Mass job losses always leave a sour taste in one’s mouth, but news of Havelock International’s collapse in the past week delivered an added kick in the teeth.
We’ve covered umpteen firms over the years who have fallen into administration for whatever reason and have failed to come out of the other side, leaving workers worried about how they are going to pay the bills and feed their families.
But it’s fair to say there are a number of questions that still need answered about Havelock’s demise, particularly in the way it came about.
It was only little over a year ago that Havelock Europa was sold in a pre-pack administration deal, bought by London-based turnaround specialists Rcapital shortly after PwC was appointed adminstrators.
It has since transpired that, aside from the fact creditors effectively lost out on in excess of £30 million, Scottish Enterprise’s £3 million loan – public money – was written off to protect the 250-strong workforce.
It all seemed to work, and even as long ago as March there were suggestions that the Fife shop-fitting firm had an increased order book for the second half of the year.
Yet here we are in August, and a whirlwind 24 hours saw staff told there was no money to pay their wages, that administration was likely but not confirmed, and that there would be a meeting the following day.
It was obviously a fait accomplit, despite unions and employees being strung along with the faint hope of ongoing “last ditch” talks so it was no surprise the affected workers took aim at all and sundry when finally informed their jobs were as good as gone.
The whole thing stinks, and the fact those at the coalface have not been paid when someone somewhere knew something was wrong is beyond comprehension.
I’ve seen in the days that have followed suggestions that “it had been coming”, it was “no surprise”, and the “writing was on the wall” when the firm almost went under last summer.
That may well be true, but tell that to the loyal staff and apprentices who saw their lives turned upside down on Thursday past.
They deserved far better than they got, but more importantly they deserve answers to the ever lengthening list of questions they no doubt still have.
