Pride boss strikes deal after business collapsed

Liquidators settle after training firm closed ‘owing millions’

- JANE HAYNES

A 'CONFIDENTIAL' deal has been reached between Birmingham Pride festival director Lawrence Barton and liquidators after a business he ran providing training for job seekers went bust, with 70 job losses.

The details of the settlement are not being made public by the liquidator until later this year.

At the centre of the case was the demise of GB Training (UK) Ltd, which closed in 2020.

It has since been subject to a lengthy investigation amid claims for £8.4 million from publicly-funded organisations including the Education and Skills Funding Agency and West Midlands Combined Authority, who contracted the company to provide training and skills for young people and adults.

The Education and Skills Agency had claimed it was owed £4.76m while the combined authority was claiming £1m. The third significant creditor was North East Surrey College of Technology (NESCOT), which was owed £2.63m.

Nightclub owner Mr Barton expressed relief that a settlement had been reached, saying he was 'happy a line has been drawn'.