M Squared Lasers in Glasgow Enters Administration, 28 Staff Laid off

M Squared Lasers, a Glasgow‑based photonics and quantum‑technology developer, ceased trading and entered administration on 29 August 2025 after nearly two decades of operation. The appointment of joint administrators, Alistair McAlinden and Geoff Jacobs, managing directors at Interpath, followed the company’s decision to seek insolvency protection. Within hours of the appointment, the firm announced the termination of all trading activities and the lay‑off of 28 staff members, a move that underscored the severity of its financial distress.

The administrators are now evaluating options to sell the business and its assets, which include a portfolio of intellectual property, an established customer base, ongoing work‑in‑progress, and existing stock. In addition to asset disposal, the administrators are coordinating redundancy support for the affected employees. McAlinden stated that a specialist employee team has been mobilised to assist staff in submitting claims to the Redundancy Payments Service, and that the team is working closely with Skills Development Scotland and its PACE team to provide further assistance. The administrators also plan to liaise with the many stakeholders impacted by the insolvency over the coming days.

M Squared’s collapse was attributed to a confluence of external pressures. The company cited the COVID‑19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine as key detriments, noting shortages of critical components, a tightening market for skilled personnel, and reduced orders from specific customers. Despite seeking alternative funding to enable a turnaround, the board was unable to secure the necessary cash to meet its obligations, prompting the decision to appoint administrators. The company’s founder, Graeme Malcolm OBE, and co-founder Gareth Maker had established M Squared in 2006 to develop novel laser-based solutions for research. Their flagship product, the SolsTiS laser platform, is an ultra‑narrow linewidth continuous‑wave Ti:Sapphire laser that earned the firm the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation and an IOP Innovation Award, underscoring the technological significance of the assets now up for sale.

Role of Interpath Administrators and Employee Support

On 29 August 2025, Glasgow‑based photonics firm M Squared Lasers entered administration after ceasing trading. The appointment of Alistair McAlinden and Geoff Jacobs, managing directors of Interpath, as joint administrators marked the beginning of a coordinated effort to manage the company’s sudden collapse. The decision to appoint administrators was followed by the immediate lay‑off of 28 employees, a move that underscored the urgency of the situation.

Central to the administrators’ remit is providing comprehensive support to the affected workforce. McAlinden announced that Interpath had deployed a specialist employee team to facilitate the submission of redundancy claims to the Redundancy Payments Service. “We have mobilised our specialist employee team to ensure that all possible support is provided to the company’s employees in submitting their claims to the Redundancy Payments Service,” he said. The team is also collaborating closely with Skills Development Scotland and its PACE (Professional Advancement and Career Enhancement) programme, which is mobilising resources to assist displaced staff. This partnership aims to streamline the claims process and provide career transition support to individuals who have lost their jobs.

While the administrators evaluate options for the sale of M Squared’s assets, they are simultaneously engaging with a broad spectrum of stakeholders affected by the insolvency. This includes suppliers, customers, and industry partners who the sudden cessation of business may impact. Among the intellectual property assets under consideration is the SolsTiS laser platform, an ultra‑narrow linewidth continuous‑wave Ti:Sapphire laser that has been a cornerstone of M Squared’s product portfolio. The SolsTiS laser’s inclusion in the asset pool highlights the technical value that remains within the company’s intellectual property catalogue.

In sum, the role of Interpath’s administrators extends beyond asset management to encompass a structured, employee‑centric approach. By mobilising dedicated support teams, liaising with governmental workforce agencies, and maintaining open channels with all parties impacted by the insolvency, the administrators are working to mitigate the human cost of M Squared’s collapse while preserving the integrity of its technological assets.

Pandemic and Ukraine Conflict as Drivers of Financial Decline

M Squared Lasers, a Glasgow‑based photonics and quantum‑technology developer founded in 2006 by Graeme Malcolm OBE and Gareth Maker, announced on 29 August 2025 that it had ceased trading and entered administration after nearly two decades of operation. The company’s flagship product, the SolsTiS laser platform, is an ultra-narrow-linewidth continuous-wave Ti:Sapphire laser that has earned the firm The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation and an IOP Innovation Award.

The joint administrators, Alistair McAlinden and Geoff Jacobs of Interpath, were appointed on the same day to manage the insolvency proceedings. They confirmed that 28 staff members had been laid off and that the company’s assets—including the SolsTiS laser intellectual property, a customer base, work‑in‑progress projects and inventory—were being considered for sale. In addition to asset liquidation, the administrators are coordinating with Skills Development Scotland and its PACE (Professional Advancement and Career Enhancement) programme to facilitate redundancy claims and provide career transition support for affected employees.

M Squared cited the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine as key drivers of its deteriorating financial position. The pandemic disrupted supply chains, leading to a scarcity of critical components, while the Ukraine war tightened the market for skilled labour and reduced orders from certain customers. Despite seeking alternative funding to reverse the downturn, the company was unable to secure sufficient cash to meet its obligations, prompting the board to seek administration as a last resort.

Legacy of SolsTiS Laser Platform and Future of Photonics Innovation

The SolsTiS laser platform, an ultra‑narrow‑linewidth continuous‑wave Ti:Sapphire laser, was the flagship product of M Squared Lasers, a Glasgow‑based photonics and quantum‑technology developer founded in 2006 by Graeme Malcolm OBE and Gareth Maker. The platform’s technical sophistication earned the company the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation and an IOP Innovation Award, underscoring its contribution to the field of laser‑based research.

Following the company’s cessation of trading on 29 August 2025, joint administrators Alistair McAlinden and Geoff Jacobs of Interpath were appointed to manage the insolvency. Among the assets under consideration for sale are the intellectual property rights to the SolsTiS laser, a customer base, work‑in‑progress projects and inventory. A successful transfer of these assets could allow a new owner to integrate the SolsTiS laser into next‑generation photonics systems, thereby extending the technology’s reach beyond M Squared’s own operations.