Serpil Tepe v Aspiration London Ltd (in creditors voluntary liquidation) — 2025

Employment Judge Aspinall, sitting alone on 5 March 2025 by video, determined that the Claimant's claims for unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal and unauthorised deductions from wages all succeeded. The Respondent did not attend despite proper notification. The judge was satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Aspiration London Ltd was the correct employer at the date of dismissal on 30 January 2024, notwithstanding apparent unilateral attempts by the company's director to change the employing entity without consultation and in apparent breach of TUPE.

The Claimant, a hairstylist with 3 years' continuous service, was summarily dismissed without notice on 30 January 2024 when the director informed her the business was closing immediately. She received no notice pay and was not paid for January 2024. The Respondent entered voluntary liquidation on 28 March 2024. The Claimant began alternative employment on 3 February 2024 at a higher salary.

The Respondent failed to establish a potentially fair reason for dismissal under s.98 ERA 1996 and followed no fair procedure. A basic award of £1,849.83 was calculated under the statutory formula. Wrongful dismissal damages of £204.75 reflected 3 days' net pay (the period before the Claimant's new role began), and £2,635.50 was awarded for unauthorised deductions in respect of unpaid January 2024 wages, producing a total award of £4,690.08 payable within 14 days gross.