An insolvency firm has been appointed to handle the process of placing failed Harrogate firm Amvoc into administration.
Staff at the telemarketing firm were left shocked on Tuesday night when they received a late night email from chief executive Damian Brockway saying “all our offices are closed with effect from tonight”. It went on to blame “covid debts”.
Law firm Aticus Law has now been contacted by 145 former employees as it investigates the circumstances of the company’s collapse and concerns around how the redundancy process was managed, as well as whether ex-staff are eligible to claim for compensation.
Gareth Lewis, director of Leeds firm Lewis Business Recovery and Insolvency, said today it was handling the administration process.
He said:
“I can confirm that following the directors’ decision to make all employees redundant on Tuesday evening, this firm was engaged on Wednesday to assist with the process of placing the company into administration.
“It is anticipated that the company will be placed into administration in the coming days, and we are now collating all financial and employee information to enable us to perform our duties.
“We have contacted former employees through our agents IPERA, who will assist employees with the process of making their claims through the government’s Redundancy Payments Service”.
Founded in Dacre
Mr Brockway set up Amvoc, the trading name of A Marketing Vocation Ltd, from a small office in Dacre in 2010. It sold telemarketing services, initially in the legal sector, and grew rapidly, moving first to Pateley Bridge and then to large offices at New York Mills near Summerbridge.
It opened a new head office on Cardale Park in Harrogate in 2015, a facility in Leeds in 2018 and an office in Manchester in 2022. It also had plans to expand to London.
Amvoc’s clients included BP, Barclays, Virgin Media, Leeds Beckett University, and both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties.
Its website said it employed 450 staff but the Stray Ferret believes the figure at the time the company collapsed was under 300.
Read more:
- Law firm to represent about 100 staff at failed Harrogate firm
- Hundreds of job losses as Harrogate company goes under
We again attempted to contact Mr Brockway today. An immediate emailed response said:
“I regret to inform you that Amvoc has been forced to cease trading with immediate effect due to financial difficulties.
“We understand that this news may come as a shock to many of you, and we want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to manage the situation.
“We are in the process of contacting all our staff, clients and partners to inform them of the situation and provide any necessary information. We apologise for any inconvenience or disruption this may cause, and we are committed to minimising the impact on our stakeholders as much as possible.”
A Manchester events firm is set to take on Harrogate Christmas Market this year after a row over health and safety concerns.
Harrogate Borough Council has now entered into formal talks with Market Place Europe, which is based in Ashton-Under-Lyne.
The council said that the company is planning to hold a 10-day event from December 3 to December 12 rather than the usual four-day market.
At this stage it is unclear where the new Harrogate Christmas market will take place but it will be in the town centre.
It is also unclear if the 170 traders and 53 coaches booked in with the former organisers will move over to the new Christmas market.
Market Place Europe is behind the Christmas markets in Glasgow and Belfast. The company also organises a number of food markets across the UK.
Read more:
- Ripon to host another weekend of free family entertainment
- Nidderdale Greenway extension plans set to take step forward
Gemma Rio, head of destination management at Harrogate Borough Council, said:
“I am pleased to see that Market Place Europe has submitted an expression of interest to hold a Christmas market in Harrogate town centre this December.
“To have interest from an organisation with vast experience of operating successful markets across the UK is a great opportunity for the district.
“We look forward to working with them, and our local partners, to ensure this event is delivered safely and drives visitors into the town.”
Councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said:
“From what I’ve seen, Market Place Europe have years of experience hosting events. So I know they’ll bring an abundance of knowledge to Harrogate this Christmas.
“You’ve only got to look at the photos online from markets they’ve hosted in major cities such as Belfast and Glasgow to see what they’ll bring is a first-class offering.”
This news comes just over two weeks after Harrogate Borough Council refused a licence for Harrogate Christmas Market run by Brian Dunsby OBE on Montpellier Hill.
Representatives from the founding organisers at Harrogate Christmas Market Ltd met with two council officers on Tuesday.
It was the first time the two groups met but after 90 minutes of talks the council issued a statement saying alternative locations “have been refused” by the current organisers.
The council also said it would “move forward to ensure Harrogate hosts safe, vibrant and attractive Christmas festivities this year”.