The Harley Medical Group - one of the most popular cosmetic surgery practices in the UK - has ceased trading and 'told staff of job losses through WhatsApp'.
Employees say they were today via WhatsApp that their contracts have been terminated.
The practice - which has clinics in Bristol, Birmingham, Maidenhead, London, and Stoke-on-Trent - employs up to 500 people, according to LinkedIn.
It is believed to have a number of celebrity clients - with its flagship clinic on London road Harley Street.
Staff expressed concern over the "thousands" of people who have already paid for treatment.
A practitioner at the company said: "I don't know what I'm going to do – I have two small children – I am having to explain to them I now don’t have a job.
"We have thousands of people on the books for appointments who will now have to claim their money back."
The practitioner - who wished to remain anonymous - said she and all staff were informed they would all be losing their jobs today (July 17) at 11.30am.
The contact number for the business is going straight to a voicemail saying: "We regret to inform that Harley Medical Group has now ceased trading."
The source said: "We were just told this morning not to come into work tomorrow.
"Our managers said they didn’t even know 'til today, it's all been totally hush hush.
"Clients arrived for appointments today and I had to turn them away.
"We've all been working our backside off but to find this out is just horrible."
Their website meanwhile reads: "It is with regret that we advise that the SKN Group, including sk:n, The Harley Medical Group, Skinbrands, The Skin Experts, and ABC Medical has ceased trading as of 17th July.
"The company has undertaken an extensive process to secure investment to enable it to continue to trading [sic] but sadly we have been unsuccessful.
"We recognise that this outcome will have a significant impact on our team members and customers, and we are deeply sorry for the stress and inconvenience this has caused.
"We are still doing all we can to address the concerns of those affected.
"We will be contacting all clients still awaiting test results as soon as possible.
"All further websites will be provided on this website as and when available."
(Image: SWMS)
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