Miss A Taylor v Life Schools Ltd (in creditors voluntary liquidation) and Secretary of State for Department of Business and Trade — 2026

Miss A Taylor claimed a protective award in respect of an alleged breach of the collective consultation requirements under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. The first respondent, Life Schools Limited, was in creditors voluntary liquidation and did not present a response; the second respondent, the Secretary of State for Department of Business and Trade, was an interested party and did not support or resist the claim. The Tribunal issued judgment under Rule 22 after considering the file and hearing evidence from the claimant and Mrs Quilty.

The Tribunal found that the first respondent employed over 20 employees where the claimant worked, that no trade union was recognised for collective bargaining, consultation or negotiation at the site, and that no employee representatives had been elected or appointed for consultation within section 188A of the 1992 Act. Employees were told on 24 July 2024 that the first respondent was closing down and that they were all being made redundant with immediate effect.

The Tribunal found that there was no proper warning or notice given to, or consultation with, the workforce. It held that the first respondent was in breach of the duty under section 188 of the 1992 Act and that the claimant's complaint under section 189 was well-founded.

The Tribunal made a protective award under section 189 in favour of the claimant for the maximum protected period of 90 days commencing on 24 July 2024. It ordered the first respondent to pay the claimant a payment equivalent to remuneration for that period, subject to the Employment Protection (Recoupment of Jobseeker's Allowance and Income Support) Regulations 1996. No monetary figure was stated in the judgment.