Judy Andrea Roach (54), from Thamesmead, south London, was the sole director of JAR Training Consultancy Limited. The company, incorporated in September 2015, partnered with further education colleges, and provided training to apprentice sports coaches in the Blackburn area.
JAR Training Consultancy, however, entered into creditors’ voluntary 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 uncovered that Ms Roach failed to ensure that JAR Training Consultancy maintained and/or preserved adequate accounting records throughout the life of the company.
This meant that investigators could not verify what happened to more than £2.5 million worth of public funds secured through the Education and Skills Funding Agency.
Unsubstantiated payments included £1.77 million paid to tutors and assessors, more than £171,000 paid to Ms Roach’s family members, and just over £41,000 paid to a contractor who carried out building work to Ms Roach’s home.
On 13 July 2022, the Secretary of State accepted a seven-year disqualification undertaking from Ms Roach after she did not dispute that she failed to ensure JAR Training Consultancy maintained and/or preserved adequate accounting records or in the alternative she failed to deliver up adequate records to the liquidators.
Effective from 3 August 2022, Ms Roach is banned from directly, or indirectly, becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.
JAR Training Consultancy’s liquidator is considering the recovery of funds.
Mark Bruce, chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, said every limited company has a legal duty to maintain accounting records, especially those that receive millions of pounds worth of public funding.
“Judy Roach, however, totally disregarded her duties, which meant she was unable to explain exactly what happened to more than £2.5 million of income provided by the government,” he said.
Howard Tobias, head of enforcement at the Education and Skills Funding Agency, said this outcome demonstrated that the ESFA is prepared to take robust action and work with regulatory partners across government to hold them to account.
