Inn-Direct continuing to trade?

Inn-Direct, the Bradford-based company, at the centre of the rogue recruitment scandal is continuing to trade.

The company, which was wound-up by the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) at the request of The Publican, is continuing to write to licensees to organise their in-house training.

Martin Cole from Luton has received a letter advising him to attend his training in September in a pub in High Wycombe. The letter is dated August 9, 2006 - over a week after the company was wound up by the DTI.

Details of Mr Coles letter have been passed onto the Official Receiver by The Publican. If the company is found to be illegally trading those involved could face criminal proceedings.

The licensee who was running the in-house training on behalf of Inn-Direct says he is still receiving people for training and has had no correspondence from the company indicating they are no longer able to trade.

The licensee who wishes to remain anonymous said: "People come in for training and I don't get involved in the politics. I have letters booking people in, although I can't get hold of anyone at Inn-Direct at the moment."

The company advertised in the national press offering training and placement for a fee. Many who were promised pubs received no offers and those who were placed found themselves in a tenancy at will with no job security.

Despite being ripped-off by the company potential licensees were put through the correct training for personal licence holders.

Training company Inn-Dispensable says it has lost money to the company but has allowed the last Inn-Direct couples to go through their BII training.

"People who had already booked in we let them take the course," said Terri Davison, director at Inn-Dispensable. "We thought they were just a small pub company. I'm sorry for the people who paid out money."

The Official Receiver has a meeting with former director Edward McGhee and current director Graham Ridgeway to discuss the matters of the company.