Molly Prince ran/runs Close Protection Uk who provided the jubilee with unemployed stewards on workfare, who were forced to sleep under a bridge (covered here). Well she's in the news again, this time with another of her apprentice providing company Vision Lifestyle.
A showpeice new secondary school has ordered a company which provides apprenticeships and runs a gym at the campus to quit.
The dispute is the latest controversy to hit the Oasis MediaCityUK Academy in Salford.
Its headteacher, Patrick Ottley-O’Connor, left just three weeks into the autumn term last year. He was replaced by deputy, Patrick Rice.
Vision Lifestyle was invited into the school and its boss says it has invested thousands of pounds in kitting out a new gym which is open to students and the public.
It also uses facilities at the school to run apprenticeships.
The company is run by Molly Prince. Another of her firms, Close Protection UK, hit the headlines in 2012 when it provided jobless workers to steward the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee pageant.
Oasis UK, which runs the £25m secondary school, confirmed that Vision Lifestyle will no longer be operating at the campus.
A spokesman said: “At Oasis MediaCityUK we have outstanding facilities that, as well as being used for the education of our students, can be used by third parties.
“A company called Vision Lifestyle has been operating out of the premises as an independent third party. In that time they have been providing apprenticeships to young people in Salford.
“It has recently come to our attention that the company is having difficulties and a strategy is planned.
“Oasis is founded on an ethos of inclusion for all people. As such we are extremely proud that all young people graduating from our academy in the last two years have secured employment, training or further education.
“Although we are in no way involved in the employment of Vision Lifestyle’s apprentices, our passion to include goes well beyond the school gate. As such we have committed to working with any young people who have to leave their apprenticeships as a result of recent issues to help them find a viable alternative.”
The spokesman added: “They (Vision Lifestyle) will leave the facility. We are negotiating when they will vacate. We want to do this in a way that will be mindful of their employees position regarding apprenticeships.”
A source at Oasis said: “The Oasis staff have been told not to talk to any Vision Lifestyle staff or to the press. The mood is terrible.”
Ms Prince, whose company is based in Hindley, Wigan, said: “I did meet the new head teacher and there are a number of things that I am unhappy about regarding how they have conducted themselves after the previous head left.
“It is no secret that we are having issues and are dealing with maliciousness about me personally.
“As a business we have invested a lot in gym equipment and we were promised a host of things. I am angered by this – I’ve got a responsibility to these young people as well."
Manchester Evening News
