THE future of 800 wannabe energy assessors across the UK rests in the hands of Hampshire business recovery experts after they were appointed to manage the fallout of a collapsed training firm.

About £2m paid by trainees for courses with Property Professionals, which had bases in Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and London, could disappear if staff from Southampton’s HJS Recovery are unable to secure a buyer for the firm.

Hundreds of career changers now face the prospect of losing the money without receiving qualifications essential to landing a new job, while 90 staff have been axed.

Hjs director Shane Biddlecombe said; “The company has run out of money – it was not able to pay its employees’ wages for January. It endeavoured to get emergency funding but that fell through.

“The company has no funds so I am not able to continue to trade the business, and I have had to make all the staff redundant.

“I have met with the trainees, explained to them that the courses were suspended and my focus is on getting somebody to come in and take on these courses. I have four parties that I’m in discussions with.

“These people have paid between £5,000 and £10,000 each and that has been paid up front. These trainees could potentially lose their money unless I can find someone to take on the courses.”