Huddersfield workers anger as 50 staff lose jobs with some owed wages

Workers were left feeling 'angry and really annoyed' at news they were being made redundant and would not be receiving their wages or overtime payments for that month. For some

staff, the lost wages run into thousands of pounds. Around 50 staff at WMS Entrance Systems, many of them from Huddersfield, were told on Thursday that the Elland-based firm was not in a

position to trade and was not able to pay wages. The company, which services and repairs industrial doors, was formerly based on Leeds Road in Huddersfield, with many staff from the town,

including engineers, sales reps, and office workers. One Huddersfield worker, who asked not to be named, said workers were left feeling 'angry and really annoyed' at the shock

news. The worker estimated that the company owed him over £5,000 in wages and overtime payments. He said workers had been told the company had been up for sale but a buyer could not be

found. "We got payslips but no money went into the bank. It is a bit of a pain. People were getting really annoyed." He said some workers had managed to find employment but it

would be another month or so before they received their next salary payment. Staff have been told that they can claim for accrued pay, holiday pay and money in lieu of notice, through the

Redundancy Payments Service. Employees who have completed at least two years continuous service may qualify for redundancy pay. Staff have been told that the company is due to enter

administration, and that Booth & Co Business Recovery & Insolvency has been instructed to assist in placing the company into administration. The firm is based at Gannex Park,

Dewsbury Road, Elland. Phil Booth, of Booth & Co, who is administrator of WMS, confirmed that around 50 employees had been made redundant. He told YORKSHIRE LIVE : "Several weeks

ago I was instructed by the directors to assist them with rescuing the business as a going concern via a Pre-Pack Administration. "Agents were instructed to market the business and a

number of parties expressed an interest initially, requesting the usual sales pack and signing a confidentiality agreement etc. "Whilst the company had a blue chip customer base and a

strong order book, sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, none of the interested parties were able to submit an acceptable offer thus it was necessary for the company to cease trading

immediately and make all 50 or so employees redundant. "We are now assisting the employees with their claims for arrears of wages, holiday pay, notice pay and redundancy through the

Redundancy Payments Service and agents are taking steps to sell the company’s tangible assets by way of public auction." _GET ALL THE LATEST AND BREAKING HUDDERSFIELD NEWS STRAIGHT TO

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