jobs, estimated at around 21 based on 2021 figures, though exact numbers in 2025 remain undisclosed. This abrupt end highlights the volatility of the tech hardware sector, where demand fluctuations can swiftly undermine even promising businesses.
Impact on Nottingham’s Economy
Job Losses and Local Effects
The loss of all jobs at PLM Global is a setback for Nottingham’s technology sector, which had benefited from the company’s growth and investment in local talent. The firm’s commitment to creating opportunities, particularly for young adults through apprenticeships, had positioned it as a contributor to the region’s economic vitality. The closure reverses these gains, affecting not only employees but also the broader supply chain and local businesses reliant on PLM Global’s operations. Nottingham’s tech community, known for its innovation in areas like mobile computing and logistics, now faces the challenge of absorbing these skilled workers into new roles.
Broader Context
The closure occurs amidst a mixed economic landscape in the East Midlands. While PLM Global’s collapse is a loss, other regional initiatives signal growth. For instance, the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) announced a 20-year partnership on 27 June 2025 to develop fusion energy skills for the STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme at West Burton, Nottinghamshire. This initiative, expected to create 6,500 full-time roles by the 2040s, highlights the region’s potential as a hub for advanced technology and sustainable energy. The contrast between PLM Global’s failure and STEP’s promise underscores the region’s transition from traditional tech hardware to cutting-edge energy solutions.
Challenges in the Tech Hardware Sector
Market Pressures
PLM Global’s collapse reflects broader challenges in the computer hardware sector. Rapid technological advancements, supply chain disruptions, and shifting demand for legacy versus new equipment can strain smaller firms. Despite its agility and focus on refurbished hardware, PLM Global struggled to maintain orders, possibly due to competition from larger suppliers or reduced demand for EPoS and data capture devices as businesses pivot to newer technologies. The sector’s reliance on global supply chains, impacted by post-Brexit trade barriers and pandemic-related disruptions, likely exacerbated these pressures.
Comparison to Other Insolvencies
The East Midlands has seen other businesses face similar fates. In 2023, Fresh Pastures Limited and School Milk UK Limited, based in Normanton, entered administration under RSM UK, resulting in 66 job losses due to sustained financial losses. Like PLM Global, these firms struggled with market challenges, highlighting the vulnerability of specialised businesses in volatile economic conditions. However, successful interventions, such as RSM’s 2017 sale of four Lancashire textile companies to Bolton Textiles Group, which saved 102 jobs, demonstrate that strategic asset realisation can mitigate some impacts, a process RSM is now exploring for PLM Global.
Opportunities Amidst Setbacks
Regional Resilience
While PLM Global’s closure is a loss, Nottingham’s economy remains dynamic. The STEP programme’s focus on fusion energy training, delivered through regional education sites, promises long-term job creation and skills development. Apprenticeships and advanced technical programmes will equip workers for high-tech roles, potentially absorbing talent displaced by closures like PLM Global. The West Burton site, with construction set to begin in the early 2030s, is expected to sustain thousands of jobs, offering a pathway for Nottingham’s tech workforce to transition into emerging industries.
Lessons for the Tech Sector
PLM Global’s experience underscores the need for tech firms to diversify revenue streams and build resilience against market shifts. Its earlier success in navigating Brexit and COVID-19 through flexibility and innovation suggests that adaptability is key, but sustained demand is critical. Future tech businesses in Nottingham could benefit from stronger local partnerships, such as those fostered by the EMCCA, to secure contracts and stabilise operations.
Looking Forward
The collapse of PLM Global marks a challenging moment for Nottingham’s tech sector, with all jobs lost following a sharp decline in trade. However, the region’s economic landscape is far from static. Initiatives like the STEP programme signal a shift toward sustainable, high-tech industries, offering hope for reemployment and growth. As administrators work to realise PLM Global’s assets, the focus turns to supporting affected workers and leveraging Nottingham’s strengths to drive future opportunities. The city’s resilience, bolstered by its history of innovation and strategic investments, positions it to overcome this setback and thrive in the evolving tech and energy sectors.
