Nicola Chambers and Donna Chambers of Worthing-based Chambers Media had already received bans of 12 and four years respectively last year.

Now Ben Chambers has been banned for his conduct, also while at Chambers Media Ltd.

The Insolvency Service report stated that Chambers knew, by 22 November 2019 at the very latest, that Chambers Media was insolvent.

Its business and assets were sold on 2 March 2020 and the business ceased to trade.

However, Chambers caused the company to obtain a taxpayer-backed BBL of £50,000 on 14 May 2020.

The balance on the company account was £3,974.52 the day before the BBL was credited.

“On 14 May 2020, the director paid himself £15,000, paid £9,500 to the other directors and £25,000 was transferred to a connected company,” the Insolvency Service report stated.

“By 19 May 2020, the balance on the account was £833.40. Mr Chambers failed to ensure that Chambers met its financial commitments as regards Corporation Tax, PAYE/NIC and VAT and caused Chambers to trade to the detriment of HM Revenue & Customs and to his own benefit from at least 7 January 2018 when VAT for the quarter to November 2017 fell due, to its cessation in March 2021.”

HMRC’s proof of debt stands at: preferential £178,276.74 and non-preferential £10,225.21.

“Analysis of the accounts for 2018 and 2019 and the subsequent Statement of Affairs shows that whilst other creditors have been paid off, and trade creditors are owed a (comparatively) very low amount, the HMRC liability has continued to increase significantly over time.”

The only other substantial liability at the time of liquidation was the BBL. 

Ben Chambers has been disqualified from acting as a director for 12 years. His banning order began on 29 January.

He was born in October 1980, and his last known address was on Acacia Crescent in Angmering, near Littlehampton in West Sussex.

According to Companies House he is also currently listed as the sole director and shareholder of Global News Media Ltd, which trades as Chambers Media, and of Demolition Media Network Ltd.

On his LinkedIn profile, Chambers states: “Salesman, advertising executive and founder of the British Demolition Awards and the British Asbestos Awards. I am also a publisher who 100% controls and owns Demolition Hub Magazine, Diggers LIVE! Magazine and Asbestos Hub Magazine.

“My company hosts the British Demolition Awards (in its sixth year for the 2024 event) and also the British Asbestos Awards (third year).”