Letter to Hanson UK about 3 breaches of the Cement Market Data Order 2016: data disclosed which could have been a proxy for Individual Cement Market Data.

The CMA wrote to Hanson UK regarding 3 breaches of Article 3.2 of the Order. Hanson made a payment in error to a trade association which involved 3 pieces of information being disclosed:

• a payment relating to subscription fees
• remittance advice related to the above payment
• an invoice related to the above payment

It is the CMA’s view that each of these pieces of information falls within the definition specified in the Order as being Individual Cement Market Data, as it is possible to ascertain cement volume data from such information. Article 3.2 of the Order prohibits cement producers such as Hanson from disclosing Individual Cement Market Data except in specified circumstances.

This letter sets out the action Hanson UK is taking to prevent a recurrence.

See the aggregates, cement and ready-mix concrete market investigation page for information on the Cement Market Data Order.

Rajesh Voralia (49), from Kingston Upon Thames in Surrey, will start his directorship disqualification on 24 November 2020.

The charity shop re-seller is banned from acting as a director or directly or indirectly becoming involved, without the permission of the court, in the promotion, formation or management of a company.

RTS Textile Recyclers Limited was incorporated in September 2014 and Rajesh Voralia was appointed as the sole director.

The business bought and sold unwanted items collected from charity shops and operated out of premises in West Drayton, West London.

RTS Textile Recyclers went into administration in October 2017 and a year later went into liquidation before an Insolvency Service investigation uncovered that Rajesh Voralia failed to ensure RTS Textile Recyclers complied with its tax obligations.

Enquiries revealed that VAT returns due from the end of 2014 to the middle of 2017 were either submitted late or not at all and when RTS Textile Recyclers entered into administration, almost £1.2million in unpaid taxes, including penalties, was owed by the company.

Analysis by the Insolvency Service found that more than £16.4million had passed through RTS Textile Recyclers’ bank account between March 2015 and December 2017 but less than £80,000 was paid to the tax authorities.

On 3 November 2020, Judge Prentis sitting in the High Court made a disqualification order for 6 years against Rajesh Voralia, as well as costs of almost £5,000.

Rajesh Voralia attended the hearing, where he did not dispute that he had failed to ensure RTS Textile Recyclers complied with its statutory tax obligations.

Lawrence Zussman, Deputy Head of Insolvent Investigations for the Insolvency Service, said:

Rajesh Voralia failed to take his responsibilities as a director seriously and thought he could walk away from his company and its outstanding tax liabilities without consequences.

Thanks to our investigation, he has now been removed from the business environment for a substantial period. This ban should serve as a warning to other directors that if you do not pay correct taxes and comply with the law, you run the risk of being disqualified.

Rajesh Voralia is from Kingston Upon Thames and his date of birth is March 1971.

RTS Textile Recyclers Limited (Company Reg no. 09206816).

Disqualification undertakings are the administrative equivalent of a disqualification order but do not involve court proceedings. Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of restrictions.

Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct.

You can also follow the Insolvency Service on:

Sector-based work academies help prepare those receiving unemployment benefits to apply for jobs in a different area of work. Placements are designed to help meet your immediate and future recruitment needs as well as to recruit a workforce with the right skills to sustain and grow your business.

Fareham College

Fareham College has teamed up with Job Centre Plus (JCP) to establish a bespoke sector-based work academy to offer people the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge required for pursuing a career in the construction industries.

The college’s Civil Engineering Training Centre (CETC) works with JCP to offer individuals seeking employment opportunities relevant skills and experience to enter the construction industry. Potential applicants, including those made redundant and receiving unemployment benefit or out of work for some time, enrol on a four-week training programme at CETC to give them real-world experience in civil engineering.

Every learner is guaranteed a job interview at the end of the programme, they obtain their CSCS Green Card as well as a Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment and a Level 1 Award in Bricklaying. If required they can gain a functional skills qualification in Maths and English, enabling them to graduate the programme site-ready. Each cohort of learners can then progress straight into work or onto an apprenticeship.

Jordan Pakiry, a learner on the programme, said:

I was made redundant at the end of July. I came to CETC with no experience in bricklaying or the construction industry, but I have had a very positive experience and have learnt the basics in building straight block walls, corner returns and bonding bricks together.

These skills combined with my Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment plus functional skills in Maths have put me in a great position to look for a job at the end of the programme.

Fellow learner Andrew Stubbs also commented:

I was unemployed for six months, having had a long and successful career in transport services. I want to pursue a work placement with Highways England and return to CETC next year to complete a Level 2 Highway Maintenance Apprenticeship.

The tutors at CETC are amazing. They have up-to-date industry experience and knowledge and the right connections. I have already recommended the programme to family and friends who are looking to change or start a career in civil engineering and groundworks.

Lesley Roberts of Fareham College said:

The programme has already enjoyed success with learners from the first two cohorts progressing into employment and Apprenticeships. We are planning a third cohort to start in January 2021. We hope to see many of our learners go on to have successful careers in the construction industry.

The college now has a full cohort of 20 learners who are looking forward to starting on programme in January 2021.

New careers

Thanks to Jobcentre staff in Manchester and the SWAP programme, Ashley Garrod is on the road to a new career.

After four years in the music industry, performing up and down the country as well as making his own music, Ashley found himself out of work in March 2020. But, through the SWAP programme, designed to connect employers with individuals who want a chance to learn more about a particular sector, Ashley now has qualifications in social care and a new career as a carer.

The hands on experience gained through SWAP helped Ashley decide if the care sector was right for him, and helped him make an informed choice about his future career path.

Ashley video