Wind farm businesses collapse into administration
TWO wind farm businesses have lapsed into administration threatening the jobs of almost 50 people – half of which are based in the West Midlands.
Endurance Wind Power (UK) and Endurance Manufacturing (UK) install and maintain wind turbines in locations across the UK and employ a total of 45 staff.
Around half are based in the Midlands, with eight people employed at Endurance Manufacturing (UK) in Hartlebury, Worcestershire. A further 14 work at Endurance Wind Power (UK), also based in Hartlebury.
As yet, none of the people have been made redundant.
Sarah O’Toole and Eddie Williams, both of Grant Thornton, were appointed joint administrators of the businesses yesterday.
Both companies are wholly owned subsidiaries of Endurance Inc, which is located in Vancouver, Canada.
Mr Williams, advisory partner in the Midlands, said: “The recent bankruptcy of the Canadian parent company has resulted in essential central services being withdrawn from the UK operations which has led to the director reluctantly taking steps to place the companies into administration.
“At this stage we are exploring all options. We are hoping to achieve going concern sales of the businesses and in doing so preserving jobs for the employees in Hartlebury and throughout the group.
“In the meantime, it is a priority for the wind turbines across the UK to remain operable and we are working with the employees and the Canadian receiver to ensure this happens.”
Endurance had been well established in the US and Canadian markets and decided to develop its business overseas.
It researched other countries with a significant wind resource and a strong interest in renewable energy in 2010. The company learned that the UK was launching a feed-in-tariff scheme whereby energy users which generate their own renewable electricity received payments. Turbine distributors in the UK confirmed there was a market for its 50 kW turbine.
Endurance quickly set up a successful network of qualified dealers. Over 500 of its wind turbines had been sold in the UK alone. This success suggested it would be worth opening a UK manufacturing facility and after looking around, in 2012 it opened facilities in Hartlebury.
The factory was officially opened by then Energy Minister Greg Barker in March 2014.
The new factory has capacity to manufacture up to 100 turbines a year. Initial optimism suggested that the workforce would grow from 40 to 100, although these positions never materialised.
