A tech company which launched this year is facing multiple employment tribunal claims - for not paying its staff.

Seven claims have been lodged with the Industrial Relations Service against Douglas-based TVG Ltd for the unlawful deduction from pay.

Staff told the Examiner that they had not been paid their salary, holiday pay and expenses for three months.

TVG chief executive officer Jason Bourne-Williams confirmed his firm has liabilities in the order of £120,000 and claimed nine staff are affected.

But he said he intends to meet those liabilities, despite TVG currently having no other staff and no customers.

He said: ’I’ve been apologetic throughout. But an apology without money is not much of an apology. If it had been my intention to simply walk away I would have just closed the company down.

’The company is open and I intend to meet that liability. I think I can do it. I have assets that I’m liquidating to meet the liabilities.’

TVG, a start-up technology business, was launched earlier this year, with staff taken on in mid-March and others joining in April.

But at the end of May a number of staff were made redundant. Others have since resigned, said Mr Bourne-Williams.

TVG’s original strategy was to have a headquarters in the Isle of Man and a technology hub in Liverpool.

Recruitment for staff in Liverpool began and offers were made to some people who were then told that recruitment was being ended.

Mr Bourne-Williams said everything is on hold and TVG continues with just himself. He insisted the company is no longer recruiting, either in the Isle of Man or Liverpool.

He said the company had faced a number of problems - and was not helped by his having to recover from a nasty fall which required surgery to his arm.

Staff were recruited to TVG by Orchard Recruitment, based on Duke Street, which has been named as a respondent in one claim for unlawful deduction from pay.

The company’s address is also listed on two of the tribunal claims.

Orchard’s managing director Rachel Shepherd said her company ’wholly refutes’ the tribunal claims.

Ms Shepherd, who is Mr Bourne-Williams’ partner, confirmed that Orchard was hired by TVG Ltd in January this year to provide recruitment, HR, payroll and work permit administration services. She said Orchard stopped recruiting for TVG in April and is no longer under contract to recruit staff for the company.

Orchard provided HR and payroll administration services until June 15. Ms Shepherd was a director for TVG for eight days in May while Mr Bourne-Williams was incapacitated following his fall.

She said during her company’s engagement with TVG Ltd, she personally loaned money and paid ferry, hotel and other expenses to a small number of its staff and has yet to secure repayment.

And she said Orchard Recruitment has worked to secure alternative employment for a number of staff released by TVG Ltd.

A spokesman for the Industrial Relations Service said there would be a period of conciliation to see if a settlement can be reached.