80 jobs lost as training provider plunges into administration

Kris Wigfield

LifeSkills Solutions Limited, a training provider based in Rotherham, Lowestoft and Basildon has been placed into administration with Kris Wigfield and Joanne Hammond of Begbies Traynor appointed as joint administrators.

The social enterprise was formed in 2002 in Bethnal Green, London, with centres subsequently set up outside the capital, including in South Yorkshire.

Providing post-16 education and training programmes, LifeSkills currently works with over 470 students.

The company has suffered from an ongoing dispute with the Education and Skills Funding Agency/Department for Education which has affected funding and made the social enterprise unviable.

In recent weeks, LifeSkills has been working with Begbies Traynor and sister business, Eddisions, to market the business, but a buyer has not been found.

All 80 staff have been made redundant following the appointment and the business will cease trading from close of business on Friday 14 October.

A spokesman for LifeSkills, said: “Over the last 20 years, LifeSkills has done some wonderful work and we are proud to have supported the learning of over 22,000 young people.

“While we have tried everything to save the company, this has not been possible and we are incredibly sad to be in this situation.”

Kris Wigfield, of Begbies Traynor, added: “While we have not managed to find a purchaser during the timeframe we were given, should anybody have a genuine interest in purchasing the business, please contact Richard Temple at Eddisons on 0113 243 0101.

“Our immediate priority over the coming days will be to assist the students and employees as much as we possibly can.”

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