A company called Synetal Solutions Ltd, registered in 2025, has been accused of promising healthcare jobs that never materialised - leaving people thousands of pounds out of pocket and, presumably, a newfound appreciation for the phrase "if it sounds too good to be true." The firm claims to offer career-focused training programmes in healthcare and IT, but the BBC has spoken to multiple people who say 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, and described Synetal'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." So that's cleared up.
Apurv Patel, who has been in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa since 2023, paid Synetal £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, no interviews, and no meaningful employment support. "I'm frustrated. I paid money, I wasted my time. I did whatever they wanted without any result," he said. "It's had a miserable effect on my family and finances." Patel did receive some training, but described it as poor quality and ultimately "worthless." He became concerned when a trainer couldn't 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. The company disputes claims that training was ineffective, presumably on the grounds that it was very effective at taking money.
Patel also alleged communication deteriorated after his second payment, with responses sometimes taking several days. He has since complained to his bank and sought help from Citizens Advice. The BBC has seen emails from the company advertising a "three-month recruitment programme" offering "training and placement with sponsorship" for £5,500. Home Office guidance states agencies may charge for services such as training or CV-writing assistance, but cannot charge fees solely for finding, or attempting to find, employment. Synetal Solutions said: "We acknowledge the 'guarantee' wording in the emails supplied and recognise that contractual terms alone do not resolve concerns about those assurances." A masterclass in saying nothing while technically saying something.
As part of its programme, Synetal created accounts for trainees on iHasco, a health and social care training platform. iHasco confirmed the company was a customer but said its terms did not permit customers to resell its training content to individuals who were not employees. iHasco said it was reviewing Synetal's account and would take appropriate action if necessary. Synetal said it had acted in accordance with its agreement with iHasco. The Care Quality Commission said there was no single qualification that automatically qualified someone to work as a care worker - providers are responsible for ensuring employees are appropriately trained and competent.
The BBC also contacted healthcare organisations whose logos appeared on Synetal's website as examples of employers where graduates had worked. Those that responded said they had no links to the company, some said they hadn't authorised the use of their branding, and some said they wouldn't accept certificates provided through the company's training. Daniel Blake, director of London Citizens Advice, described the company's approach as "exploitative." "The promises that were made are impossible promises," he said. "They are targeting people with vulnerable immigration status. This company is asking for large sums of money upfront without any reputable standards, without any reputable evidence of success, and yet when it goes wrong they are refusing to take any responsibility. For us, it seems a very unethical way of conducting business." He added that no reputable recruitment agency would guarantee a successful outcome without first assessing a candidate and matching them to a suitable role, and urged anyone asked to pay large sums upfront to seek independent advice. "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is," he said, offering the kind of wisdom that really should be taught in schools.
Synetal's website stated: "Synetal Solutions provides the right support, guidance, and guaranteed job placement to help you succeed." But since the BBC contacted the company, mentions of job guarantees were removed from the website. Its social media channels also promoted healthcare as "one of the most reliable paths" for people seeking visa-sponsored work in the UK.
Sarah and Rahul, whose names have been changed, paid £3,000 to Synetal while seeking sponsored employment before the expiry of their student visas. Rahul, a former dentist in India, could remain in the UK on a graduate visa for longer, but Sarah's immigration status was close to expiring. To pay the fee, the couple borrowed money from a family friend and took out a loan. Rahul said he was shocked by the quality of the training. "The mentor didn't know anything about healthcare," he said. The couple said they were also shown the names of established healthcare providers, including Bupa, as examples of potential employers. Bupa told the BBC it had no connection with the company. Synetal says some of their candidates "told us they had secured employment with Bupa" and the reference was "not intended to suggest a formal partnership with Bupa." It says it had not verified those outcomes and "cannot attribute the recruitment decisions to our training." Rahul said he secured one or two interviews, but prospective employers rejected the certificates he had received through the programme. The couple said Synetal had since stopped responding to their messages. "We're desperate," Sarah said. "We don't see any other way out."
Amisha, whose name has also been changed, signed up after being told both a placement and visa sponsorship were guaranteed. She said the training consisted of three sessions lasting around 90 minutes each. After paying an initial instalment of £1,800, she became reluctant to make a second payment because she felt she had received little in return. She said the company warned her that her contract would be cancelled if she failed to pay, prompting her to transfer a further £1,800. "I was waiting for interviews for two or three months. They were ignoring me," she said. According to Amisha, the company applied for only a handful of vacancies advertised on Indeed. She eventually secured an interview for a healthcare assistant role, but said the employer told her the certificates she had received were not recognised.
The BBC also identified what appeared to be at least a couple of stock photographs or AI-generated images used as testimonials on the company's website. Synetal said it had not authenticated the two reviews identified and removed them after the BBC contacted them. Teni Shahiean, an immigration lawyer at OTS Solicitors, said it was "particularly concerning" where individuals facing visa deadlines were being asked to make substantial payments on the understanding that jobs, sponsorship or immigration outcomes were seemingly guaranteed. She urged caution, adding that a job offer alone does not guarantee someone will be able to remain in the UK. "The outcome can depend on the role, the sponsor, the individual meeting the relevant immigration requirements and, ultimately, any decision by the Home Office," she said.
Blake told the BBC: "If it seems good to be true, it probably is. If you are considering handing over money upfront then seek advice." He said that "if people have given money and haven't received the service that they were entitled to they should seek redress. First of all, make a complaint directly to the company, then to Trading Standards. If people feel a criminal offence has happened, we would encourage and support them to go to the police." A government spokesperson said: "We know how much distress scammers cause to their victims, which is why we will do everything in our power to protect hardworking families and vulnerable customers. Our reforms have provided Companies House with new and improved powers to prevent companies from acting unlawfully and to query, remove and share suspicious information." Synetal Solutions said: "We provide training and employment assistance and maintain supporting records. Recruitment, sponsorship and visa decisions depend on employers and the Home Office." The company said it had records of genuine candidates who had secured jobs and sponsorship through its services. The BBC is asking anyone affected to share their experiences, presumably so we can all marvel at the creativity of people who charge £5,500 for a few 90-minute sessions and a dream.