70 jobs to go as training firm Scientiam ceases trading
TRAINING provider Scientiam has ended operations amid a cash crisis and all 70 staff are set to be made redundant.
The Liverpool company, which runs the Academy ONE retail skills centre for the Liverpool ONE shopping centre, appointed administrators on Monday.
In a statement the Mazars said: “The board of Liverpool-based training provider Scientiam appointed Tim Askham and Robert Adamson, both of Mazars as joint administrators.
“The appointment reluctantly followed an internal review supported by advice from the external auditors which concluded that Scientiam had become insolvent and could not continue its operations. Learner numbers not reaching targets coupled with claw backs of previously advanced funding combined to drain Scientiam of its cash resources.”
“Although the administrators have had to announce cessation of all activity, and have commenced redundancy consultations with all staff, it is nevertheless the Administrators primary concern to facilitate as orderly a hand over of these learners to a successor organisation as rapidly as possible.
“To that end, the administrators have also begun discussions with the funding agencies involved with Scientiam. The Administrators are keen to talk to any organisations with an interest in and capability of acquiring any part of Scientiam’s operations.”
Founded in 2001 Scientiam is one of the largest training providers in the North West. It works with both the Skills Funding Agency and Education Funding Agency to deliver a range of Government-funded programmes.
The company has worked with more than 1,500 employers across the region and supported more than 6,000 apprentices and learners.
Scientiam delivers its training across a comprehensive list of sectors including construction, catering and hospitality, business, sports and leisure, management, green energy, and retail. In the year to the end of July 2011 it saw turnover fall from £3.8m to £3m, but reduced its losses from £400,000 in 2010 to £29,641.
