Browse Sections

• Business
• Education
• Special reports

Goulds blow after firm about to buy

Frank Wood
30/11/2005

A HEYWOOD tissue products company was a whisker away from securing its future before it was forced to call in administrators, it has been revealed.

A major company with many paper plants in Britain and abroad was poised to buy Goulds Design and Manufacturing company in Sefton Street but pulled out at the last minute.

Officials of the graphical, paper and media section of the giant trade union, Amicus, say Goulds had no option but to bring in administrators at the beginning of November.

But full time union official Glyn Beaver said: "The company is continuing to manufacture and there have been no lay offs. We are pinning our hopes on a buyer being found."

Since Manchester administrators Pricewaterhouse Coopers were called in, 36 other companies have expressed an interest in buying Goulds and four major players are still "seriously looking" at taking it on as a going concern.

Mr Beaver said: "It is terrible that this has happened because this is a very good company with an excellent reputation. We have always had a really good working relationship with it."

Amicus represents 66 of the total workforce of 180.

One concern now for the administrators is a slow drift of workers away from Goulds.

As Christmas approaches, anxiety among workers is running high. Four warehouse operatives have recently left for other jobs because they fear for the future.