Staff at a Merseyside chemicals factory say they are “devastated” having been “abandoned” by the company and made redundant.
Contract Chemicals employees were sent a letter by their company’s owners this week saying that they could “no longer meet existing staff and salary costs”, and that administrators had been contacted.
In July last year, CorpAcq bought the Knowsley company out of administration, with all staff transferred across to the Altrincham firm, becoming part of the corporate acquisitions group that has a portfolio of over 30 firms.
But it’s now been revealed that administrators are to be once again called in to the company that was established in Prescot over 40 years ago.
It’s believed the announcement means around 60 staff members working at Knowsley Business Park have been affected by the news.
A Contract Chemicals employee, who wished to remain anonymous, told BusinessLive: “I cannot emphasise how awful this whole thing has been, it has been amazing to be part of a team that whilst being abandoned by its owners, have worked until the bitter end to fulfill customer orders.
“It’s now going to be a very difficult time financially. Job opportunities are few and far between, and there are people who have worked for the company for 30 years - their whole working life. They will be out of pocket. We are devastated.”
Contract Chemicals, established in 1977, specialises in supplying chemicals for the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries, as well as products for use in detergents, photographic products and fragrances.
The letter sent to employees and seen by BusinessLive said restructuring firm Leonard Curtis “has been instructed” by the company with a view to accepting appointment as joint administrators.
Leonard Curtis said it could not comment at this time.
Numerous attempts were made to contact CorpAcq.
