Police probe into Derbyshire training firm 3aaa collapse dropped

More than 3,000 apprenticeships and 500 jobs were lost when Aspire Achieve Advance (3aaa) went into liquidation in October 2018.

Derbyshire Police said in a statement: "A meeting between Derbyshire police and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) took place on 29 November 2019.

"The outcome of this meeting was that a criminal investigation would not be pursued due to evidential difficulties."

The spokesman added that a “formal criminal investigation” into 3aaa began in March 2019, following a “number of fraud allegations made by the DfE”..

The government terminated its multi-million pound funding contracts with the provider in October 2018, following an investigation, and the case was passed to the police through Action Fraud.

The High Court placed 3aaa into compulsory liquidation in October 2018.