Petitions to wind
up four online recruitment companies in the public interest have
been presented in the High Court following investigations by
Company Investigations, part of the Insolvency Service.
Online Recruiter Ltd and three connected companies: Financial
Times Accounts Ltd, First Star Recruitment Limited and Working
Solutions Websites Direct Limited, provided online recruitment
advertising job opportunities in local government, education,
social care, nursing and medical via a website: www.onlinerecruiter.org.uk
The Official Receiver has been appointed by the court as
provisional liquidator of the companies, following the petition
which was made on made on behalf of the Secretary of State for
Business, Innovation & Skills.
The role of the Official Receiver is to protect the assets and
financial records of the companies pending determination of the
petitions. The provisional liquidator also has the power to
investigate the affairs of the companies insofar as it is
necessary to protect their assets including any third party or
trust monies or assets in the possession of or under the control
of the companies.
As the matter is before the court no further information will be
made available until the petitions are determined. The petitions
are listed for hearing on 18 April 2012.
Ends
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Notes to Editors
1. Online
Recruiter Ltd was incorporated on 1 November 2011. The
registered office of the company is at Kemp House, 152-160 City
Road, London, EC1V 2NX. The sole recorded director of the company
is James Edward Peter Epplestone. The company has no recorded secretary.
2. Financial Times Accounts Ltd was incorporated on 23
February 2011. The registered office of the company is at Forfton
House, Napton Road, Stockton, Southam, CV47 8LA. The sole recorded
director of the company is Jamie Edward Peter Epplestone. The
company has no recorded secretary.
3. First Star Recruitment Limited was incorporated on 11
January 2012. The registered office of the company is at 9 Nursery
Lane, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV31 2PW. The sole recorded
director of the company is Sharon Elizabeth Watkins. The company
has no recorded secretary.
4. Working Solutions Websites
Direct Limited was incorporated on 1 November 2010. The
registered office of the company is at Forfton House, Napton Road,
Stockton, Warwickshire, CV47 8LA. The sole recorded director of
the company is Jamie Edward Peter Epplestone. The company has no
recorded secretary.
5. The petitions to wind up the companies were presented in the
High Court on 25 January 2012 under the provisions of section 124A
of the Insolvency Act 1986.
6. The Official Receiver was appointed as provisional liquidator
of the companies on 26 January 2012.
7. Company Investigations, part of the Insolvency Service,
carries out confidential enquiries on behalf of the Secretary of
State for Business, Innovation & Skills (“BIS”).
8. The Insolvency Service administers the insolvency regime
investigating all compulsory liquidations and individual
insolvencies (bankruptcies) through the Official Receiver to
establish why they became insolvent. The Service also authorises
and regulates the insolvency profession; deals with
disqualification of directors in corporate failures; assesses and
pays statutory entitlement to redundancy payments when an employer
cannot or will not pay employees; provides banking and investment
services for bankruptcy and liquidation estate funds; and advises
ministers and other government departments on insolvency law and
practice. Further information about the work of The Insolvency
Service is available from www.bis.gov.uk/insolvency
9. All public enquiries concerning the affairs of the company
should be made to: The Official Receiver, Public Interest Unit , 2
nd Floor, 3 Piccadilly Place, London Road, Manchester, M1 3BN
Telephone: 0161 234 8531 Email: piu.north@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk
10. Media Enquiries should be directed to:
Kathryn Montague, Media Relations Manager, Telephone 020 7674 or
Ade Daramy, Press Officer on 020 7596 6187
Contacts:
Ade Daramy
Phone: 020 7596 6187
ade.daramy@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk