HMRC owed 拢1.8m while M&E contractors and scaffolding firm owed 拢800,000 between them
Kent firm Claritas went into liquidation owing creditors more than 拢9m, a report from its liquidators has revealed.
The 拢50m-turnover firm collapsed into liquidation earlier this month after being set up in 2012.
In an update, liquidator Begbies Traynor said the amount owed to creditors was just under 拢9.4m with HMRC owed 拢1.8m. A logistics firm is owed 拢668,000, an M&E firm is missing 拢500,000 while a scaffolding business is owed 拢300,000.
Claritas had a staff of 110 and 16 live projects 鈥� a mix of commercial and residential 鈥� and had at one point aspired to achieve income of 拢150m by the end of the 2020s.
In a statement, the firm鈥檚 founder Jon Wardle apologised to the supply chain for the impact the collapse would have, adding: 鈥淭o our supply chain who supported us to the end, I thank all of you and I am truly sorry for the impact on you, your respective employees and supply chains.鈥�
He said: 鈥淭he challenge of cash flowing and managing the losses associated with the inflationary pressures of these uncertain times was just too great. Right now, I am truly sorry if you are being affected by the Claritas Group鈥檚 failure in any way.鈥�
The past few months had seen the departure of several senior figures at the firm. Business development director Simon Wilkinson began working three days a week at John F Hunt in April, while group managing director Matt Cova left for McLaren last November.
Setting the business up 11 years ago, former Wates staffer Wardle teamed up with Kent-based project manager and QS Airey Miller Partnership to create Airey Miller Construction Management which later changed its name to Claritas.
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