Reply to: Nurture Group formerly known as Connect Group - contractor non payment

[I000453]

Leopard Changing it's spots ? I don't think so.

Fans of the ever moving and swerving Terry Payne might find the following link interesting:
I need to co join defendants in an action I wish to take, how - JustAnswer

Even now if you visit the office in Waldegrave Road, you aren't really clear if the company is Nurture, Treadstone or Contractors Network.

After a poor experience with Treadstone I now avoid this agency.

[HJP]

Non Payment Nightmare Summer

I was contracting through Connect Group from March to August this year and in the end I had to instruct legal proceedings to recover monies owed through non-payment of invoices. It was a nightmare and there were no helpful communications from Connect Group until after my invoices had been paid when they finally emailed me to apologise. By that time it was too late - I'd lost my contract as I went temporarily to work for another client who was paying me directly whilst my invoices were outstanding and my former client engaged someone else in my absence plus I incurred £900 in legal fees to get my money out of them. Connect Group did pay my late payment charge but quietly ignored my request for extra compensation to cover legal expenses. This was the worst experience of my contracting career and has ruined my year.

Also be careful of disengaging them and working direct with the same client - check your restrictive covenant clause in your contract and don't think that just because they haven't paid you the clause is null and void because it doesn't work like that sadly. Seems they have you both ways - don't pay you and stop you from working directly. I'm in the wrong game!

Anyway just noticed that Companies House have recorded a GAZ1 for Connect Group - first notice in London Gazette of strike off action. Nurture People are still trading but last accounts are overdue. I watched Companies House Webcheck like a hawk during the summer to see if they were actually in trouble as I couldn't get any information from them. It is useful to know who you are entering into a business agreement with.

[petersmall]

Nurture People NON PAYMENT AGAIN...!!!

The problems started in Feb when Connect Group(worked through Connect before with no problems) merged with Nurture People, late payment(3months on a previous invoice!) had nothing to do with the take over as this did not happen until August(google for dates)....Darren Browne is Chairman of Nurture People and he has been involved in many administrations within the recruitment world i'm told....

I'm now looking to work direct, why should they get a margin out of me...!!

[Wanderer]

All contractors beware of Nurture people, despite Terry Payne's statement and promises....I've yet to be paid for August....this is the 5th time(out of 7!) i've not been paid on time....and not even a phone call to explain...!! awful service and lack of customer care...

Don't stand for it. Send them an invoice for penalties and interest - see pay on time for details

[richy]

Just wanted to nip this little rumor in the bud - I'm a Director within Nurture People and can confirm that every contractor that works through this group have all been paid in full. The reason for the delay is we have recently been acquired by the Networkers Group Holdings (Pertemps Recruitment Partnership Limited) who are the second largest Privately owned Recruitment business in the UK.

Everything is well within Nurture People – please follow the link if you have any queries.

w ww..staffingindustry.com/eng/Research-Publications/Daily-News/UK-Pertemps-continues-on-acquisition-trail

Not personally heard of "Networkers Group Holdings (Pertemps Recruitment Partnership Limited)" before.

However, perhaps you could share the timeline with us, when payments became late, when the "take over" talks started, when "take over" was concluded. So not consolidation due to the recession?

[richy]

I think this is why I will only work via agencies with decent rep, ie never heard 'em, never work with 'em....

Unless you get upfront payment on account?

My solicitor asked me for £500 on account before they would start work. Good on them, they know they've already got the money to do the work then !

[MarillionFan]

I think this is why I will only work via agencies with decent rep, ie never heard 'em, never work with 'em....

WHS

Mod Note:nononononono. No.

Thanks for the heads up OP.

[stek]

I think this is why I will only work via agencies with decent rep, ie never heard 'em, never work with 'em....

[petersmall]

Nurture people non payment again...!!!

All contractors beware of Nurture people, despite Terry Payne's statement and promises....I've yet to be paid for August....this is the 5th time(out of 7!) i've not been paid on time....and not even a phone call to explain...!! awful service and lack of customer care...

[JamJarST]

In response to your queries the delays were not acceptable or the level of communication from within the Business, for that we apologies. There are a lot of bitter ex-employees who are stoking the fires and trying to make this situation worse than it currently is.

All contractors who have been affected have been given compensation, every contractors has been called personally and spoken to by a member of the business with an apology and explanation.

Yet again we apologise for any problems caused, this will never happen again due to the new majority share holders being privatly funded.

So it was financial difficulty then and not the buy out that led to the late payments? The buy out is what saved you?

[Terry Payne]

In response to your queries the delays were not acceptable or the level of communication from within the Business, for that we apologies. There are a lot of bitter ex-employees who are stoking the fires and trying to make this situation worse than it currently is.

All contractors who have been affected have been given compensation, every contractors has been called personally and spoken to by a member of the business with an apology and explanation.

Yet again we apologise for any problems caused, this will never happen again due to the new majority share holders being privatly funded.

[ChimpMaster]

Terry - Given the current economic climate, along with a number of recent agency and scheme failures, I am shocked that you allow a 3 month payment delay to occur without informing your contractors.

I certainly am not surprised at Formerconnect's reaction, and personally would still be very much concerned.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

Regardless of the reason a 3 month delay is atrocious. And why would the takeover cause payment delays anyway?

[JamJarST]

A 3 month delay!!! That is disgraceful.

[cojak]

Did you tell your contractors about the acquisition and the reason for the payment delay?

It would have been a nice touch if you had (and might have stopped the posting on here).