'I paid thousands to a company for jobs that never came'

A company has been accused of promising jobs in the healthcare sector which never materialised, leaving people thousands of pounds out of pocket.

Registered in 2025, Synetal Solutions Ltd says it offers career-focused training programmes in the healthcare and IT sectors.

But the BBC has spoken to a number of people who claim they were promised training and support to secure sponsored healthcare jobs that never became available to apply for.

London Citizens Advice says it has seen an increase in recruitment-related scams since the government stopped overseas recruitment for care workers, external. The charity described the firm's practices as "unethical".

Synetal Solutions says it "takes these concerns seriously and disputes the broad allegation that its services or candidate outcomes are fictitious".

Apurv Patel, who has been in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa since 2023, said he paid Synetal Solutions £3,600 across February and March for healthcare training after he and a friend were verbally promised guaranteed sponsored jobs.

Eight months later he has received no job offers, interviews or meaningful employment support, he said.

"I'm frustrated. I paid money, I wasted my time. I did whatever they wanted without any result," he said.

Patel said he did receive some training but described it as poor quality and ultimately "worthless".

Having previously worked for two years as a healthcare assistant, he said he became concerned when a trainer was unable to answer routine questions about care work.

"She didn't give us any answers and we realised she didn't have any experience of healthcare," he said.

He also alleged communication with the company deteriorated after he made his second payment, with responses sometimes taking several days.