The Joint Administrators of R J Herbert Group Limited and R J Herbert Engineering Limited in administration have announced 84 redundancies (from R J Herbert Engineering). Of the remaining workforce, 32 employees will be transferred to Herbert Systems Limited, and a further 14 staff retained while R J Herbert Engineering is wound down.
Chris Farrington, Joint Administrator and financial advisory partner at Deloitte commented: “We have been unable to find a buyer for R J Herbert Engineering so far, although the factory, stock, plant equipment and technical drawings are still available for sale. We would still prefer to sell the manufacturing facility as one unit if a buyer could be found quickly, which could potentially resurrect the business. Trading any business during administration cannot be done indefinitely due to the costs involved, and therefore today’s job losses have become inevitable.
“We have found an overseas third party to buy Herbert Systems Limited, and we hope to conclude the terms of the offer in the coming week.”
Chris Farrington and Matt Cowlishaw were appointed Joint Administrators over R J Herbert Group Limited and R J Herbert Engineering Limited on 14 July 2016. R J Herbert Group Ltd is the parent company for R J Herbert Engineering Limited and R J Herbert Systems Limited. Herbert Systems Limited* is another part of the business which remained outside of administration.
R J Herbert Group Limited in Administration is a holding company and owns the freehold properties leased to R J Herbert Engineering Limited and Herbert Systems Limited. The combined turnover of the Group for year ended 31 March 2016 was approximately £11.3m.
R J Herbert Engineering Limited in Administration provides handling equipment to farmers and growers, fresh packers and processors, based at the Company’s manufacturing facilities and headquarters in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.
If you have any enquiries in relation to the sale of the businesses please contact Louise Durkan on +44 (0117) 984 2850.
Photo: Grading potatoes, April 28th 1972. R J Herbert