Shakar Habib Banned for Six Years Over £3.5 Million Apprenticeship Cash Scandal
Shakar Habib, 28, from Newham, London, has been slapped with a six-year ban from corporate roles after failing to explain £3.5 million in company spending — including more than £2.5 million of public funds. Habib was the sole director of Vista Training Solutions Limited, a London-based apprenticeship provider that shut down in February 2020.
Millions in Public Funding Unaccounted For
Vista Training Solutions specialised in delivering apprenticeship training funded mainly by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). But when the firm went bust, an investigation by the Insolvency Service and ESFA uncovered missing financial records from April 2019 onwards.
- Habib couldn’t justify nearly £3.5 million in payments from company accounts in its final year.
- He owed ESFA over £2.5 million.
- £525,000 in company assets remain unaccounted for due to absent records.
This failure to keep proper accounts is a clear breach of legal responsibilities for company directors.
Officials Crack Down on Rogue Director
“Shakar Habib disregarded his legal duty to keep accounting records,” said Marc Symons, Deputy Head of Investigations at the Insolvency Service. “Thanks to close work between ESFA and the Insolvency Service, he’s been kicked out of the business world for six years. This ban sends a strong message to rogue directors abusing taxpayers’ money.”
Andrew Thomas, Director of Finance and Provider Market Oversight at ESFA, added the agency remains “committed to holding individuals and organisations accountable,” working closely with government bodies to enforce compliance.
Six-Year Ban Starts November 21, 2023
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted Habib’s disqualification undertaking, banning him from promoting, forming, or managing any company without court approval. The ban takes effect from November 21, 2023 — keeping him off the corporate ladder for years to come.
