Commercial and industrial staffing specialist recruiter Candelisa People, which gained national fame on Channel 4’s The Job Centre last year, has reportedly ceased trading, effective 23 December, due to cashflow problems. 

According to Bradford’s Telegraph & Argus, the business has called in administrators, though Recruiter has been unable to independently verify this. 

The publication quotes managing director Jane Vincent as saying she discovered just before Christmas the firm would be unable to pay its VAT bill due at the end of this month.

It also found it was unable to pay 80 temporary workers who were due wages on Christmas Eve. 

However, Vincent reportedly handed over the temporary recruitment side of the business to an undisclosed local firm to ensure people were paid.

Candelisa People used an external accounts and payroll company, which was not identified. At the time of closure, Candelisa People had six employees, four of whom have found other jobs, according to the publication.

Recruiter has been unable to contact Vincent or Candelisa People this morning but the Telegraph & Argus says Vincent was unable to provide details of the cashflow problem for legal reasons. 

She also told the publication she and long-time colleague Rachel Deeks planned to create a new business recruiting permanent staff. 

Recruiter research on Companies House reveals a firm, listing Vincent and Deeks as directors and shareholders, was incorporated on 21 December. Vincent is identified as the majority shareholder of the new firm, Fortem People.

Candelisa People’s Companies House entry has no new filings to indicate liquidation. The company is still marked ‘active’.

Vincent also appeared on a panel at the Recruiter Show in November, alongside former BBC TV The Apprentice winners Ricky Martin and Lee McQueen.

• Want to comment on this story? The Comment box is at the bottom of the page. Sorry for the glitch but just scroll right down and share your opinions!