Jobs blow as 142-year-old textiles firm faces closure

A SCOTS clothing company has gone into administration with 123 jobs lost in a fresh blow to the economy.

Administrators blamed mild winters and ‘difficult trading conditions’ and now face a battle to save a further 56 jobs at Hawick Knitwear.

Workers were given the news yesterday morning and sent home after the Roxburghshire firm, which dates back to 1874, admitted attempts to attract capital investment had failed.

With North Sea oil and steelmaking in crisis, textiles is the third industry to face difficulties.

John Lamont, Tory MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, said: ‘This is devastating news for staff and a blow to the whole of Hawick.’

There are hopes a buyer can be found, in the way luxury French

‘High level of redundancies’

fashion house Chanel stepped in to save Barrie Knitwear, also based in Hawick, in 2012.

Joint administrator Blair Nimmo, of KPMG in Scotland, said: ‘It is regrettable that a high level of redundancies has been necessary at this stage and we will be working with employees and the relevant government agencies to ensure that the full range of support is available.’

David Watt, of the Institute of Directors in Scotland, said: ‘It’s a difficult marketplace at present. There’s competition from abroad, fakes and copies.’

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: ‘I’m hugely disappointed to hear that Hawick Knitwear has entered into administration.

‘The Scottish Government will continue to provide support to the sector through its agencies, including Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland.’