Carillion job losses top 1,370 as 230 more redundancies announced

Carillion, which was one of the Government’s most important contractors, collapsed into liquidation on 15 January plagued by substantial debt and a major pension deficit

Before going into liquidation, Carillion employed 46,000 people worldwide (PA)

Some 230 more people have been made redundant as a result of the collapse of Carillion last month, taking total job losses to almost 1,400.

A spokesperson for the Official Receiver, which is handling the construction firm’s liquidation, said on Monday that a further 456 employees had recently been placed into secure jobs, taking the total number of saved jobs to more than 8,000.

But, taking the latest 230 job losses into account, 1,371 people have now been made redundant as a result of the business’s failure.

The spokesperson said that those who have lost their jobs will be able to find support through Jobcentre Plus’s Rapid Response Service and are also entitled to make a claim for statutory redundancy payments.

“Discussions with potential purchasers continue,” the spokesperson said, adding that the number of jobs safeguarded through the liquidation is likely to continue to increase.

“I am continuing to engage with staff, elected employee representatives and unions to keep them informed as these arrangements are confirmed.”

Carillion, which was one of the Government’s most important contractors, collapsed into liquidation on 15 January. It had been plagued by substantial debt as a result of a slowdown in many of its markets and was battling a gaping pension deficit.

Shortly before going into liquidation, the group employed some 46,000 people worldwide, of which 20,000 were in the UK.

It held major contracts for prisons, the NHS and the armed forces. Only in July last year, it won major contracts to build the new High Speed Two rail line, to connect London with the north of the country.