100 jobs saved as administrators agree deal on major contract

Machinery hire company Plantforce Rentals has swooped in to save more than 100 jobs of Hawk Plant (UK) staff working at EDF’s Hinkley Point C nuclear plant.

Hawk Plant, one of the UK’s largest independent plant hire companies, went into administration earlier this week, leading to the loss of 80 jobs and putting another 340 under threat.

Today, it was announced that South West-based Plantforce has acquired assets and workforce from Hawk Plant associated with the Hinkley Point C project in Somerset, one of Europe’s largest construction sites.

Plantforce, which has worked alongside Hawk for the past four years, will take on all of Hawks’ site-based machinery, contracts and infrastructure, securing the employment of more than 100 full-time plant operators.

Plantforce CEO Claire Trott will lead the transition of Hawk’s assets and staff to Plantforce.

She said: “Hinckley C is a strategically significant project and we are pleased that this deal will minimise impact for suppliers and customers and ensure continued work for 100 employees at the site.

“Plantforce’s involvement in the project for the last four years provides us with deep insight into the strategic priorities and operations of the site. We are looking forward to getting straight to work.”

The sale was agreed by Hawk Plant administrator Sam Woodward at EY. Peter Carney and Alastair Lomax from TLT acted as legal advisors for Plantforce.

Woodward said: “I’m delighted to be able to complete this transaction and secure the ongoing employment for Hawk employees in such a short timeframe. I wish Plantforce every success as they continue to support the development of this major infrastructure project.”

Hawk Plant (UK) and five of its subsidiaries are now under the control of Woodward, Alex Williams and Hunter Kelly from EY’s restructuring team.

Accounts signed off just 10 weeks ago, for 2017, showed a small profit for the £94m-turnover group and included no warning from the group or its auditor, KPMG, about a material uncertainty.

It described a “satisfactory performance” and while it did note the collapse of Carillion in January 2018 had caused “some timing disruption” to contracts, the company’s directors said they did not expect to lose out significantly because of the credit insurance that was in place.

However its administrators say the group, based in Whitchurch, Shropshire, had been struggling with the burden of weak demand and large costs.