Administrators called in at Thomas Barnes

Bury-based contractor Thomas Barnes & Sons has entered administration today according to Companies House, with partners in the Preston office of Begbies Traynor appointed as administrators to the firm.

A statement from Begbies Traynor said: “North West building contractor Thomas Barnes & Sons has gone into administration, resulting in around 30 jobs being lost.

“On 13 November 2015 Lila Thomas and David Acland of Begbies Traynor were appointed as joint administrators of the company.

“Thomas Barnes is a long-established family firm based in Bury and has worked with a number of local authorities and NHS Trusts in carrying out contracts for schools and hospitals, as well as contracts within the private sector.

“The company has experienced a number of disputes on contracts which led to financial difficulties and has resulted in severe pressure on cash-flow. Following a financial review, the directors were left with no viable options for the ongoing business and reluctantly placed the company into administration.

“Following their appointment as joint administrators, and after an immediate review of the business’ current work in progress, the joint administrators concluded that the company could not continue to trade.

“The joint administrators are concentrating on realising as much as possible from the contracts in the best interests of all creditors, as well as assisting the 30 staff who have lost their jobs with their claims to the Redundancy Payments Service.”

In June this year Blackburn with Darwen Council terminated Thomas Barnes’ construction contract on the delayed £4.5m Blackburn Bus Station and replaced the firm with Eric Wright. Barnes started on site at the Capita-designed project last May with a £1.5m 40-week contract.

Thomas Barnes said in June it had expressed concerns over the structural integrity of the bus station design, and that the matter had been put in the hands of its legal advisors.

The last accounts posted for the company to 31 December 2013 showed a turnover of £15m and a loss of £6,800.

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UPDATE: Comment included from Begbies Traynor, which confirms that 30 people have been made redundant following the administration

By Ed

Another sad day for the construction industry in the NW. Let’s hope an improved job market offers a quick future to those who have lost their jobs and that we do not lose any more skills.

By Anonymous

They had all the staff to get it right but they
Chose the dispute quick money route

By Tony

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