The Insolvency Service is an executive agency of the Department for Business and Trade with headquarters in London.

Insolvency Service staff are based across the UK in a network of 38 official receiver offices throughout England and Wales; On 1 April 2006, Companies Investigation Branch of BERR transferred to the service and is based in offices in both London and Manchester.

The new debt relief orders which came into force on 6 April 2009 under the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 are not dealt with by official receivers' offices but at the service's Plymouth office.

This enabled a joined-up approach to company failure and any consequential redundancies to be had and this is demonstrated on a frequent basis.

The Insolvency Service Board is responsible for the long-term success of the agency.