Category: Sources

Sukhjit Sohal Singh, who was director of temporary staff employment agency Phoenix Midlands Ltd, has been disqualified for seven years for failing to adhere to licencing standards.

He signed a Disqualification Undertaking which bans him from acting as a company director or from managing, or in any way controlling, a limited company from 5 September 2017 until 4 September 2024.

Singh was a director of Phoenix Midlands Limited, a temporary employment agency that went into Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation on 13 November 2015 owing £841,566 to creditors.

Between 13 June 2013 and at least 5 February 2015, Singh failed to ensure that Phoenix Midlands Limited complied with Licensing Standards set out by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA), the regulatory body. In particular, he was deemed “not fit and proper” to hold a GLA licence, as he not been candid and truthful in all dealings with them. In addition, he had not demonstrated a readiness and willingness to comply with the requirements and standards of the regulatory system and with other legal, regulatory and professional requirements and standards. The GLA licence was therefore revoked.

Aldona O’Hara, Chief Investigator of Insolvent Investigations Midlands & West at the Insolvency Service, said:

When directors of a company do not comply with legislation that is designed to protect employees, and avoidable losses result, the Insolvency Service will fully investigate the circumstances and take action where appropriate.

These disqualifications send a clear message that exploitation of vulnerable workers will not be tolerated.

Notes to editors

Sukhjit Sohal Singh’s date of birth is November 1975 and he currently resides at Rowley Regis, West Midlands.

Phoenix Midlands Limited (CRO No. 08567826) was incorporated on 13 June 2013 and traded from Suite 508C, Hawthorns Business Centre, Halfords Lane, Smethwick, West Midlands, B66 1BB

Sukhjit Sohal Singh was appointed director from 13 June 2013 to 13 November 2015 (the date of Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation).

The seven year Disqualification Undertaking was accepted by the Secretary of State on 15 August 2017 and commenced on 5 September 2017.

The matter of unfitness, which Singh was found to have been in breach of were:

• Between 13 June 2013 and at least 05 February 2015,he failed to ensure that Phoenix Midlands Limited adhered to Licensing Standards as provided for by the Gang-Masters (Licensing Authority) regulations 2005.
• Singh was the sole appointed director of PML from 13 June 2013 (the date of incorporation) to 13 November 2015 (when Phoenix entered Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation). The company commenced trading as of 11 December 2013 supplying temporary workers.
• On 26 June 2013, Phoenix applied for a gangmasters licence and on 11 October 2013 a license was granted with two additional licence conditions.
• On 05 February 2014, a compliance inspection was conducted by officers of the GLA. A report dated 14 March 2014, stated that Singh was deemed as being not “fit and proper” to hold a GLA licence as Phoenix was in critical breach of several licensing standards. The breaches referred to the following:

1. Singh had not been candid and truthful in all dealings with the regulatory body (GLA) and he had not demonstrated a readiness and willingness to comply with the requirements and standards of the regulatory system and with other legal, regulatory and professional requirements and standards;
2. he had been influenced by a third party who the GLA considered not to be “fit and proper”;
3. he did not have sufficient understanding of the GLA Licensing standards and/’or has sufficient management processes;
4. The company was not registered with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in respect of income tax and National Insurance;
5. PAYE/NIC had not been calculated and deducted from the workers wages which was a direct contravention of the licensing standards requirement of HMRC.

A disqualification order has the effect that without specific permission of a court, a person with a disqualification cannot:

• act as a director of a company
• take part, directly or indirectly, in the promotion, formation or management of a company or limited liability partnership
• be a receiver of a company’s property

Disqualification undertakings are the administrative equivalent of a disqualification order but do not involve court proceedings.

Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of other restrictions.

The Insolvency Service, an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), administers the insolvency regime, and aims to deliver and promote a range of investigation and enforcement activities both civil and criminal in nature, to support fair and open markets. We do this by effectively enforcing the statutory company and insolvency regimes, maintaining public confidence in those regimes and reducing the harm caused to victims of fraudulent activity and to the business community, including dealing with the disqualification of directors in corporate failures.

Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct, is available.
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Communities Secretary Sajid Javid today (12 October 2017) welcomed progress to deliver 6,200 new homes on the old Radiostation site in Rugby, which forms part of investment into the Midlands Engine.

Visiting the project, which is already creating jobs, supporting businesses and encouraging growth, the Communities Secretary heard about how the Midlands Engine is supporting the delivery of over 600,000 homes over the next 15 years in the region.

Homes are already taking shape on the site in Houlton, named after the town in Maine, USA, where the first transatlantic voice transmission was received and originally home to the world’s most powerful radio transmitter.

The visit, with the Chair of The Midlands Engine Partnership Sir John Peace, also follows the partnership publishing their ambitious response to the government’s Midlands Engine strategy.

The Midlands Engine Vision for Growth sets out the Partnership’s aim to create a Midlands Engine that powers the UK economy and competes on the world stage, and builds on the government’s long-term strategy to achieve greater economic growth and productivity across the whole Midlands.

The partnership’s vision sets out 5 investment priorities to accelerate productivity across the region and power the growth of an already £200 billion economy.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said:

The Midlands is essential to our national economic success and we have an ambitious vision for the region. That’s why we committed £392 million to the region through the Local Growth Fund earlier this year.

Working with local partners will be crucial to its success and the Midlands Engine Partnership is putting local leaders, businesses and residents in the driving seat. I look forward to working with them on delivering their bold Vision for Growth.

I’m determined to make sure the Midlands continues to be a great place to live and offers good quality housing to the people that live and work here. It’s a key theme to the Midlands Engine and that’s why it’s great to see the start of 6,200 homes being built here in Rugby.

Sir John Peace, Chair of the Midlands Engine, said:

The Midlands Engine Vision for Growth sets out our ambition to add at least £54 billion of extra growth to the UK economy by 2030. We are now getting on with the task of implementing this vision. That means playing our part in building the homes the nation needs.

We have committed to 600,000 new homes being built by 2030. Building these homes is not only necessary to attracting and retaining the workforce of the future, it will also contribute directly to increased productivity.

A commitment to enhancing the quality of life of those who live, learn and work in the region is at the heart of our ambition for accessible and well-designed housing. This development is an excellent example of how we are working together to shape great places.

I welcome the continued commitment from the Communities Secretary as our Ministerial Champion to support the priorities that are contributing to the future prosperity of the Midlands.

The programme of house building in Houlton will be led by property development and investment company Urban&Civic.

Richard Coppell, Development Director for Urban&Civic said:

It’s great to see the Midlands Engine Chair and Secretary of State coming to such a key development in the region and showing their commitment to business and growth. Houlton is set to be one of the most well-connected places in the country and we are proud to be able to showcase the 1,200 acre site, which is set to be a landmark development of 6,200 homes being built in the next 15 years.

It is important for people across the UK to see what the Midlands has to offer in terms of industry, housing, infrastructure and community, and so the visit today will highlight that, and hopefully encourage more people to consider the region as a place to set roots as its economy grows.

Together with money for unlocking housing sites to support home building and investment in very large transport schemes, the government is also supporting vital infrastructure, improving skills and creating thousands of jobs with over £9 billion of the Local Growth Funding to Local Enterprise Partnerships through Growth Deals.

In Coventry and Warwickshire this has already:

• seen major investment in road infrastructure improvements, particularly the A45, A46 and A5 Corridors, and rail infrastructure, through improving Coventry station and development of a new station at Kenilworth. This has improved connections with other towns and cities and helped tackle congestion on the area’s roads

• led to the construction and opening of the new Trident Centre at Warwickshire College, which has already delivered over 350 apprenticeships in advanced manufacturing and engineering to help meet employers’ demand for skills in this sector

• provided a new Skills Centre at Coventry City College providing support for 1,000 young and unemployed people in acquiring skills for employment, and for marginalised groups to acquire basic skills, especially English and mathematics.

The area is already benefiting from £131.80 million of Growth Deal funding awarded to Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) to help create jobs, support businesses and encourage growth.

Coventry and Warwickshire Board Director, Paul Kehoe, added:

This is one of the largest brownfield developments in the region and will provide a range of housing and the associated community infrastructure which will help meet the needs of our growing economy.

The CWLEP area is a key component of the Midlands Engine, and we fully recognise that the provision of the right sort of housing has to go hand in hand with our growth. The CWLEP board has held a meeting at Houlton and has watched its development closely.

Further information

Copies of the Midlands Engine Vision for Growth are available to download at www.midlandsengine.org/

About Houlton

Urban&Civic are the master developers for Houlton, a new community in Rugby.

As well as 6,200 homes, the Houlton development will also bring three primary schools and a secondary school, an eight-GP health centre, extensive walkways, cycleways and green spaces as well as commercial space and new business. The development will take some 15 years to deliver.

To find out more about the Houlton development, please visit: www.houltonrugby.co.uk

• President of the Board of Trade Dr Liam Fox convenes the new Board of Trade today in Bristol
• First meeting attended by leaders from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Advisers from across the United Kingdom present, providing local expertise to guide the Board on trade and investment matters

Chloe Smith MP attended UK Government’s new Board of Trade, which aims to help boost exports, attract inward investors and ensure the benefits of free trade are spread across the country.

The Board of Trade will bring together prominent figures from business and politics from each part of the UK, including representatives from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In 2016/17 UK Government helped to attract 34 Foreign Direct Investment projects to Northern Ireland, which created a total of 1,622 new jobs and safeguarded almost 1,000 more. On top of this, more than 600 companies in Northern Ireland have been able to access a wealth of opportunities by attending overseas trade shows, carrying out crucial market research and developing vital international relationships.

One of the many success stories has been Northern Ireland manufacturer, BlueMAC. BlueMAC have seen their annual turnover increase by 50 per cent since beginning exporting three years ago, securing deals in the UAE, Australia, France and China.

After experiencing widespread success in the UK, BlueMAC decided to broaden their scope and explore international markets. Identifying a gap in the market for advanced waste and recycling technology in the UAE, the company embarked on a trade mission to Dubai, supported by the Department for International Trade (DIT).

BlueMAC met DIT International Trade Advisers (ITAs) who provided advice on upcoming local projects and market research, introduced the company to in-country distributors and helped with lead generation.

Chris Brooke, Global Sales Engineer, BlueMAC said:

Exporting has been a huge learning curve for us and the support we received from ITAs was invaluable.

Initially we didn’t have an understanding of market culture and we soon realised that not every market works the same way as the UK, we received important strategic advice on ways of working and local differences, it saved us a lot of time and money.

Chloe Smith MP, NIO Minister said:

Northern Ireland continues to be an attractive place to do business with inward investment projects secured across the year, creating over 1,600 new jobs and safeguarding almost 1,000 more.

The Board is another crucial step towards helping Northern Ireland businesses make their mark on the global stage and shows the UK Government is committed to working with all parts of the United Kingdom in ensuring we deliver an economy that works for everyone.

President of the Board of Trade, Dr Fox, has also invited advisers from across the United Kingdom, including Mark Nodder CEO of Ballymena’s Wright Group, to provide local expertise and guide the Board on trade and investment matters.

The Board of Trade will meet four times a year with meetings rotated around the UK guaranteeing all parts of the union have a chance to raise the issues most important to them.

In response to the staggering public support for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Appeal for people fleeing the violence and destruction in Burma, the UK Government will match pound for pound the next £2 million raised, the International Development Secretary Priti Patel announced during a visit to the DEC today (Thursday 12 October).

This is in addition to the £3 million in public donations already matched by the UK, which has helped Britain raise £9 million.

The new support will double the impact of the public’s own donations and ensure that charities working on the ground can reach even more innocent men, women and children who have been forced to flee the relentless violence and atrocities in Burma, and make the treacherous journey to Bangladesh to seek refuge.

Moved by the scale of the crisis and the generosity of the British public, Ms Patel visited the DEC headquarters today where she met with British aid workers who have recently returned from Cox’s Bazar where they have been helping to save the lives of Rohingya victims of persecution and brutality.

International Development Secretary, Priti Patel said:

The generosity of the British public and the speed in which they have responded to this appeal is overwhelming. Every penny raised is making a significant difference for victims of the ethnic cleansing being inflicted by the Burmese military.

The UK Government is working at every level to ensure that lifesaving aid reaches those in dire need right now. Thousands of shelter kits, sleeping mats and thermal blankets have already been distributed in Cox’s Bazar and more aid is on the way to support the half a million people forced to leave everything behind in Burma and make the perilous journey to Bangladesh.

The British public has played a remarkable role and they should know that their donations are saving lives. Malnourished children on the brink of death will now be able to eat, families who have been forced to live out in the open after their villages were burned will get shelter and much needed clean drinking water will be provided to help stop the spread of disease.

It has been a privilege to meet brave British aid workers who have returned from Cox’s Bazar, supporting innocent people who are grieving the loss of loved ones and are uncertain what their futures hold.

The humanity they and the British public have shown is a stark contrast to the inhumanity of the Burmese authorities. They need to stop the inhumane violence, allow people to return to their homes safely and ensure immediate access into northern Rakhine so that UK aid can provide a lifeline to those suffering.

This brings the UK’s contribution to £5 million over the course of the DEC appeal and will provide vital and life-saving emergency supplies. Today’s new support is on top of support that the UK is already providing to people who are in desperate need of food, water and shelter.

Notes to editors

• The DEC brings 13 leading UK aid charities together in times of crisis: ActionAid, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Oxfam, Plan International UK, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision; all collectively raising money to reach those in need quickly.
• As of Wednesday 11 October, £9 million has been raised of which £3 million has been aid matched by the UK Government. DFID aid matches public donations from British taxpayers, but others can contribute including non-British taxpayers and businesses.
• The UK is appalled by the violence taking place in Rakhine State, particularly by the hundreds of thousands of people fleeing that violence and the reports of grave human rights violations taking place. Britain urgently calls upon the Burmese military to end the violence in Rakhine and the Government of Burma to allow immediate and full humanitarian access and support for the people and communities affected.
• As of Sunday 8 October, 519,000 people have fled the violence into neighbouring Bangladesh as a result of Burmese military and militia violence. This looks like ethnic cleansing; we need to see these people able to return to their homes in Burma safely. The Burmese and Bangladeshi authorities are discussing a refugee return process. But we will need to see this agreed and implemented and the Burmese authorities need to show the Rohingya will be safe when they return.
• The UK has been a leader in responding to the crisis – in speed and size – to help meet the urgent humanitarian needs of vulnerable men, women and children in both Bangladesh and Burma.
• Prior to the latest violence which began on Friday, 25 August 2017, we committed £5.9 million to meet the needs of the most vulnerable refugees and the host communities who support them. In response to the latest influx we have provided a further £30 million of humanitarian support.
• Our existing work in the region meant that we were already in position to provide life-saving support when the crisis flared – without this, aid would have taken much longer to reach those in need. And we are sending more aid to Bangladesh.
• Through our partner, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) 10,000 shelter kits, 10,500 mats and 20,000 blankets were distributed recently. Emergency shelter for up to 26,355 people has already been provided since the first refugees made their way to Bangladesh.
• In Rakhine State in Burma, aid workers have been getting British-funded humanitarian assistance to many tens of thousands of people. DFID’s partners are ready to provide emergency food to 30,000 people and to treat more than 3,000 severely malnourished children and pregnant women, but the Burmese authorities must stop refusing to grant access.

ENDS

Greater Manchester will receive almost £3.8 million to develop a new city region-wide approach to preventing homelessness and reducing rough sleeping, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid confirmed today (12 October 2017).

The funding will be used to develop new services and resources across all 10 boroughs of the region. This will include making hub-based services open 24 hours a day across Greater Manchester, to provide high quality support for people when they need it the most, and the adoption of a social letting agency approach across Greater Manchester to help those struggling to find secure accommodation.

These measures will enable the 10 boroughs of Great Manchester to work better together with clear systems in place to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping from happening in the first place.

Visiting Manchester today, the Prime Minister Theresa May also announced that progress was being made on a housing deal with Greater Manchester to accelerate the delivery of new homes. This reaffirms this government’s commitment to the Northern Powerhouse.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said:

One person living on the street or without a home to call their own is too many. This package supports this government’s aims to transform the way we prevent homelessness and rough sleeping.

Greater Manchester has always been at the forefront of devolution and this is a landmark moment – the first devolved homelessness package.

I’m confident that the proposed plan will reach the needs of the city’s most vulnerable people and set a precedent for what other ambitious city regions can do.

The Greater Manchester package builds upon the government’s commitments to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. These include:

• investing £550 million to 2020 for support and prevention programmes

• implementing the Homelessness Reduction Act, requiring local authorities to provide support earlier to prevent those at risk from becoming homeless

• investing a further £2 billion for affordable housing funding, bringing total investment to around £9 billion for a new generation of council and housing association homes

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester said:

We very much welcome this announcement by the government. This extra help is well-timed, much-needed and good news for Greater Manchester. It is a recognition of the innovative work underway here to help people sleeping rough, bringing together our public, private and voluntary sectors in a ground-breaking partnership.

This support from the government will help us go further and faster in achieving our goal of ending rough sleeping in Greater Manchester by 2020.

In addition to 24-hour hub services and a social letting agency, the package will:

• develop a shared ICT and database system – this will help to share data across the 10 local authorities so they can better able respond to homelessness and rough sleeping crises

• rollout the Greater Manchester Homelessness Action Network – this will support practitioners in the sector, connecting the many homelessness organisations across Greater Manchester

• build on the devolution agreement around health – this includes offering tailored health services for homeless people

Further information

The funding for the Greater Manchester homeless package will form part of the Greater Manchester Reform Investment Fund, the outcome of a government commitment to support Greater Manchester to establish an investment fund to support the vulnerable towards a brighter future.

The housing white paper committed to agreeing bespoke housing deals with authorities in high demand areas, which have a genuine ambition to build.

Greater Manchester has already been awarded up to £1.8 million as part of DCLG’s Social Impact Bond fund to provide personalised support for long-term rough sleepers on a payment-by-results basis.