66 jobs saved at Ward Knowles
ADMINISTRATORS of a specialist business forms printer that went into administration last week have sold its Oswaldtwistle site, saving 66 jobs.
The business and assets of Ward Knowles’ 80,000 sq ft Oswaldtwistle manufacturing site to print services company Paragon Group UK for an undisclosed sum.
Administrators at KPMG said they are also close to concluding a sale of the Ward Knowles Manchester site in Ancoats to a separate party, with an announcement expected in the next few days.
Paul Flint, associate partner at KPMG Restructuring, said: “We are delighted to have been able to conclude such a swift sale of the Oswaldtwistle site, rescuing a substantial part of the Ward Knowles business and preserving 66 jobs.
“I would like to thank the company’s employees, customers and suppliers, as without their support over the last few days, we would not have been able to achieve such a successful outcome.”
The £15m turnover company employed 165 people in total. However, 59 members of staff were been made immediately redundant as a result of the administration.
Founded in 1904, Ward Knowles was bought by four senior managers in the company back in 2000. The company has no direct sales force and relies entirely on the major print management companies for growth.
