Last-ditch bid to save Walsall joinery firm

A long-running woodcraft company in the Black Country will be forced to close its doors forever if a buyer is not found in the next few weeks, it emerged today.

Beacon Woodcraft, in Walsall, has been put into administration and is in the final stages of being slowly wound up, with the loss of jobs.

But administrators have today made a last-ditch appeal for bidders to take over the Queen Street joinery firm, which has been in operation for more than half a century.

Beacon Woodcraft, set up in 1961, did have a workforce of 16 people.

Just over half of these have already been made redundant while the rest will follow over the coming weeks unless a viable bid is received. Increased competition and tight margins have been blamed for the firm's demise.

The company has been kept in running order while it is slowly wound down so it can fulfil existing contracts- including one related to the London 2012 Olympics.

Andrew Turpin and Matthew Hardy of Poppleton and Appleby, have been appointed as administrators.

Mr Turpin, a partner at Poppleton and Appleby, said; "Unfortunately we have been forced to slowly wind down Beacon Woodcraft after the company was unable to adapt adequately to increased competition. The long-established nature of the business and the length of service its skilled employees meant that it struggled to make redundancies in order to reduce costs when the economic climate became turbulent.

"While any job losses are always disappointing, especially as some have been with the firm for over 35 years, many of those made redundant have already fund alternative employment with similar organisations thanks to their high skill level."

Anyone interested in making a bid for the company should contact the administrators "as soon as possible" by calling 0121 200 2962. A date and location for a creditors meeting will also be announced shortly.