Three Yorkshire companies that promised non-existent jobs have been wound up in the High Court, following a Department of Trade and Industry investigation.
Harborough Limited, Downtown Management Limited and Yorkshire Boost Limited lured aspiring publicans to part with fees of up to £4,000 by offering training and guaranteed jobs in licensed pubs of their choice.
In reality, despite fees being paid in advance, the training was poor and jobs never materialised.
The three companies were wound up in the public interest on 7 February 2005 on the petition of the DTI, following an investigation by the Companies Investigations Branch.
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Consumer and competition minister, Gerry Sutcliffe, said: “There is no place for those exploit people looking for work by taking their money and offering nothing in return.
“This is a lesson to unscrupulous operators that we will take legal action to close them down,” he said.