BL-2022-002117 - [2025] EWHC 2794 (Ch)

Peter Marples was formerly a Senior Partner at KPMG and led its education practice from 1999 to 2002. In November 2002, he resigned from KPMG to join a small regional training provider called ASSA Training and Learning Ltd (“ASSA”). Peter Marples led a management buyout of the company and subsequently sold it on to Carter & Carter Group plc. In March 2008, Carter & Carter entered into administration, to much publicity. The business was the largest provider of apprenticeships in the sector. Its closure caused serious disruption and required the SFA’s predecessor (the Learning Skills Council) to intervene to allocate learners to other providers. The Carter & Carter Chairman, Mr Rodney Westhead, made comments to the press blaming the business’s demise on the acquired ASSA business and irregularities which had been discovered with its data and records.

The failure of Carter & Carter, and Mr Marples’ association with the firm, were well known in the sector and at the SFA. The SFA was anxious that lessons should be learnt from the experience and the serious disruption caused should not be permitted to happen again.