THE REDDITCH branch of one of the country’s biggest car parts suppliers has closed after the company called in administrators.
Unipart Automotive Limited’s collapse has resulted in the closure of 147 branches across the UK, including the one on Clive Road.
Another 33 were sold to Andrew Page, one of the UK’s largest distributors of car parts, workshop equipment, tools and diagnostics, and The Parts Alliance.
In total of 1,244 staff have been made redundant with four workers at the Redditch branch losing their jobs.
Mark Orton, partner at KPMG and joint administrator, said: “Despite intensive efforts over recent weeks, a sale of the whole Unipart
Automotive business could not be reached, and a buyer could only be found for 33 of the sites on a going concern basis. Unfortunately, the business had been experiencing financial stress for a number of years, so the level of cash and further operational restructuring required to rescue a more substantial part of the business posed too much risk for most interested parties.
“Our team of employment specialists will be supporting all staff on completing redundancy forms and putting them in touch with job seeker services. We will now be reviewing what options are available for the remainder of the business, such as selling leasehold interests.”
