Mr K Leathers & Others Ms S Davies & Other Dr R Durigon (see attached schedule) v Sphere Bio Limited (In Administration) and 1 other — 2026

The Tribunal upheld the claim for a protective award against Sphere Bio Limited, finding that it had failed to comply with section 188 of the Trade Union & Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. The claimants worked at the same establishment at Building One, Granta Centre, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge. There was no recognised trade union or elected employee representative, and no consultation took place before the dismissals.

The Tribunal found that 20 or more employees at the establishment were made redundant or placed at risk of redundancy on or within 90 days of 7 August 2025. The last dismissal occurred on 20 August 2025, so the claims were presented within the time limit in section 189(5)(b). Sphere Bio Limited, which was in administration, had not filed a response to the claims, apart from responses in two cases raising additional claims that this judgment did not decide. The Secretary of State for Business & Trade was copied into the proceedings as statutory guarantor.

The Tribunal saw no reason to depart from the principle that protective awards are punitive and should be made for the maximum period unless circumstances make that unjust. It awarded 90 days' remuneration, with the protected period beginning on 7 August 2025, and stated that the Recoupment Regulations apply. No fixed monetary total was recorded. The operative order covers claimants dismissed as redundant on or after 17 April 2025, although the reasons state that the claimants were made redundant on or after 7 August 2025.