Help-Link bosses forced out as investors take action
THE chief executive and chief operating officer of struggling Help-Link have left the business, TheBusinessDesk.com can reveal.
The Leeds-based boiler and central heating business, which earlier this week announced it had axed 60 of its 459-strong national workforce shortly before Christmas, confirmed that Mel Butler and Alan Dickinson had departed.
The business is currently in consultation with its staff which may result in further redundancies in the coming weeks.
Commercial director Andy Dobing, who joined Help-Link last March, has assumed responsibility as managing director. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the industry, including 10 years at Wolseley.
Grant Berry, managing partner of NorthEdge Capital, which pumped £11m into Help-Link two years ago, said: “We are confident that the business will continue to make progress under Andy’s leadership.
“Miller Pattison, which was acquired in April 2014, is continuing to introduce as part of its integration plans a more efficient operating model that does not require a ‘traditional’ branch network. The main drivers for this are market conditions and a state-of-the-art IT platform that allows installers to work remotely. This replicates the Help-Link model, which has worked successfully for years.
“The business has done this in two phases to minimise any impact on trading performance. We do not envisage any further changes to structure or infrastructure.”
Mr Berry thanked the departing executives for their work, saying: “The board and investors are grateful for their efforts in building the business to the position it is in today”.
