Sat, 27 Jul 2019 | BUSINESS SALE
The Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast will not be able to survive past the end of July if a buyer doesn't come forward, according to Unite the Union.
The business was originally put up for sale at the end of last year as a result of serious financial issues stemming from its Norwegian parent company.
The shipyard, which currently employs around 130 people, is thought to have held a series of meetings with a number of potential buyers, as well as with union reps, Invest NI and a number of senior political figures, in a bid to tackle its financial issues and move forward.
According to a Harland and Wolff spokesman, the firm has also completed all necessary legalities and is firmly in place to proceed should a buyer emerge.
"The company had hoped to have completed the M&A process at this stage," he said, "but can confirm that they are still in negotiation with a number of potential bidders in an effort to transact a sale that achieves the best outcome for all stakeholders."
Unions are certain that the shipyard could turn around its financial issues should it win the chance to work on the Royal Navy's new Type 31e frigate. However, this will not be possible until a new owner is in place.
Susan Fitzgerald, regional coordinating officer with the Unite trade union, added that the government should also work harder to support shipbuilding in Britain and follow through on its previous commitments.
"We are calling on the Government to take the helm of Belfast shipbuilding, nationalise the yard and draw up a full strategic plan focused on maintaining capacity and skills," she said.
The wholesale business has an established trading history and has built up a strong reputation and a loyal customer base. Business is drawn from a wide demographic of clients with a good spread across different business sectors.
This is a lucrative opportunity to acquire a well-established plumbers and heating merchants business with a strong market presence, specialising in building, plumbing, and timber supplies.
Here's a rare chance to acquire a financially robust builders merchants business with a strong foothold in Merseyside.
Please choose your settings for this site below. For more information please read our Cookie Policy
These cookies are necessary for our website to function properly and provide you with access to all features.
These are analytics cookies that help us to improve the way our website works.
These are used to improve the functional performance of the website and make it easier for you to use.