Engineering firm closes with 57 jobs lost
NEARLY 60 staff at a Co Antrim engineering company have lost their jobs after it stopped trading.
With 44 jobs also lost yesterday at Drumbo Greyhound Stadium, there were a total of 101 jobs cut in the two businesses yesterday.
JBE Mechanical Electrical in Ballymena announced it had closed its doors, a week after going into administration.
The firm’s directors had blamed tough market conditions and “significant” losses on sev- eral contracts for its insolvency and the decision to appoint administrators.
Yesterday administrator Gerard Gildernew said it was “not feasible” for the firm to keep trading and that 57 staff would be losing their jobs.
JBE had been in business since 1983 and worked on projects in education, healthcare and retail across the UK and Republic.
In a statement, Mr Gildernew said: “Unfortunately, following our review of live contracts and the company order book, I have concluded that it is not feasible to continue trading the business in administration. Regrettably, all 57 staff have this morning been notified that their roles are redundant.
“I wish to record our thanks to those staff who have assisted us in the past week as we continue to work to maximise realisations to creditors.”
A spokesman said the administrator was in touch with the Jobs and Benefits Office in Ballymena, who would be providing assistance to the staff.
Speaking last week as he announced the appointment of the administrators, JBE founder John Blair said: “It is with the deepest regret and profound sadness that we have been forced to take the step of placing the company in administration after 35 years of successful trading.
“In recent years, despite the challenging market conditions, we worked relentlessly to maintain a profitable business, however, the struggle became overwhelming due to significant losses incurred on several Scottish contracts and we could no longer maintain our position.
“I would like to place on record my appreciation of the skills and expertise of JBE’s hard-working employees and recognise their professionalism and loyalty throughout.”