A double whammy for jobs in double glazing

Jan 4 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

A SECOND leading North-East double-glazing firm has gone into administration with the loss of 126 jobs.

Pennine Windows (Home Improvements) Ltd) called in the receivers yesterday after Budget Windows went into administration with the loss of 80 jobs just before Christmas.

BDO Stoy Hayward have been appointed to handle Pennine’s affairs and immediately made 126 of the company’s 143 staff redundant. Those staff still in employment are based at Pennine’s head office on Whitley Road, Longbenton, Newcastle.

Its five showrooms at Heighley Gate Garden Centre, Morpeth, Shades of Green, Ashington, Peter Barratts at Gosforth Park and Stockton and Fenwick, Northumberland Street, were all closed yesterday.

Toby Underwood and Graham Newton, business restructuring partners at BDO Stoy Hayward, have been appointed as joint administrators. Mr Underwood said: “Pennine has traditionally operated in a highly competitive environment.

“Recent economic concerns, which have led to a slow down in the housing and home improvement market, have also impacted on the company’s financial performance.

“We, regrettably, needed to make immediate redundancies and we are now considering next steps for the future of the business.

“Pennine employs a total of 143 staff across its five show villages and at the company’s Whitley Road head office, Newcastle upon Tyne. Regrettably, as a result of an immediate business review, 126 staff have been made redundant.”

On December 22 The Journal reported that 81 staff lost their jobs when Stockton-based Budget Windows went into administration. Administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers said: “The business has suffered significant losses as a result of difficult trading conditions over the last few months and the credit crisis causing a squeeze on disposable income”.

A spokesman for the North-East Chamber of Commerce said: “It is in a sector where there are skills shortages and we are confident that those affected will be in a position to find work elsewhere swiftly.”

Pennine Windows was launched in 1977 by its current chairman and managing director Brian Perry.

Over the years its home improvement range was extended to include windows, doors, conservatories, roof lining, block paving and garage doors.

Budget Windows was formed in 1985 and fitted over 500,000 windows throughout the North-East in its 20-plus years.

A spokeswoman for its administrators said talks were taking place with two interested parties over a possible sale.