Anger as City Blinds ceases trading with loss of 63 jobs

A window blinds company that started up in Wishaw over a decade ago has ceased trading with the loss of 63 jobs.

Staff at City Blinds and Shutters Ltd, who launched in 2009, informed staff last week that they were out of work with immediate effect and the company was calling in the liquidators.

Staff claimed on social media that they were informed that they no longer had a job via an email sent on payday after previously being told their jobs were safe.

“Absolutely furious that they have lied to us and treated my colleagues and I like this”, said one worker.

“Looked us in the eye and assured us we were safe and would be supported. Haven’t even paid us for the work we have done.”

Although City Blinds and Shutter Ltd moved its head office to Glasgow in 2003, it maintained a showroom in Motherwell’s Windmillhill Street.

The company and a second company based at the same address in Glasgow; City Blindmakers Ltd, were both owned by directors Craig Dunlop, 43, and Daniel Ferrie, 49.

A statement released on the company’s website blamed the Covid-19 pandemic, Lloyds Banking Group for freezing company accounts, and the “red tape and bureaucracy of the benefits” offered by the UK Government during the current crisis.

It said complying with government advice left their workers unable to visit residential properties to measure up, or fit blinds. And added that they had sought assistance from Lloyds Banking Group and the UK Government scheme allowing companies to furlough workers, guaranteeing them 80 percent of their wages.

Despite a last gasp intervention from politicians they say they were left with no legal alternative but to seek to wind up both companies.