Friday, July 18, 2008
Insight: Training
Just 18 months ago, Carter & Carter was a successful training company, with a £62.2 million turnover, a growing portfolio of acquisitions and 28 training and support contracts of varying sizes with vehicle manufacturers.
But following a disastrous 2007, including the death of its founder Phil Carter in May and several large contracts deciding to move their programmes elsewhere, the company’s shares were frozen in October and it went into administration in March this year.
Its spectacular – and rapid – fall from grace revealed massive debts and a business which had become increasingly reliant on banks to continue. For manufacturers with large-scale training operations contracted to Carter & Carter, the company’s demise meant finding another provider at relatively short notice.
The company had already begun to lose clients during a troubled 2007.
But many of its biggest contracts were still in place in March as the company went into administration.
Although some manufacturers moved their training in-house, smaller training companies have grown after taking on former Carter & Carter schemes.
Several passed to VT Group, which picked up contracts for the large-scale Volkswagen Group training programme and Subaru, plus some business from Renault.
Changes have been minimal; training is provided by ex-Carter & Carter employees from the existing facility in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire. Volkswagen has around 800 apprentices on the VT course.
VW’s other Carter & Carter outsourced services have been transferred to Serco, a major provider of outsourced services and an existing supplier to the group both in the UK and in Germany.
The Ford Masters Apprenticeship Programme (FMAP) transferred to Skillnet Automotive Academy in May following a two-month tender.
During this time, other smaller providers covered for the workload formerly handled by Carter & Carter.
DATED: 18.07.08
FEED: AM
But following a disastrous 2007, including the death of its founder Phil Carter in May and several large contracts deciding to move their programmes elsewhere, the company’s shares were frozen in October and it went into administration in March this year.
Its spectacular – and rapid – fall from grace revealed massive debts and a business which had become increasingly reliant on banks to continue. For manufacturers with large-scale training operations contracted to Carter & Carter, the company’s demise meant finding another provider at relatively short notice.
The company had already begun to lose clients during a troubled 2007.
But many of its biggest contracts were still in place in March as the company went into administration.
Although some manufacturers moved their training in-house, smaller training companies have grown after taking on former Carter & Carter schemes.
Several passed to VT Group, which picked up contracts for the large-scale Volkswagen Group training programme and Subaru, plus some business from Renault.
Changes have been minimal; training is provided by ex-Carter & Carter employees from the existing facility in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire. Volkswagen has around 800 apprentices on the VT course.
VW’s other Carter & Carter outsourced services have been transferred to Serco, a major provider of outsourced services and an existing supplier to the group both in the UK and in Germany.
The Ford Masters Apprenticeship Programme (FMAP) transferred to Skillnet Automotive Academy in May following a two-month tender.
During this time, other smaller providers covered for the workload formerly handled by Carter & Carter.
DATED: 18.07.08
FEED: AM
