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BTSC Chessington in receivership - again.

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Rodolphe

Hi chaps,

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've been rather busy with different things.

Here's some news though.

This morning, the Landlord to BTSC (Aviva Investors) turned up early and prevented access to everyone. Here is the letter they were handing out:

"If you are a BTSC customer, please note the following:

Unfortunately due to financial difficulties, Building Trade Skills Centres UK Limited put itself into liquidation in April 2012. Operating under the BTSC brand, it had leases for units 5 to 7 at the Barwell Business Park, which is owned by Aviva Investors. As a result of the liquidation we have taken the difficult decision to terminate these leases with immediate effect, therefore neither BTSC nor any BTSC customer will be entitled to gain entry to the premises at Barwell Business Park.

We understand that a re-structuring of the business is proposed; however, this follows the previous re-structuring during the course of an insolvency in 2010. A considerable amount of rent is overdue under the leases at Barwell Business Park, which has been building up for many months.

Having accepted the previous insolvent re-structuring of BTSC along with the substantial arrears of rent we have taken the difficult decision to terminate the leases. However, we have duties to protect our client's investments and have concludedt hat these can only be served by immediately terminating the BTSC relationship."


The guys for the landlord were telling the students that there was NO WAY they would ever deal with the BTSC management ever again. So unless some brand new faces buy the brand in the coming days - unlikely - I think this is the last of BTSC for a good while, until they find new premises elsewhere and possibly a gullible landlord.

Personally I don't come out too badly out of this, having completed my level 2 just 3 weeks ago (I was going there this morning as part of my frst week of level 3). Also I have not paid them in full yet - unlike some other unfortunates.

I know what some of you think of those fast-track places and I'm sure few will mourn BTSC's passing, if this turns out to be what it is. I understand your point of views. But I feel I was really learning a lot there (not all I need to be a full-fledged plumber, granted, but at the very least some solid basics) and in all honesty the training staff there doesn't deserve this. The ones I worked with were, without exceptions, clearly good plumbers with quite a lot of experience under their belts, as well as nice people. I don't care for BTSC as a company, but I do feel for most of the individuals working there who now find themselves in limbo and really don't deserve it.

I got some thinking to do now as to my way forward. Still, thought you guys might like to have some news from the field, as it were.
 
Hi everbody. we are in New Zealand and have just heard about the possible demise of the BTSC. This is most upsetting because we paid the full price in advance for our son to train on the Electrician's course He is still in London living wth family and has not been able to get any response form his normal contacts at the BTSC. Any information about the stautus of the company or the name of the administators would be most greatfully received

Hi Albert - did you get an update? Could anyone updates us on the BTSC situation please? It has been so long it doesnt look like they are coming back???? Would really appreciate an update.. thank you in advance
 
I have been maintaining a website where many current trainees are exchanging whatever information they can gather, but since BTSC has been giving me grief about it I have had to make it registration-only.

The news as of last Friday is as follows:
- BTSC had announced a week prior that they would be very shortly able to book training sessions again, at an undisclosed location 25 mins away from their last one
- We independently discovered that they were talking about The Plumbing Academy in Edenbridge. BTSC hasn't confirmed that, but the son of the current BTSC chairman has just been appointed a Director at The Plumbing Academy and the staff confirmed talks were happening (way above their heads, they don't have many details). Furthermore, the geography works: TPA is about 25 mins away from Chessington
- Since then we've had one more email from BTSC. They missed their own deadline and are not able to book new sessions yet, and said that negotiations were not advancing as well as they thought they were going to (so perhaps they won't go there after all).
- furthermore, City and Guild have revoqued their certification of BTSC and basically told a number of trainees that they wouldn't, ever, consider working with them again. BTSC is apparently trying to talk to them about that.

You can try and see hopeful developments in the above, but personally I don't: apart from their own declarations, there's nothing pointing towards BTSC resuming their training activities any time soon.

Hope this helps.
 
the same happend to me m8, but it was btsc manchester, i'd paid nearly £8000 , got to my 11th mod level 3 , took and passed my unvented, suppose i was 1 of the lucky ones aswell because they were taking £9000 off lads up until the day before they shut the doors !! but iv been working for a reputable firm ever since under the supervisiom of a good heating engineer and now about to take my acs and ccn1.
 
sounds like BTSC are going into partnership with another company (probably formed by a friend or relative of the founder of BTSC) then they will keep trading.
Problem will be that they will be under a new name and new company, so will the trainees get there money or a free place at the new centre?
As The company will no longer be called BTSC and the original contract was taken out by BTSC, I doubt it. please keep us informed though as would love to know where this goes.
I know where I'm going to do my Gas.....
A college, cant trust any centre really.
 
Hello All,

I felt it my duty to advise anyone thinking of dealing with BTSC now or in the future not to bother wasting your time as this despicable company are a team of CON MERCHANTS.

I SAT AT A MEETING WITH DAVID MARTIN THEIR DIRECTOR OF RECRUITMENT (watch out for this name in any of your dealings in the future).

£3000.00 WAS WITHDRWAN FROM MY DEBIT CARD ON JULY 6th FOR THE ACS Gas course. Turned up the Monday 9th to start my course to find the building locked and an apologetic idiot by the name of SILVANA TRACEY.

WROTE TO MAX CLIFFORD AND DAVID CAMERON - never heard a word back.

THEY TOOK MY MONEY AND FUTURE. HAD TO TAKE OUT A LOAN TO COMPLETE THE COURSE AT ABLESKILLS DARTFORD WHO I MUST SAY WERE FANTASTIC.
 
Hello All,

I felt it my duty to advise anyone thinking of dealing with BTSC now or in the future not to bother wasting your time as this despicable company are a team of CON MERCHANTS.

I SAT AT A MEETING WITH DAVID MARTIN THEIR DIRECTOR OF RECRUITMENT (watch out for this name in any of your dealings in the future).

£3000.00 WAS WITHDRWAN FROM MY DEBIT CARD ON JULY 6th FOR THE ACS Gas course. Turned up the Monday 9th to start my course to find the building locked and an apologetic idiot by the name of SILVANA TRACEY.

WROTE TO MAX CLIFFORD AND DAVID CAMERON - never heard a word back.

THEY TOOK MY MONEY AND FUTURE. HAD TO TAKE OUT A LOAN TO COMPLETE THE COURSE AT ABLESKILLS DARTFORD WHO I MUST SAY WERE FANTASTIC.

when did this happen?
 
This happened at the beginning of July. I was told that a deposit of £250.00 would be required. I was chased up on the Tuesday 3rd of July by David Martin. I foolishly gave this man my debit card details and security pin. On the Friday 6th £2995.00 was withdrawn using my Debit card. When I turned up on the Monday the 9th I didn't realise any money had been withdrawn. It wasn't until I thought I'd better check on my way home that I realised that David Martin had withrawn the full cost of the ACS course. Told the bank immediately - but too late. Gone....
DO NOT TRUST ANYTHING THESE PEOPLE SAY - I WILL POST EXERT FROM MY BANK STATEMENT FOR ANY DOUBTERS

THE MONEY WAS WITHDRAWN KNOWING THEY WERE GOING UNDER - NEVER GOT A DAYS TUITION FOR MY MONEY
 
can you not report that as fraud, the bank should cover you as he took the wrong amount. you agreed to the £250 not the £2995?
 
Has been reported as fraud awaiting Barclays investigation but not holding my breath.

Gave David Martin their Director of Recruitment my card details for the deposit. He must of been laughing his head off.

I'm on the look out for him - must be out there somewhere
 
BTW not my PIN my 3 digit security code - had to get new debit card etc
 
Has been reported as fraud awaiting Barclays investigation but not holding my breath.

Gave David Martin their Director of Recruitment my card details for the deposit. He must of been laughing his head off.

I'm on the look out for him - must be out there somewhere

not defending what they have done, but I dont believe david martin owned the place, so may not have known what was going to happen. If you really want somebody to get then make sure you get the right person...
 
I spoke to one of their students yesterday. He called up the new place and they're trying to place him on a course. He said they seem helpful and should hear next week what date he starts.

I'll post up if u hear they've sorted him out.

Two sides and all that.
 
Two sides and all that.

i recall some posts around a year ago surrounding the landlord demanding extra money and they had to relocate.

there been at least 2 or 3 stories about this in the past, is it the same issue from last year not been sorted yet or a different one?
 
I understand that when it was purchased by Mr. Hunt they came to an agreement with the landlord which seemed to work fine for a while. I'm led to believe the landlord then raised the rent and then changed the locks after x months because the new rate wasn't being paid.
 
I understand that when it was purchased by Mr. Hunt they came to an agreement with the landlord which seemed to work fine for a while. I'm led to believe the landlord then raised the rent and then changed the locks after x months because the new rate wasn't being paid.


is that last time or this time?

it sounds very familiar
 
Not sure. Might have happened with the previous owner but I don't believe it has happens with Hunt before?
 
Not sure. Might have happened with the previous owner but I don't believe it has happens with Hunt before?


Most people renting out industrial units give a very low rental for the first 12 or 18 months as an incentive, after that time the rent goes up to the agreed/required amount. Is this unreasonable if agreed at the time?
 
Of course not and perfectly simply to factor into a business plan.

I wasn't very clear in my previous post. I believe they picked up the business from the previous owners, rental agreement and all.

That's my understanding.
 
This seems to be an exact repeat of what happened at Manchester BTSC . Taking money right to the end even though they knew they were going under. Then the promises that they were going to start up in a new place which never happened. Just a smoke screen to gain time.
 
I believe Manchester closed because it wasn't a viable business. Not sure what happened to the students but I heard they were offered placed at Chessington.
 
Shortly before Manchester shut down the two bussinesses were separated into two separate comanies so the trainees from Manchester were told Chessington BTSC was nothing to do with them so all lost their money including me. We were told they were looking for new premises but that never happened. I'd paid for my gas training and exams up front and lost it all.I can't afford to pay for it again.
 
To be honest I'm just going on what I've heard. Everything you need to know will be filed at Companies House and you can lay your hands on it all for under a £20.

BTSC Chessington
BTSC Manchester

I'd be knocking at their door TBH.
 
hi rodolphe i phone you a while a go about btsc do you kown any more info any chance of getting any money back .
 
Hello ive just registered.

I have completed my course at BTSC and i needed to spend an hour with the trainers finalising my level three work place evidence portfolio. this was back in april 2012 and at the time the trainer said do i want them to keep hold of my portfolio and use some of it towards my ACS which i agreed. Well over one year later due to work commitments i thought i would phone up and tell them to put my portfolio in to city and guilds as im not going to have time to sit my ACS and i got the no number dialing tone.

so a quick google and it has led me here. Am i now absolutely knackered trying to get hold of my portfolio?


Joe
 
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