More than 50 jobs at risk as joinery firm ceases trading

A CO Antrim joinery firm which specialised in luxury kitchens has gone out of business with the potential loss of nearly 60 jobs.

A statement on the website of family-owned Hayburn Wood Products said that “difficult trading conditions” have forced it to stop trading with immediate effect.

Business advisory firm PKFFPM has been appointed to plan a creditors’ voluntary liquidation, with a creditors’ meeting to vote on the liquidation due to take place on December 5.

It’s understood the Ahoghill company employed around 15 office staff and 40 factory-floor workers.

Jim Allister, TUV leader and North Antrim MLA, said: “I am

Deeply saddened: Jim Allister

deeply saddened to learn of the closure of Hayburn. After half a century of business this is a significant blow to the area.

“Of course my thoughts are first and foremost with the staff who have lost their jobs in the run-up to Christmas. It is also important to recognise that this will have a significant knock-on impact on the local economy.

“North Antrim has had a significant number of job blows in recent years.”

And he accused economic development agency Invest NI of “neglecting” the area, saying it deserved its attention.

The closure of the business is another setback for jobs in Co Antrim. Earlier this week, it emerged that 50 jobs have already gone at window and door manufacturer Camden Group in Toomebridge, after it announced a consultation over up to 80 redundancies.

This week’s labour force survey said there had been 2,741 redundancies in the province so far in 2018, an increase of one-third over the same period in 2017.

Life after Michelin in Ballymena: p35