BiKBBI News
BATHSTORE CLAIMS NEARS COMPLETION Ryan Grant, joint Administrator at insolvency firm BDO, acting for Bathstore.com (now BSCL Realisations Limited), has communicated with installers informing them that the process of agreeing unsecured creditors’ claims is underway.
Ryan Grant, Joint Administrator, BDO
Not to be confused with the Bathstore brand, now owned and operated by HHGL (Homebase), who purchased the brand last year, Bathstore. com fell into administration and closed its doors owing installers millions of pounds.
Ryan Grant (pictured) wrote to creditors in June, requesting that final submissions must be made, together with proof of debt, urging those affected to email bscom@bdo.co.uk to stake their claim. BiKBBI CEO Damian Walters commented, “Sadly the process of insolvency is flawed in a number of ways, with once again the small business who delivered their services in good faith, paying the ultimate price.” Damian added: “Whilst it’s great
to see the process heading toward a conclusion, it’s taken too long and is likely to disappoint those affected. The system simply fails to protect SME’s, whilst HMRC and other stakeholders are prioritised. Unsecured creditors, in this case installers, are amongst the last to fight over scraps and that simply isn’t right.” The BiKBBI launched its Protected initiative in Parliament last year, aiming to remove financial risk for participating installers and their customers. The scheme began testing in January this year and will launch nationally in the summer.
Whilst it’s great to see the process heading toward a conclusion, it’s taken too long and is likely to disappoint those affected."
BiKBBI AND FIESTA ANNOUNCE COLLABORATION The BiKBBI has joined the Furniture and Interiors Education, Skills and Training Alliance (FIESTA) to ensure that a voice for the training requirements of installers is represented in the body. Founded in 2017, FIESTA brings together the key trade associations and affiliates from across the furniture and interiors industry to work together to address education and training issues. By joining FIESTA, Damian Walters, CEO of the BiKBBI, has committed to sitting on the FIESTA executive with other industry representatives and contributing to FIESTA’s aims of encouraging and inspiring new talent to join the industry.
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Gary Baker (pictured), Chairman of FIESTA said, “FIESTA is very pleased to welcome the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom Installation as one of our collaborating trade associations and affiliates. The BiKBBI has done some fantastic work addressing the training and education needs within the installation sector and we’re delighted to have someone with Damian’s passion and enthusiasm on the FIESTA executive to work alongside us in identifying and creating solutions that support the needs of the entire furniture and interiors industry.” In response, Damian Walters commented, “Education is extremely important to the work
we undertake as an institute, to encourage future generation of kbb installers. The aims of FIESTA dovetail perfectly with our own goals and ambitions of ensuring the right training and apprenticeship schemes are in place and that we have people with the specialist skills to ensure our industry flourishes. We are delighted to be involved with FIESTA and look forward to working with all the associations to bring about change in the development of training and education.”
Gary Baker, Chairman, FIESTA
FIESTA is very pleased to welcome the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom Installation as one of our collaborating trade associations and affiliates."
