Redundancies at Patton group

The Ballymena-based group was placed into administration on Tuesday, 24 hours after the firm publicly admitted it had run into financial difficulties.

In a statement, the administrator said “it has been necessary to make a number of staff redundant as of 9 November”.

The statement said that the cancellation of contracts had led to the staff reduction.

“Following the company’s recent trading difficulties, a number of the company’s contracts were terminated by customers and the reduced level of activity in the business has directly impacted the level of staff required”, the administrator said.

“The administrator will continue to review employment in the context of workload and the financial condition of the company and will keep employees informed.”

The number of job losses was not given but workers are estimating between 180 and 200.

Currently, 320 staff are employed in Patton’s construction business.

First Minister Peter Robinson has said redundancies seem inevitable at the company.

Mr Robinson was speaking after a business breakfast in Craigavon.

Some of those listening to him were sub-contractors to the Patton Group and they raised their concerns about the knock-on effect that the building firm’s apparent collapse would have on their businesses.

The administrator has said possible options for the future included the sale of all or parts of the company.

The family-run firm has been in business in Northern Ireland for the past 100 years.