Connexions Cheshire & Warrington enters administration
Joe Lepper
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Connexions Cheshire & Warrington has announced it has gone into administration after the three local authorities that own the firm decided to take its youth support and careers advice services in-house.
The company will continue providing its services to young people until the end of the month when its services are taken over directly by Cheshire East, Cheshire West & Chester and Warrington councils.
In a statement the spokesman for the three councils said: "It is always difficult when an organisation moves into administration but all three authorities are working closely together to secure services that are sustainable and good quality for young people."
The statement adds that the "majority of existing Connexions staff will be employed by the councils directly to ensure continuity of support to young people". The company employs 210 people.
Connexions chairman George Miller said: "We did not anticipate or want to have to take this course of action, but due to the local authority owners’ decision to take the services in-house, the company has no alternative.
"It has been very painful to see services for young people affected in this way, and it is a testament to all the staff that they have managed to keep quality services going despite all of these difficulties."
Kerry Bailey, a partner at administrator PKF, said: "Connexions has experienced great uncertainty and turbulence due to significant ongoing funding reductions since summer 2010."
