Judy Andrea Roach (54), from Thamesmead, south London, was the sole director of JAR Training Consultancy Limited. The company, incorporated in September 2015, has partnered with higher education institutions and provided training for apprentice sports coaches in the Blackburn area.
JAR Training Consultancy, however, went into voluntary creditor liquidation in March 2021 and the company’s insolvency triggered an investigation by the Insolvency Service.
Following support from the Education and Skills Funding Agency, which shared information with the Insolvency Service, investigators discovered that Judy Roach failed to ensure that JAR Training Consultancy held and/ or keeps adequate accounting records throughout the life of the business.
It meant investigators could not verify what happened to more than £2.5million in public funds obtained through the Education and Skills Funding Agency.
The unjustified payments included £1.77million paid to guardians and assessors, over £171,000 paid to family members of Judy Roach and just over £41,000 paid to a contractor who carried out construction work at Judy Roach’s home.
On July 13, 2022, the Secretary of State accepted a 7-year disqualification recognizance from Judy Roach after she did not dispute that she failed to ensure that JAR Training Consultancy held and /or maintains adequate accounting records or, alternatively, fails to provide adequate documentation. records to liquidators.
Effective August 3, 2022, Judy Roach is prohibited from engaging directly or indirectly in the promotion, establishment or management of any business, without court authorization.
The liquidator of JAR Training Consultancy is considering the recovery of the funds.
Mark Bruce, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:
Every limited liability company has a legal obligation to keep accounting records, especially those that receive millions of pounds in public funding. Judy Roach, however, completely ignored her duties, meaning she was unable to explain exactly what happened to more than £2.5million in government-provided income.
Thanks to joint work between the Education and Skills Funding Agency and the Insolvency Service, Judy Roach has been removed from the business arena for a substantial period. His ban should serve as a stern warning to other rogue administrators that action will be taken against those who misuse public funds and abuse the taxpayer.
Howard Tobias, enforcement officer at the Education and Skills Funding Agency, said:
I am pleased to see the success of this new collaboration between the Insolvency Service and ESFA. Failure to keep or deliver books and records will not prevent the directors of such companies from being subject to further scrutiny and punishment. This result demonstrates that the ESFA is ready to take strong action and we will work with regulatory partners across government to hold them to account.
Notes to Editors
Judy Andrea Roach is from Thamesmead, London, and her date of birth is November 1967.
JAR Training Consultancy Limited (company registration number 09787821).
Forfeiture undertakings are the administrative equivalent of a forfeiture order but do not involve court proceedings. Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a series of other restrictions.
Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service and how to file a claim for financial misconduct is available.
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