100s of trainee energy assessors stranded
Property Professionals, the energy assessor training provider based in Tolworth, Surrey (and with four branches across England), went into administration yesterday afternoon leaving hundreds - if not thousands - of trainees stranded and without their portfolios.
The demise of Property Professionals - formerly Home Inspector Training - comes just days after sister company, Hip Hip Hooray, also went into administration earlier this week. It is also believed another sister company, Energy Assessor Panel, has met a similar fate, too.
Stranded trainee assessor and home inspectors
ABBE told me today it has made its training centres aware of the situation, but until it receives official notification from the administrators it cannot take further action. It said candidate portfolios could be transferred amongst its approved training centres but further clarity is unlikely until at least next week.
I was also told orphaned trainees may need to stump-up more money to continue studies with other providers, however, it would be a matter between candidates and training companies to negotiate.
Quidos has already announced a number of events for ex Property Professionals' trainees at its HQ in Bath, beginning 16th February. It is asking those still wishing to pursue their domestic and non-domestic energy assessor qualifications to contact them on 01225 324 134.
Added: NHER is also opening its door. They can be contacted on: 01908 672787
And BRE asks affected candidates to phone 01923 664829
From dreams to dust
Over the last 2-3 years thousands of trainee energy assessors and Home Inspectors responded to newspaper adverts promising a lucrative career in what quickly became a saturated marketplace for Domestic and Non Domestic Energy Assessors.
The company (and its various fronts) has long been the target of fierce criticism by industry professionals for its misleading adverts and high-pressure sales tactics. During the initial "interview" prospective students were asked to undergo an "aptitude" test to determine suitably. Everyone seemed to pass... with flying colours.
Energy assessor training advert: a phone call
Complaints against Home Inspector Training's' adverts were lodged with the Advertising Standards Authority in 2008, but its cleverly worded ads meant they escaped sanction.
The company continued to heavily promote Home Inspector training courses in regonal and national press even though Government had demoted Home Condition Reports (HCRs) - the survey Home Inspectors perform - in 2007 to a voluntary-only component of the Home Information Pack. Originally the Govt. intended HCRs to be mandatory.
Students will have been disappointed last week when John Healey, CLG, said he thought Home Condition Reports were not the right product, and that only 327 Home Condition Reports had been lodged since August 2007.
Property Professionals also sold energy assessor training courses for commercial level 4, public buildings and air-conditioning (often bundled together). It also sold fire & flood-risk assessment courses, domestic property valuation and property insulation surveyor courses.
Many Property Professional trainees have each paid more than £10,000 to the company, and are now unable to retrieve their portfolios to resume studies elsewhere. It is thought administrators will have to unravel the mess before they are released.
Last week it was rumoured that staff working for Property Professionals were not paid salaries for the month of January, although this cannot be substantiated yet.
Staff are also thought to have signed a gagging clause in their employment contracts, but if any of you are reading and wish to offload in the public interest - on or off the record - feel free to contact this site via the contact form (link above).
There are lots of rumours and anecdotes flying-around about this at the moment. I'm trying to string it all together to sort out what is printable.
Added: The administrators can be contacted at:
HJS Recovery
Business Recovery Specialists
Telephone: 02380 234222
Tags: Property-Professionals, Quidos
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