Former Complete Utilities Staff Seek to Sue Failed Company

The collapse of UK civil engineering firm Complete Utilities this week (here), which disrupted ISP Gigaclear’s rollout of gigabit-capable broadband, resulted in around 300 staff being told via email that they no longer had a job. In response, an unspecified number of those former employees are attempting to sue the firm.

Based in Gloucestershire, and with their HQ at Overton Farm just outside of Gloucester, Complete Utilities made the shock announcement of its collapse on the 31st of October 2021. One member of staff, a Project Manager from their Gloucestershire HQ, claims that the business emailed around 300 staff on Monday morning telling them not to turn up for work, and that their jobs had been lost.

In response, the aforementioned Project Manager, supported by a number of former employees, have now hired law firm Atticus to examine the claims that the company failed to consult with staff over the redundancies, with a view to pursuing legal action against them over how the process was managed.

In theory, a successful challenge could enable the former employees to claim a Protective Award, which is worth up to eight weeks’ of pay in compensation, with a cap of £538 per week. As Complete Utilities are insolvent, then it would fall to the Insolvency Service to pay the Protective Award (hence why it’s capped at 8 weeks pay).

Mohammed Balal of Atticus Law said:

“The collapse of Complete Utilities will have come as a real blow to those who have been made redundant as a result.

Based on what clients are telling us, they received an email Monday morning instructing them not to turn up for work, they had lost their jobs with immediate effect. Employees have had their lives turned upside down, now feeling understandably anxious and concerned with what the future holds.

While many people think that as the business has collapsed there is nothing that can be done, those affected actually have the right to hold the company accountable. Under the current employment law if a business is making more than 20 employees redundant at one establishment, they must follow the correct consultation process.

We are still in the very early stages of understanding what exactly happened in this instance, however, based on what our clients are telling us this did not happen at Complete Utilities.”

Atticus is now urging others who have been affected by the collapse of Complete Utilities to ensure their job title is included in the legal action (assuming it proceeds), otherwise they will not be able to benefit. “You can’t simply watch from the side-lines while ex-colleagues take the legal challenge forward. It’s important to make sure your name and specific job title is included,” said Mohammed.