USERS and staff of an ailing Kidderminster training provider have been left devastated after the centre ceased trading this week after more than 20 years.

Beacon Employment, based in Hoo Farm Industrial Estate off Worcester Road, had been put into the hands of Hereford-based Harrisons Business and Insolvency limited on January 27.

Paul Walker, from Harrisons, said they had been searching for a similar company to take on the service but funds to keep it open in the meantime had ran out and it finally closed on Tuesday (February 2).

The remaining members of staff were told they are now out of work while service users were informed of the news as they arrived for their usual sessions.

Beacon was set up in 1992 to cater for adults aged between 20 and 65 with physical or learning disabilities, with the aim of giving them job and life skills and taking part in activities such as restoring furniture, carpentry and arts and crafts.

At its height, Beacon had six centres in Kidderminster and across the Black Country, employing more than 50 people. But it was beset with financial problems in recent years which resulted in five centres closing and a workforce of just seven.

Current manager Chris Sainsbury was brought into the business in September last year tasked with turning Beacon’s fortunes around.

No-one from Beacon was available for comment as the Shuttle went to press but Mr Walker said: “The company is insolvent. It was not that profitable but, due to the nature of the business and its clients, we had hoped we would be able to trade it to a similar organisation to take it on.

“We started that process but the money for wages and operational costs ran out on Tuesday and it was impossible for it to continue.

“Staff have been laid off, apart from a couple who are assisting with the final process. We are also contacting similar organisations to see if they are able to take on Beacon’s service users.”

Kidderminster resident Tony Dewsbury, whose 41-year-old son Michael had been attending carpentry sessions three days a week for more than three years said the news was “tragic”.

He said: “We found out earlier this week that it had gone into administration when we received a letter from Harrisons. It said it was continuing to trade so Michael went as normal on Wednesday but then, after an hour, he was told ‘that’s it’ and it was closing.

“We have been concerned about Beacon for some time because of the redundancies that have happened previously. It has been a big part of Michael’s and other users’ lives – it really is a life saver for them.

“Michael has learned so many skills such as using tools and making things and he is very upset about this.

“The work Beacon does is fantastic and the staff are very committed and passionate about what they do so this is a tragedy.”