Dundee building firm Ward Building Services has fallen into receivership, with the loss of 30 jobs.
The company owns Dundee CCS Stars Elite League ice hockey team, and the effect of the firm’s collapse will be raised at a meeting at Dundee Ice Arena today.
The finance sub-group will discuss the events of this week, after owner Charlie Ward announced the loss of jobs at the 28-year-old firm.
While brothers Charlie and Stephen Ward own the Stars franchise, Dundee Ice Arena pay the bills, including players’ wages, cars and flats.
Charlie Ward has said the ice hockey team will continue, but arena directors will want reassurances over how the club will be run.
Mr Ward said Ward Building Services was the only business operated by his family to be affected. He added that it was even more painful telling staff they were being laid off as a large number are family.
The 58-year-old said the business “unravelled” due to factors including the bad winter as well as funding issues.
Mr Ward said, “The whole thing unravelled at the start of the week. Myself and my brother are just devastated this has happened as we have had the business for 28 years and it was a good going family business.”
He added, “It was just heartbreaking to let these people go who have built the business up with us.”
However, Mr Ward said there had been some good news for at least some of the firm’s former employees.
He said, “There are about 30 people affected by this directly. In fairness, a high proportion have actually picked up work already as there has been a wee bit of a rally around from other contractors in the area who have taken up some of the boys. It is still a big blow though.”
Mr Ward said the firm had a number of outstanding jobs when it went into receivership and efforts were being made to ensure the work is completed by other local contractors.