200 apprentices still in limbo as Vital Skills fails

MORE than 200 apprentices working for the training arm of Vital, the Salford-based industrial recruiter, started their Christmas break last week as the company went into administration.

Vital Skills Training was the last of 10 Vital companies to fail after an unsuccessful search for a buyer. The administration has left 27 staff out of work across offices in Salford, London, Leicester, Kidderminster, York and Corby.

Most of the group was acquired by Morson, another Salford-based recruitment firm, last month.

But the apprentices, who are on paid leave, have been left in limbo with no guarantee their training will continue. Administrators from Deloitte said opportunities for alternative training were being sought.

The apprentices are contracted to Vital Rail, one of the units acquired by Morson, but TheBusinessDesk understands the apprenticeships are not valid if the training element provided by Vital Skills falls away.

Joint administrator Dan Smith said: “Whilst a buyer was found for much of the Vital Group last month, unfortunately it has not been possible to find one for the skills business. This is despite the significant efforts of the directors of skills and other key stakeholders including Morson Group, which purchased the majority of the Vital Group on 4 November 2013 and provided funding for essential payments of the business over the last few weeks.

“It has been necessary to make all 27 employees of skills redundant, although the employment status of apprentices studying an apprenticeship is not affected by the administration and we understand that opportunities for alternative training are being sought for them.”

An administrator’s report into the collapse of Warrington training firm Elmfield showed Vital Skills was one of the biggest creditors, owed £300,000.