Michael Christopher McVey (49), from Altrincham, appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Friday 14 February 2020 after he was charged with one count of managing a company while bankrupt.

The court also handed down a director disqualification order, which prohibits Michael McVey from managing any company for a period of 4 years, unless he is granted permission by a court.

During the proceedings, the court heard that in February 2015, Michael McVey had set-up a company called One Design & Build Ltd. With offices registered in Manchester, the company provided interior design, manufacture and project management services.

However, in June 2015, Michael McVey was made bankrupt after he had made himself financially liable for a debt he owed to a creditor of a separate business he was a director of that had failed.

Being a bankrupt meant that Michael McVey was prohibited from managing companies. He officially resigned as a director of One Design & Build two days after being made bankrupt, but this did not stop him from running the company as if he was still the official director.

This offence came to light after One Design & Build entered into voluntary liquidation in April 2016 and the Insolvency Service was made aware that Michael McVey had been acting as a shadow director.

Evidence submitted to the court provided details of Michael McVey dealing with third parties around issues of payment for services carried out on behalf of One Design & Build. The court also considered salary payments within the company. Michael McVey’s was the highest salary, which saw him being paid more than the sole official director.

In court, Michael McVey claimed he had acted under the direction of the sole director of One Design & Build. He also stated he did not believe that what he was doing breached the terms of his prohibition.

The court, however, agreed with the prosecution that Michael McVey was fully aware of his actions and had deliberately breached the terms of his disqualification.

Michael McVey has since made an application for permission to appeal his sentence.

John Fitzsimmons, Chief Investigator for the Insolvency Service, said:

Throughout the proceedings, Michael McVey laid the blame at someone else’s door but thankfully the courts recognised that he was fully aware that he was running the company contrary to his bankruptcy restrictions.

Running a company while banned is a criminal offence and this prosecution demonstrates that we will investigate those who think they can circumvent the law for their own purposes.

Michael Christopher McVey is from Altrincham and his date of birth is December 1970.

One Design & Build Limited (company registration number 09425233).

Restrictions placed upon people made bankrupt, include telling the lender about your status if you attempt to borrow more than £500 and you cannot act as a director of a company without the court’s permission.

Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of restrictions.

You can also follow the Insolvency Service on:

The scholars have graduated from various disciplines in prestigious institutions such as the University of Oxford, University of St Andrews and London School of Economics.

At the event, Yayasan Khazanah announced they are extending their continued support as a Chevening partner by sponsoring 5 awards each year until 2022/23.

Highlighting strength of the UK-Malaysia partnership in education, Hay said:

The UK’s departure from the EU will not affect the strong education partnership between the UK and Malaysia. The ongoing Chevening programme is a great example of how the UK continues to invest in Malaysia’s brightest and best. The continued support of our Chevening partners in Malaysia is also testament to the strength of our education partnership. I am pleased that Yayasan Khazanah have extended their partnership to sponsor five awards for an additional three years.

Shahira Ahmed Bazari, Managing Director, Yayasan Hasanah said:

We are proud to have been a partner with the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office to manage jointly this prestigious Chevening-Khazanah scholarship programme since 2016, benefiting 15 scholars thus far. It is my hope that this partnership will continue to assist Yayasan Khazanah in its goal of nurturing talent and turning them into leaders for Malaysia.

Hay added:

The 45 Malaysian scholars from the 2018/19 batch who have returned to Malaysia have now joined the 1,800-strong Malaysian Chevening alumni.

Notable Chevening alumnus in Malaysia include Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador and former Managing Director of Khazanah Nasional Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar. There are 51,000 Chevening alumni worldwide.

Returning scholar Ennie Yong, who has obtained a Masters in Autism from the University of Strathclyde, said:

Studying in UK through Chevening Scholarship has given me new and wider perspectives in supporting and advocating for individuals with autism. I had opportunities to engage with the National Autism Implementation Team, individuals with autism, advocacy organisations and city council as well as representatives from public spaces (museum and cinema), which has given me new insights on the importance of collaboration in policy implementation. Thus, I hope to seek more avenues to collaborate with various parties in Malaysia so that we can create more sound policies and accepting communities in supporting and including the individuals with autism and their families.

Anna Tan, who completed her post-graduate studies in Creative Writing (The Novel) at Brunel University, said:

Living in one of the publishing capitals of the world has afforded me the opportunity to attend, and be involved in, many book- and publishing-related activities, from cozy book clubs to overwhelming conventions. I hope to be able to synthesise all this with our local communities to come up with programmes that benefit both readers and authors in Malaysia.

Jo-Yee Yap who studied Economics at University College London:

During my Chevening year, I have picked up bits of Arabic phrases from a long dinner with a fellow Iraqi Chevener as well as stubborn curry stains on a scarf from one of the many Malaysian makan gatherings, and I know that through the eyes of my friends, I now see things I would never have seen. I took the scholarship with aspirations of returning to Malaysia and make it better for the marginalised. The one-year masters has made me more willing to challenge myself, and able to see my surroundings from the perspective of others. I hope to translate these qualities, along with the knowledge I’ve gained, into my work.

The Chevening award is the UK government’s global scholarship programme offered by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. In addition to funding from the British government, the Chevening Scholarships are also currently co-funded by partners like The Prudence Foundation, Yayasan Khazanah, CIMB, Jeffrey Cheah Foundation and UK educational institutions.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has welcomed journalists and media commentators from across the Middle East and North Africa to its second UK Arab Commentators Forum, as part of the UK’s commitment to ever-increasing ties with partners in the region. This year’s Forum represents a key moment in revitalised collaboration and dialogue between the UK Government and MENA media professionals.

The Forum brings participants together from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Morocco, Yemen and the OPTs.

Participants will gain an insight into the social, economic, cultural, and political structures of the United Kingdom. They will also participate in academic seminars highlighting current trends and challenges in the media profession, including digital approaches to news and information.

The FCO is partnering with Cardiff University School of Journalism to deliver workshops and seminars that address current issues that affect media institutions and government.

Minister for the Middle East and North Africa James Cleverly said:

It was a pleasure to meet journalists and commentators from across the Middle East and North Africa for the UK Arab Commentators Forum. The UK remains an active and responsible global player, championing our values and mobilising global action on the issues that matter to us all – from conflict and climate change to human rights and free trade.

We organise this gathering not only to recognise the importance of journalism, and to emphasise our support for media freedom, but also to help strengthen the relationships between us. We value our friendships across the region.

Executive Director for Government Communications Alex Aiken said:

I am delighted that we are hosting influential commentators from across the Middle East and North Africa and look forward to our continued collaboration together. I hope that the programme of events and masterclasses will play a role in building our collective understanding of global issues such as tackling disinformation and countering terrorism.

Richard Sambrook, Professor of Journalism and Director of the Centre for Journalism at Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, said:

Cardiff University is delighted to partner with the FCO in hosting this forum and sharing our expertise in Journalism and Media. It is increasingly important that we all share our insights in an increasingly complex international media environment.

Further information

Disabled passengers across Great Britain are set to benefit from accessibility improvements at 124 stations thanks to a £20 million government fund.

The enhancements announced by the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps today (26 February 2020) are funded through the Access for All programme and will include new lifts, accessible toilets and customer information screens.

It comes as a new government campaign launched this week to improve the journeys of disabled passengers on public transport.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

The ability to travel easily from A to B is an essential factor for our day to day lives – but is not the reality for everyone.

I recognise that we have much more to do, which is why we’re making 124 train stations across the country more accessible – a key part of levelling-up access for disabled people to transport and opening up opportunities for all.

This is just the start of a much more ambitious agenda. My goal is to go much further in the years ahead to help ensure that our country’s transport system becomes one of the most accessible in the world.

These improvements are being made through the Access for All programme which, since 2006, has already made more than 200 stations step free, as well as delivered smaller scale accessibility improvements at more than 1,500 others to improve passenger experience.

Today’s £20 million is part of a £300 million package announced last year which is already providing accessible, step free routes at 73 stations across Great Britain, making it easier for disabled people to travel on the UK’s rail network.

Minister for Disabled People Justin Tomlinson said:

Everyone using our rail network deserves platforms and toilets they can use and this £20 million investment to improve 124 railway stations across the country will make a huge difference to disabled people.

This government is committed to levelling up the playing field and later this year we’ll launch a national strategy which will ensure disabled people have equal access to all spheres of life.

This follows the launch of the it’s everyone’s journey advertising campaign to highlight how we can all play a part in making public transport inclusive. The campaign is being supported by more than 100 partners, including First Group, WHSmith Travel and the Alzheimer’s Society.

Department for Transport research has shown that behaviours that make public transport a daunting place for disabled people are often unconscious, such as not looking out for a fellow passenger who might need a seat or be in distress.

‘it’s everyone’s journey’ will raise awareness about the needs of disabled people when using public transport, particularly people with non-visible impairments, and will also prompt members of the public to think and consider how their behaviour might impact others.

Alongside this, the department has also launched its Inclusive Transport Leaders scheme, an accreditation scheme which will encourage, celebrate and promote best practice in inclusive transport.

Operators, such as bus and train companies, are encouraged to sign up to the Inclusive Transport Leaders Scheme, where they will work towards one of three accreditation levels by demonstrating the steps they have taken to improve the travelling experiences of disabled passengers, older people, and those with reduced mobility.

These improvements form part of the wider Inclusive Transport Strategy and supports the government’s ambition of achieving equal access for all on public transport.

The stations to benefit from the funding are:

Thank you Chair,

As set out in document number WT/GC/206, dated 1 February 2020, the United Kingdom ceased to be a Member State of the European Union at 23.00 United Kingdom time on 31 January 2020.

The United Kingdom submitted document G/TBT/N/Add.128 dated 21 February 2020, informing the Technical Barriers to Trade Committee of measures in place to ensure the implementation and administration of the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement, following our exit from the European Union on 31 January 2020. In this document, we describe the United Kingdom’s regulatory system, our standardisation and accreditation bodies, and our approach to notification and transparency.

The United Kingdom and the European Union have agreed a Withdrawal Agreement which provides for a time-limited transition period during which European Union law, as implemented through the Withdrawal Agreement, will continue to apply to and in the United Kingdom. This transition is due to end on 31 December of this year.

The WTO’s transparency provisions, including Article 15.2 of the TBT Agreement, are an essential part of the rules-based multilateral trading system and contribute to making trade smoother and more predictable. After 25 years, notification has perhaps become routine but we should not underestimate its importance to economic operators engaged in international trade, particularly in the regulatory arena. Timely and full notifications are one of the most important responsibilities of WTO Members. The United Kingdom is committed to transparency and our aim in circulating this notification under Article 15.2 is to provide as much information as possible for other Members. In addition, we would be happy to answer any questions related to technical regulations and standards via the United Kingdom Technical Barriers to Trade Enquiry Point

The United Kingdom looks forward to engaging with all World Trade Organization members to take forward the important work of the TBT Committee, in our collective effort towards a more integrated, viable and durable multilateral trading system.

Thank you Chair.