Carter & Carter’s automotive training division has closed with around 700 redundancies because no one was interested in buying it.

Thousands of automotive apprentices have been left seeking new training places as a result of Carter & Carter going into administration.

Newcastle College bought the Carter & Carter divisions which provide training to workers under the Government-funded ‘Train to Gain’ brand.

Chris Farrington, of administrators Deloitte, told AM: “If there are any companies interested in resurrecting the automotive division of Carter & Carter then we would be delighted.

“The truth is that nobody approached us.”

Farrington said around 2,500 apprenticeships from the independent garage sector needed continued training, but couldn’t say how many had been affected on the franchised garage side.

He said it was likely manufacturers able to take their training in house will do so and those that can’t will look for alternative training providers.

Allan Tyrer, finance director of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), said it has been discussing contingency arrangements with manufacturers and apprentice managers.

IMI would be helping apprentices transfer to alternative training providers to complete their apprenticeships over the next few months.

Because of confidentiality rules he could not disclose the number of automotive apprentices affected by the closure.

The IMI is directing any affected parties to 0800 046 6198, a specific helpline set up by the Learning & Skills Council.