Simon Wooding from Altrincham in Cheshire was disqualified after an investigation by the Insolvency Service. It found that although he officially resigned his role as director of Avante Recruitment in November 2016, he continued to work as a director right up to the company’s liquidation in September 2017. This despite having been previously disqualified in May 2016 while a director at Manchester recruiter AMS Search and Selection for three-and-a-half years. 

The Insolvency Service states: “On 15 May 2019 the Secretary of State accepted a disqualification undertaking from Simon Wooding for nine years after he did not dispute that he had acted in the management of Avante Recruitment while being a disqualified director and caused the company not to pay appropriate taxes.”

As a result of the disqualification, effective from 5 June 2019, Wooding is banned from directly or indirectly becoming involved, without the permission of the court, in the promotion, formation or management of a company.

Wooding’s wife, Julie Ann Wooding of Altrincham, was also banned for three-and-half years. 

Anthea Simpson, chief investigator for the Insolvency Service, said: “The Insolvency Service has turned the spotlight on a disqualified director who thought he could flout his ban by operating in the shadows.

“Company directors should be under no illusion that it is a criminal offence to act in the management of a company whilst banned, and we will investigate those who choose to ignore this warning.”

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