Shock as building firm shuts suddenly

TRADESMEN have spoken of their shock after discovering the company they had served most of their working lives had gone bust days after Christmas.

Liquidators began winding up Ian W Sturrock & Sons – a joiner and building contractor based in Monifieth (pictured right) – on December 22.

Employees – some with up to 40 years’ service — returned to work after the festive break to an email informing them of the liquidation and asking them to attend a meeting.

There they were reportedly told they would not receive their holiday entitlement or any redundancy payments.

Norman Low, 49, from Charleston, who worked for the firm as a joiner for 33 years, said employees hadn’t been given any warning before being told the business had gone under.

He said: “We were just told that there was no money going in our banks.

“This has had a huge impact on my family – I have worked for the company for my entire working life.

“This is a new chapter in my life.

“We have basically been l eft to fend for ourselves.”

Billy Lee, who worked as a joiner for the company for 26 years, added: “We were expecting to get our first holiday wage but we were told there was no money.”

Billy’s brother John, a plasterer and tiler for the company for nine years, said that he was struggling to support his family following the closure.

The 34-year-old from St Mary’s said: “We haven’t had any contact whatsoever – the way everyone has been treated is terrible.

“This isn’t about a company going bust – it is about doing it the right way and this isn’t it.”

David Lawson, regional officer for Unite, said that the union was “in full support” of the employees.

He said: “We are talking about workers with combined services of over 70 years in this case – it is terrible.”

The firm, which employed nine people, was started by Ian Sturrock in 1973 and had been run by sons Grant and Ross Sturrock for the last decade.

The company did not respond to requests for comment at the time of going to press.

Both the appointed liquidator Anderson Anderson Brown, and solicitors Thorntons also declined to comment.

THE Mills Observatory is delving into the world of downsizing – and visitors are invited to join in on the pintsized fun. Experts at the observatory have created a new Microscope Marvels exhibition – an interactive screen installation all about why...