Asset valuation specialists Charterfields have been appointed to advise the administrators of Oakworth Joinery, the UK’s largest independent window and door manufacturer which closed last week with the loss of 170 jobs.

Oakworth, which was based in Keighley, Yorkshire, had been manufacturing in the town since 1965 and was its second largest employer. Charterfields have been appointed by the joint administrators John Russell and Chris White of The P&A Partnership.

David Smith, director of Charterfields, said: “It is sad to see the closure of a long-established firm like Oakworth and the loss of so many jobs. The task now is to co-ordinate an orderly closure and realisation of the assets, for the benefit of the creditors.”

The assets of the business include a wide range of woodworking, plant and equipment, including a state-of-the-art, recently installed paint plant, together with a wide range of stocks, consumables and product designs.

Twelve jobs have been saved at a Yorkshire packaging supplies company after a competitor stepped in to buy the business from Administrators.

Centerpac, based in Dinnington, Sheffield, has been acquired by the Samuel Grant Group, following a week-long race to find a buyer for the firm.

Centerpac, which supplies packaging materials and equipment, was forced to stop trading in December after it ran into financial difficulties.  It was placed into administration in January 2012, and joint Administrators Graham Newton and Paul Bates of accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP appointed surveyors and valuers Charterfields to identify potential buyers.

Ian Maycock, director of Charterfields, said: “As Centerpac had already stopped trading, we knew we only had a very short time to find a buyer before customers and staff deserted and the business simply fell apart.

“Fortunately we were able to identify a number of interested parties, including one from overseas.  Discussions were held, a buyer selected and the deal completed less than a week after the search began.  We are particularly pleased that the jobs of the 12 staff will be secured under the new ownership.”

Established in 1891, the Samuel Grant Group is the largest privately owned packaging distributor in the North, employing 80 staff and with depots in Leeds, Sheffield and Jarrow.

Twelve jobs have been saved at a Yorkshire packaging supplies company after a competitor stepped in to buy the business from Administrators.

Centerpac, based in Dinnington, Sheffield, has been acquired by the Samuel Grant Group, following a week-long race to find a buyer for the firm.

Centerpac, which supplies packaging materials and equipment, was forced to stop trading in December after it ran into financial difficulties.  It was placed into administration in January 2012, and Joint Administrators Graham Newton and Paul Bates of accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP appointed surveyors and valuers Charterfields to identify potential buyers. 

Ian Maycock, director of Charterfields, said: “As Centerpac had already stopped trading, we knew we only had a very short time to find a buyer before customers and staff deserted and the business simply fell apart.

“Fortunately we were able to identify a number of interested parties, including one from overseas.  Discussions were held, a buyer selected and the deal completed less than a week after the search began.  We are particularly pleased that the jobs of the 12 staff will be secured under the new ownership.”

Established in 1891, the Samuel Grant Group is the largest privately owned packaging distributor in the North, employing 80 staff and with depots in Leeds, Sheffield and Jarrow.