Ploughcroft in Administration

[sedgy34]

A quote from him in May:

“The Feed-in Tariff was too good anyway; 21p is the right place for it and those people who are whinging are the get-rich-quick brigade. In a sustainable industry you don’t want them because all they do is take the cream off the top and go bust,” he says.

i think he was stating what they were doing

 

[confounded]

There you go - all all those systems that they installed now dont have anyone to go back to! and those customer think the one man bad type are more of a risk!

People who operate companies in this way are nothing short of criminals, the audacity to say that he will be back in a few weeks just shows how far this country has fallen. The moral hazard now ingrained in our business/financial system has left nothing to salvage.

 

[sedgy34]

as i recall he did a deal with plumbcentre i bet they are counting there losses

 

[Somecamel]

Would this be the new Ecobase stores that are popping up?

 

[sedgy34]

Deborah Meaden sold out her shares back to Chris Hopkins and the other shraeholders at it's peak just before the crash in the industry, at the time he has happy to buy them back at the price she asked !!.

That's why they're called Dragons! - And as entrepreneur investors - they ALWAYS have an exit strategy for their money.

She will not be shedding dragon tears

she owns a company that sells solar panels to us instalers (dont know the name) but she would have seen struggling sales too and thought of her plan B

 

[SRE]

I do feel for their employees - it's no fun losing a job.

 

[sambotc]

That story has been removed?

 

[Somecamel]

They changed the title slightly

Ploughcroft makes redundancies | Renewable Energy Installer

 

[whinmoor]

Just to add to the discussion on the main forum, Chris Hopkins was one of 11 candidates trying to get elected to Directorships on the YHMP (Yorkshire and Humber Microgeneration Partnership). We were one of dozens of members invited to vote.

9 people were successful and these were (in alphabetical order):

·Amanda Botterill - Yorkshire Solar (Installer - Solar PV, Solar Thermal and Biomass)
·Chris Cash - Eclipse Solar (Installer – Solar PV).
·Mark Clayton - MAC Support Services Ltd (Advocate for Microgeneration).
·Bill Edrich - Yorkshire Energy Services CIC (Advocate for Microgeneration).
·Ann Harding - Settle Hydro (Advocate – community renewable energy generator).
·Grant Henderson - Solarwall (Installer – Solar PV, Solar Thermal, Biomass and Heat pumps).
·Rudie Humphrey - Strategic Energy (Installer – Solar PV, Solar Thermal, Biomass, Wind, Heat pumps).
·Mark Rodda - Frank Haslam Milan (Keepmoat) (Installer – Solar PV, Solar Thermal, Biomass and Heat pumps).
·Rob Samuelson - Energy Jump (Installer – Solar PV, Solar Thermal and Heat pumps).

According to the meeting minutes (I did not attend) Chris Hopkins sent his apologies and "Amanda Botterill, newly elected Director of YHMP CIC and Chair of YHMP since 2009 informed members that
she was brining (SIC) in the receivers at her company Yorkshire Solar. Amanda explained that like many members they have been significantly affected by DECC changes to FIT, the lack of progress in the RHI for Domestic, and
the subsequent affect on customers. Amanda stated the she will be staying in the industry and wishes to retain her position as Director. No objections."

 

[sedgy34]

Well that sounds like we should feel sorry for them in there demise we are all affected with actions from the DECC and the fit and some will survive some wont they are the latter, why should they keep directorship when there company's ffailed they are trying to cash in from others

 

[Gavin A]

not sure how they're cashing in sedgy, effectively YHMP is a not for profit industry group, and nobody will get paid for being a director. IIRC it has a voluntary membership fee of £100 a year or something, and one paid employee seconded from energy saving trust or something along those lines.

I'd think those that are being forced out of the industry by the impact of government policies will still have significant experience to bring, eg lessons they've learnt from how they ended up going bust, things others might want to avoid etc rather than suddenly becoming like the undead that can't be touched or involved in anything because they went bust.

 

[dansk]

Thats unfortunate for Amanda, that's the second company of hers to go under.

 

[Somecamel]

Thats unfortunate for Amanda, that's the second company of hers to go under.

How many companies does she have??

 

[dansk]

Not 100% sure, but they had an earlier company that went bust - i know Bill and Amanda and there really nice folk - there main income is Thermal and Wood Burning Stoves.

I think the first business was something to do with another customer going down which took them also - but its not really anything to do with me and i dont know what happens behind closed doors.

 

[whinmoor]

I think he means they are "cashing in" by failing to pay suppliers. That's not proven as far as I'm aware.

I guess their workmanship warranties will be worthless so it means that this might be reflected in the premiums other companies have to pay.

Maybe Amanda and Chris will team up together....