170 jobs are lost as Oakworth Joinery goes under (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

170 jobs are lost as Oakworth Joinery goes under

7:30am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Business By Chris Holland

The Oakworth Joinery factory

Administrators have been unable to rescue a Keighley manufacturing firm which will now shut with the loss of about 170 jobs.

Oakworth Joinery Ltd in Royd Ings Avenue – which was the town’s second biggest private employer – went into administration last Friday following a slump in trade.

That move came a week after a deal to sell the struggling business fell through.

Workers have told of their devastation at the news.

Paul Dean, 45, from Heaton, Bradford, who has worked as a joiner for the company for 11 years, told the Telegraph & Argus last night: “All 170 workers have been made redundant at 2pm today with no notice.

“When they went into administration, we were all told to carry on as normal. The workforce feel that not enough was done to look for a buyer and to sell the business as a going concern.

“It was a very bitter meeting. People have been there 40 years and that’s all they have known. It’s like having your life destroyed. There are a lot of loyal people there and this is just devastating.

“We were told there would be no wages for last week and that we will have to recover them through the Insolvency Service.

“A lot of people felt there was a lot more that could have been done. We did put out a good product.”

A machine worker, who wanted to remain anonymous, lost his job after 25 years. He said it was “heartwrenching” with his manager in tears because he could not save his employees’ jobs.

“We were all good mates down there,” he said. “It is an awful situation to be in and I never thought it would happen.

“We have been in situations like this before but rode them out. Unfortunately not this time.

“It has been an upsetting day. We had an inkling when the wagons came to take the timber because you can’t run a business without the timber.

“Everyone is angry and upset and shocked. The manager in the machine shop was crying his heart out and it was quite upsetting to see him so upset because he had tried his hardest for us.”

But last night joint administrator John Russell, of The P&A Partnership, confirmed that attempts to save the firm had failed after a deal was unable to be struck with its main customer.

Mr Russell said: “The business has been loss making with a declining order book for some time. Unfortunately, we have been unable to secure trading terms with Oakworth’s major customer which accounted for almost 75 per cent of orders.

“It is a huge blow to the workforce – many of whom have worked for Oakworth for a number of years. We will be on site assisting staff with claim forms for redundancy payments and other entitlements. Also, we have a special website where we will post up to date information and advice for staff.”

Mr Russell and Chris White were appointed administrators of Oakworth Joinery on February 3.

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins described the firm’s closure as massively disappointing for the workers affected, their families and the town.

He said: “It is deeply regrettable that the administrators have been unable to reach an agreement to allow Oakworth to continue to trade.”

Bradford Councillor Khadim Hussain (Lab, Keighley Central) whose ward includes Oakworth Joinery, described the closure as a “huge loss”.

Oakworth Joinery was the UK’s largest independent window and was bought from Nobia Holdings UK Ltd, which also owns Magnet, in 2010 and has been manufacturing in the town since 1965. The administrators are now looking to sell Oakworth’s assets, including its equipment.