Building Firm Muirfield Contracts Calls in Administrators
Written by: Keith Tully
Reviewed: Thursday 12th March, 2015
The Scottish construction company Muirfield Contracts has called in administrators amid a financial crisis at the business.
Around 200 employees of the building firm have been placed on gardening leave while initial issues are resolved but there are fears that all members of the workforce could soon find themselves without jobs.
According to the Courier, Muirfield’s management staff were locked in crisis talks for hours on Tuesday March 10th, with the announcement that administrators were being called in made the following morning of March 11th.
“We got letters saying we’ve been put on gardening leave while they call in administrators,” explained Vic Thompson, one concerned employee of the Dundee-based business.
“I’ve worked here for 11 years and now there’s going to be about 200 people all looking for the same type of job.”
Muirfield is a privately owned company whose staff operate across Scotland and have worked on a number of high-profile public projects in and around Dundee.
No official comments have yet been made by the company as it moves forward with the process of seeing administrators appointed to manage its affairs.
A spokesperson for the Scottish government said: “We are concerned to learn of developments at Muirfield Contracts and the impact this may have on employees, their families and on the surrounding area.
“We can confirm that we will provide assistance to any employees affected through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE).
“Through providing skills development and employability support, PACE aims to minimise the time people affected by redundancy are out of work.”
George Ramsay, a regional organiser for the trade union UCATT in the Tayside and Fife area, confirmed to the Courier that Muirfield employees have been placed on gardening leave while administrators are appointed.
“We have to wait to see who the receivers are,” Ramsay is quoted as saying.
The issue of Muirfield Contracts calling in administrations was raised on Thursday during First Minister’s Questions at the Scottish parliament.
Nicola Sturgen said her government would do all it could to protect local companies after being asked about the situation at what was described as being “Dundee’s last independent mid-sized builder”.
Author
Keith Tully
Partner
Keith has been involved in Business Rescue since 1992, during which time he’s worked for both independent and national firms. His specialties include company restructuring matters and negotiating with HMRC on his clients behalf.
