Workers tell of ‘awful’ state of doomed plant

WORKERS say they faced “awful” conditions at Furniture supplier Triumph, which has gone into administration.

The family-run business, which was created in 1946 and employs a total of 252 people across two sites in Merthyr Tydfil, entered into administration on Tuesday.

Footage obtained by the Echo shows water pouring through the roof at the premises in Merthyr, which workers say worsened in recent weeks. They say the roof has been leaking for a number of years.

Nicky Meredith, 29, from Merthyr, worked for the company for almost two years and said workers had been concerned there may be problems at the factory.

He added: “Everyone knew something was going on over the last few weeks because they started cutting shift patterns down. Every time we asked any of the managers what was going on they said they didn’t know and it has left us in an awkward position.

“We were told the firm wasn’t making money and that they had to close, but also that we wouldn’t be paid for last week’s work.

“The working conditions have been awful recently and there has been flooding on the site, especially since the storm, but we were told to get on with our jobs.”

Mr Meredith has three children and is also expecting another child and says he needs to find employment urgently.

He added: “Some people left weeks ago to look for another job but we were told it was just a quiet period but work would soon pick up. Things just got worse and slowly they were taking stock out of the factory.”

The company blamed an “unprecedented fall in sales” in the past 10 weeks for the closure.

The firm was previously bought out of administration in 2011 when more than 200 jobs were saved and the company was bought out by the firm’s management team.

Another worker who didn’t want to be named, said he had worked at the site in Merthyr for more than 30 years.

He said: “I’ve worked there for a number of years so I have seen how the company has changed over the years. Initially it was great and I’ve really enjoyed my job.

But he added: “The roof is full of water and we have worked with flooding on the work floor for the last few weeks but the roof has been broken for years.

“If it rained, you were able to see lines in the roof, there was very little maintenance. We were told we had to work in the flooding even though the machines are electrical, I refused but they told me I had to do it and carry on.”

Huw Powell, of Begbies Traynor which is handling the administration, said attempts were made to find “additional funding” but that these proved unsuccessful.

He said it was “not unusual” for demand for office furniture to fluctuate, but the drop in orders during the summer was “unprecedented”.

Of the 239 jobs lost, the company announced 13 people were being kept on to help with the administration process.

Andrew Jackson, CEO of Triumph Furniture, said: “The family is devastated by this appalling outcome and are extremely concerned for the welfare of all Triumph employees and their families at this terrible time.

“The business has suffered a rapid and catastrophic collapse in orders since the middle of July, which has been impossible to recover from, despite every effort.

“All connected with the business over these years should be very proud of what has been achieved.”

The Echo approached administrators for comment on the flooding at the factory but they said it would be “inappropriate” for them to comment at this stage.