LONDON, Aug. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
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Garry Pettigrew was the director of Healthcare Environmental Services Limited,awaste disposal companythatserviced theNHS
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Thecompany entered liquidation six monthsafter losingsignificant NHScontracts but not before Pettigrew had transferred almost £3 millionin assets toconnected companies, putting thembeyond the reach of creditors
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Insolvency Service investigations have resulted in Pettigrew being banned as a company director until2035
A Scottishbusinessmanwho stripped almost £3 million in assets from his waste firm as it lost lucrative NHS contracts has been banned as a company director for nine years.
Garry Pettigrew began movingequipmentout of Healthcare Environmental Services Limitedjust daysbefore it lost 17 NHS England contracts inOctober2018, with transfers continuing into December2018withfurtherNHS contracts terminated that month.
The companywent into liquidationinApril 2019with debts ofmore than£15 million.
Pettigrew, 59, ofTorbothieRoad, Shotts, North Lanarkshire, was disqualified following a ruling at the Court of Session on Thursday 20 August.
The ban prevents him from being involved in the promotion,formationor management of a company without the permission of the court.
In his judgement, Lord Lake said Pettigrew was in 'flagrant' breach of his dutiesas a director.
He said:"Although the case falls within the middle bracket,I consider that the nature of the breach by Pettigrew of his duties is such to mean that it is at the top end of that bracket. In these circumstances I conclude that disqualification for a period of 9 years isappropriate."
Pettigrew was also fined £1,000 and costs in June 2025 after being found in contempt of court for taking pictures of witnesses, in breach of a prohibition by the court. He was found to havedisseminatedand misused the photographs by republishingoffensive comments andposts of the photographs on social media.
An Insolvency Service spokesperson said:
Garry Pettigrew breached his duties as a company director by transferringassets worthalmost £3 milliontoconnected companies when he knew his business was losing, or about to lose,valuableNHS contracts.
His actions put assets beyond the reach of creditors at a time when his company was facing severely restricted trading which ultimately caused it to be liquidated.
We hope this disqualification sends a clear warning to other directorswho are tempted toput theirowninterestsfirst whenfacinginsolvency thatwe will protect the public and creditors by robustly tackling financial misconduct.
Healthcare Environmental Services Limited lostsignificantNHS contractsacross a two-day period in early October 2018after Pettigrew attended a meeting with NHS and government officialsthe previous monthto discuss allegations of stockpiling waste in breach of Environment Agency permits.
Between October and December 2018, in a series of transactions, Pettigrew caused the transfer of assets worth £2,979,383 from Healthcare Environmental Services Limited toHEG Sustainable Solutions Limited andStarryshawConsultants Ltd, two connected companies of which,at that time,he and his wife were the only directors.
The transfers were made without the consent of the company's bank, which helda chargeover all the firm's assets,and despiteadvice from its accountants and solicitors that consent wasrequired.
An attempt to sell the company collapsed in December 2018 and trading ceased with all staff being made redundant.
The Insolvency Service began investigating shortly after Healthcare Environmental Services Limited entered liquidation in April 2019. On 6 August 2021,adirectordisqualification undertaking for a period of 3.5 years was accepted from Pettigrew's co-director, Alison Pettigrew, for allowing the asset transfers to take place.
Criminal proceedings broughtagainst Pettigrewby the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in Scotland over allegations of storing medical waste illegally were dropped in October 2023.
Further information
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Garry Pettigrew is ofTorbothieRoad, Shotts, North Lanarkshire. His date of birth is 5 February 1967.
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Healthcare Environmental Services Limited(company number SC173861)
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HEG Sustainable Solutions Limited(company number 07013244)
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StarryshawConsultants Ltd(company number SC448005)
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Directors can find information about their obligations and responsibilities at theInsolvency Service's Director Information Hub
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Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct.
About us
The Insolvency Service is a government agency that helps to deliver economic confidence by supporting those in financial distress, tackling financial wrongdoing and maximising returns to creditors.
The Insolvency Service is an executive agency, sponsored by the sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.
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Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
