School facility letting firm collapses
A FIRM responsible for hiring out facilities at West Lancashire schools has been placed into administration.
School Lettings Solutions (SLS) became the latest firm to fall victim to the economic damage caused by Covid-19 as it lost its income overnight and had no clarity on when facilities could reopen.
SLS came under fire last year when its significantly increased prices forced the cancellation of the Ormskirk West End’s annual football tournament. The event was called off after fees to use Ormskirk School’s pitches rose from £200 in 2018 to £1,000.
As well as Ormskirk School, it also managed evening, weekend and holiday hire of facilities at Burscough Priory Academy and Tarleton Academy among 300 other schools, colleges and academies around the country.
Restrictions imposed by the pandemic were blamed for SLS entering administration, a process which will result in the loss of 93 full-time jobs and the redundancy of almost 900 casual staff around the country.
Daniel Taylor, of Fortis Insolvency, has been appointed as administrator after SLS faced the uncertainty of when, and under what conditions, the facilities it hires will reopen.
He said: “SLS gave communities access to sport and other recreational facilities while providing revenuegenerating opportunities for schools, academies and colleges.
“Business stopped overnight when the Covid-19 lockdown was introduced and there is no clear timescale for when lettings can resume.”