Evesham youth skills training centre enters administration

AN academy in Evesham which provides body and paint workshop training for young people has been forced to call in administrators.

The JohnsonVellen Centre of Excellence (JVCE) has appointed insolvency firm Poppleton & Appleby after being unable to cover the on-going costs of running the project and lacking the funding to continue with on-going development work.

JVCE Academy was set-up in 2012 to provide training to the next generation of young people looking to enter the vehicle fabrication and welding and body and paintwork industries.

It developed a bespoke training facility at Davies House, in Davies Road, which it leases from Wychavon District Council, and worked in partnership with South Worcestershire College to offer opportunities to apprentices and learners.

The facility is expected to continue trading until end of July allowing learners to complete their training and to give other tenants, which sub-let space in the building, time to seek alternative options.

Paul Johnson, managing director at JVCE, said: “We set-up as a not for profit business with the aim of providing high-quality training to combat the skills shortage I had experienced working in the industry.

“Unfortunately, we incurred a number of difficulties very early on including extensive vandalism damage to the building which meant we had unexpected costs of around £60,000.

“We also had to rethink our business model after South Worcestershire College was unable to occupy the remaining space at the property and also suffered funding difficulties which meant we were unable to offer fabrication and welding courses.

“I very quickly looked to secure tenants to help cover the shortfall and was very pleased to attract companies that were offering a similar synergy to the work being completed at the centre.

“Unfortunately, it has been a struggle to recoup the losses incurred by the vandalism damage and although we have received great support from the council we have been unable to find a solution.

“We sadly had to call in administrators in order to remain in operation over the next four weeks and we are hoping to come up with a solution or attract alternative investment in that time.”

Other tenants at Davies House include The Shutter Crew, which provides photography training, Devils Ride and Autoheal which repair & customise cars, Nick Neill Art who is an airbrush artist and provides training. AE Upholstery and Evesham Day Nursery also operate on site. 

Matt Hardy of Poppleton & Appleby, which has offices in Coventry and Birmingham, said:  “JVCE Academy has been placed into administration after it was unable to cover the costs needed to sustain the facility.

“The building has undergone considerable development work but additional investment is still needed to complete refurbishments.

“Mr Johnson explored a number of avenues to try to keep the business in operation but was unable to cover the shortfall, therefore the business model is no longer viable.

“The premises will remain in operation over the next four weeks in the hope that it will give other tenants on site as much time as possible to seek alternative accommodation.

“We will now work with JVCE and Wychavon District Council to find the best possible outcome.”