Nearly 100 jobs lost at historic textiles firm

NEARLY 100 jobs have been cut at specialist textiles company Westwood Yarns, based in Holmfirth, after they appointed administrators.

Westwood Yarns, based at Washpit Mills in Holmfirth, primarily supplied its largest customer Victoria Carpets.

Administrators Paul Flint and David Costley-Wood of KPMG were appointed on 23 December

The joint administrators have retained 38 staff but 94 jobs have been cut.

The administrators said that they could no longer trade the business at full capacity, and have kept on a skeleton staff to fulfill orders that are currently in progress.

The employees were informed of their redundancy yesterday, but administrators said that all employees will be paid up-to-date to Monday 4 January, including for the Christmas and New Year period.

Paul Flint, associate partner at KPMG and Joint Administrator, said: “We are working with the employees to assist them through this difficult time. We will be providing guidance to those affected in making claims to the Redundancy Payments Office and have been liaising with the local job centre for their help.”

“The business, which we will continue to run in a limited capacity for a short period, has generated interest from a number of parties for a potential sale as a going concern. We would urge any further interested parties to come forward for the business and its assets, which include the freehold for the 160,000 sq ft site, as well as plant and machinery.”