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Sevenday Survives After UKWDG Collapse
Sevenday Windows, a UK Windows & Doors Group company with 28 depots, has been sold off saving 91 jobs but the administrator has been unable to do anything to protect another 563 workers affected by the UKWDG collapse announced on 2 October.
The group had been in trouble for some years but rumours of its impending demise had risen in recent weeks, especially after its profile extruding arm, Duraflex, was forced to close with the loss of 100 jobs.
In 2020, the Group took a £12 million funding package from Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance but seemed unable to reinvigorate its fortunes or achieve the level of expansion that was expected. It was highly exposed to the new build market which has declined hugely in 2022 and 2023.
SevenDay
Sevenday Windows (the company’s proper name), which is a reference to the lead times the SevenDay Centres offer customers for windows, doors and conservatories has used its social media accounts to state: ‘Whilst the week has been challenging for our former colleagues at the old UKWDG, we are very pleased to say that the SevenDay Centres remain open for business’. There is no indication of a replacement for UKWDG as a supplier to those centres – however, the centres multi-source many of their products including doors and garden doors.
The firm uses different branding, often being referred to as just SevenDay or SevenDay Windows and Doors. It also brands itself ‘The Window Experts’.
And the number of centres is to be boosted – undaunted by what has happened to former colleagues, the firm has pushed ahead with the opening of a new branch in Cambridge in the last few days, with new branches planned for Scotland. Premises in Falkirk have already been acquired, while suitable outlets in East Kilbride and Dundee are actively being sought.
UK Windows & Doors Group
The 563 job losses at UKWDG will see 496 jobs axed in Wales at Treorchy, Llwynypia, Williamstown and Taff's Well, all in the Rhondda Cynon Taf region.
Another 67 jobs in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire; and Biggleswade, Bedfordshire will also go.
In Wales, the MP for the area, Sir Chris Bryant, said in a joint statement with local council leaders: "Our ambition is to find a buyer for the important UKWDG facilities and to try to retain as many jobs as possible.”
Teneo, the administrator has said achieving Sir Bryant’s ambitions is extremely unlikely. The vast majority of employees have already been made redundant.
Bryant conceded: "It is important that while preserving existing jobs is our ambition, alternative means of support are available to employees."
Teneo also said 73 employees will be retained by UKWDG until the administration process is completed.
Unsustainable
Richard Hawes, senior managing director at Teneo UK, the person in charge of the administration said: "Recent economic uncertainty due to high consumer price inflation, rising interest costs and the associated reduction in consumer confidence has led to house builders slowing down their build programmes and retail window companies experiencing a fall in demand. This has resulted in a further large reduction in demand for UKWDG products, leading to losses and associated funding requirements at an unsustainable level."
Final word
UKWDG CEO Matthew Scoffield said: "the management and funders have worked hard to save the business over recent months but headwinds facing the sector have proved to be too strong. The business became financially unsustainable due to an industry-wide sales decline and the strain of transitioning to a third-party profile system (after the loss of Duraflex), despite cost-cutting measures and lender funding.
“While all wage arrears have been paid, we are working with our sponsors to give further financial support to complement future redundancy payments. Our staff deserve thanks for their hard work and support.”
In July, Scoffield promised Duraflex employees they would be consulted before the business closed down – only to announce new profile suppliers within a week with no consultation ever taking place.
Picture: The latest SevenDay Centre in Cambridge.
Article written by Brian Shillibeer
10th October 2023