JOBS CRISIS AFTER FIRM GOES BUST

• Workers shocked after training group suddenly closes doors • 10 employees axed and 89 apprentices face being uprooted

A business has suddenly closed after more than 50 years — leaving almost 100 staff in the lurch.

The shutters came down on Paisley & Johnstone Training Group, leaving workers stunned.

The ga s and engineering facility is now facing liquidation following an order from Paisley Sheriff Court.

Liquidator Grainger Corporate Rescue and Recovery has been appointed to the Johnstone business, according to documents seen by the Paisley Daily Express.

It is understood 89 apprentices and 10 staff were given little warning over the closure of the company, which opened in 1967.

They are now being forced to search for new jobs and apprentices will be sent to other training centres to continue their courses.

Gas manager Robert Adam, who has been involved with the centre since 2003, claims he tried to save the jobs of staff by fronting up the cash to buy the business.

Robert says he was baffled as to why the business went bust as it appeared to be functioning well.

He told the Express: “There doesn’t seem to be any conceivable reason for why this has happened.

“We had contracts that were due to bring money in.

“Even if there was debt to be paid, there are so many things that could have been done before going into liquidation.

“But it seems like nothing was done at all.

“I had the money to buy it off them.

“I kept pushing and trying to sort something out, but they couldn’t answer any of the questions about what was going on, so my accountant advised me not to go ahead with it.”

Another staff member, who asked not to be named, claims staff were left blindsided by the news.

He told the Express: “We had no idea this was coming at all.

“We were just told out the blue that the end of the week was the last shift for us all — and that was it.

“It came as a total shock and now we all have to find new jobs just like that.

“It’s ridiculous and it’s sad to see. “The business has been here for such a long time.”

The court order was made on July 22.

According to Companies House documents, the group raked in a total of £696,426 in 2017/18.

The spending within the company — which is also a registered charity aiming to improve educational opportunities in Renfrewshire — that year totalled £619,149, leaving £77,280 in the bank.

This was an increase on the previous year, which saw them bring in £579,379.

Papers also reveal that the company took out loans against the Laighcartside Street premises in February. Three previous security payments to the Royal Bank of Scotland had been paid off in January.

The charge documents were signed by James Sheriff and Robert MacDonald, who are directors of the company.

The Express made numerous & Johnstone Training Centre for comment, but no one was available.