Commercial car business H&L Garages Limited, based in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, has
entered administration with the loss of 174 jobs.
The Mercedes Benz dealer has sites in South Killingholme, Lincoln, Boston, York and Hull, and had employed a total of 194 employees before the administrators from BDO were appointed.
Paul Bates and Graham Newton were brought in on 2 December to the business, which has ceased to trade. The administrators are now looking for a buyer for the company’s assets to recover funds for the creditors. Details of the assets for sale have not been disclosed.
Paul Bates commented: “Unfortunately the economic climate and difficult trading conditions adversely affected the business.
“The joint administrators are taking all the necessary steps to mitigate risks to stakeholders and, going forward, will seek to maximise recoveries for the benefit of creditors.”
Speaking to the Telegraph last December, managing director, Brett Whittingham predicted a tough 2011 for the business: “My colleagues don’t agree with me, but I think next year will be just as tough as last year.”
“A lot of what we do is linked to retail and, if we have half-a-million public sector workers wondering if they have a job, it is going to impact on how many flat-screen televisions and sofas they buy,” He added.
The business supplied vans, trucks, and parts to other businesses.
