800 jobs have been lost after skin clinic operator sk:n collapsed, TheBusinessDesk.com can exclusively reveal.
Staff were told today that the group’s 70 clinics around the UK were closing immediately.
The shut down of the dermatology, anti-ageing, laser hair removal and tattoo removal specialist was then communicated in an email to customers and advised them to visit its website for more information.
When customers did call or seek advice from sk:n’s website this afternoon however, there was no information regarding its administration and telephone lines have ceased to work. The website has since been taken down.
It is understood the group had been working with Alvarez & Marsal on attempts to save the business.
Founded in 1990 in Harrogate, sk:n’s initial specialism was in port wine stain birthmark removal. It went on to open a stand-alone clinic in Birmingham City Hospital in 1993, followed by a private clinic on Harley Street in the same year.
sk:n has also partnered with the NHS for the last 30 years with a large number of contracts across the UK. These include NHS funding for the treatment of several dermatological conditions.
The skincare specialist was owned by private equity firm TriSpan, who acquired the group in 2019.
Investment by TriSpan boosted sk:n’s footprint to 95 points of sales nationwide and completed six corporate acquisitions.
Deals in the last few years include the acquisitions of Adonia Medical Group, Destination Skin, Flint + Flint Clinics, The Harley Medical Group and Waveriver.
Alvarez & Marsal declined to comment.
sk:n and TriSpan have not yet responded to requests for comment.