Firm closes with a loss of 300 jobsBy EMMA SPENCER    MORE than 300 employees at a Goldthorpe firm were escorted from the premises on Tuesday lunchtime when it was suddenly announced it had gone into administration.
Staff from Speedframe were stunned when they were told they no longer had jobs and wouldn't be getting their weekly pay packets.
The wife of a forklift truck driver was in tears as she said they would have to cancel plans for her 50th birthday party because they were relying on his wages to pay for it.
She said: "In one way, we are fortunate because I work full time but my husband has never been out of work. He doesn't know how to sign on or where to go.
"We had planned a big celebration for my 50th but we can't have it now. This has just broken my husband's heart. There is one bloke who lost his daughter last week and now he has lost his job and there are three members of the same family who work here - it is just devastating."
Graham Newton and Toby Underwood, of Leeds based BDO Stoy Hayward, have been appointed joint administrators of the firm and were in charge of Speedframe's business and assets. They are now talking to interested parties in an attempt to sell the business.
Mr Underwood said: "Despite being one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of PVCu windows and doors to the UK’s house builders, the appointment of administrators has been brought about by an unprecedented collapse in this sector.
"Management, in conjunction with key stakeholders and funders, had been working on a rescue of the business, but unfortunately this downturn in the market has proved too sudden and severe." |
