The tough times keep on coming for the double glazing industry. This time Norfolk is the recipient of the bad news. Uniglaze, based in Norwich in East Anglia has been forced to call in the administrators after struggling to keep the business going after a big restructuring in 2011.
Uniglaze has a turnover of over £21 million and employs, or rather employed, 285 staff at two sites. But the administration has brought the loss of 88 jobs. Chris Pole, a director at appointed administrators KPMG, had this to say:
“The company has struggled for a number of years in the wake of the severe downturn that has hit the UK construction sector and wider economy. While market conditions have been very challenging, management and creditors worked together to address the business’ financial problems by agreeing a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) in April 2011.
“In spite of the company’s efforts to find a resolution to its problems via a CVA, the company’s cashflow has been substantially impacted by a further decline in turnover and the insolvency of a key customer. “In the context of a persistently difficult market for businesses supplying into the construction sector, the company has been unable to restructure further or to attract additional funding, leaving the directors with no other option than to seek the appointment of administrators.”
With this administration, there seems to be some oddities. For example, it is rumoured that the company is able to pay back their creditors 70p for every pound they owe, far higher than any normal administration. Why? There are also a couple of rumours as to the ‘real’ reason why the company has been placed in administration. I suppose with these things we will never know the true reason if there is a different reason.
One thing is for sure, KPMG have done very well this year when it has come to double glazing industry company closures. Will be a bumper year for them!
Hopefully KPMG will be able to find a buyer for the business soon. A company with a turnover of £21million and a long history should really be an attractive buy. Hopefully the business isn’t carrying much debt and there is the right staff there to help aid the business through this rough patch. Obviously job losses are something nobody wants.
You can find an alternative report on the administration of Uniglaze here: http://www.edp24.co.uk/business/norfolk_firm_uniglaze_goes_into_administration_with_the_loss_of_88_jobs_at_its_new_costessey_base_1_1656682
Hopefully they will find a buyer and not concentrate so much on the new build sector. So hard to ‘gear down’ once you have ‘geared up’ and then a recession turns off the tap!
The new build sector is a dead duck at the moment. The only real value in this market is in the residential market.
DGB you’re showing just how badly informaed you are again. 1) The new build sector is not a “dead duck” at teh moment, just ask one of the three top ten glazing companies that deal exclusively with new builds. Like everything new builds are down on five years ago, but why pick this one sector for your “dead duck” comment? Probably because you work in retail and know nothing at all about new build. 2) Theres more to the Uniglaze news than meets the eye which is quite widely known. If your finger was really on the pulse of the… Read more »
Anon – judging by the tone of your comment, you’re either working (worked) for Uniglaze or have some indirect link with them. Though I might be wrong as you would probably agree with. What I would like to say is that I know a lot more about the Uniglaze story than I let on in the post above. I have a very good source with whom I had a good chat with last night and was told many more details. However, as I can’t possibly verify them 100%, I didn’t put that in the post. You’ve sort of gone on… Read more »
I could probably varify them but I didn’t think this was a pissing competition, I’m just asking a few questions.
tell us what you know then
Why would I do that on here Neil? After nearly 4 years of doing this, I have learned that there are some things you just cannot say publicly. If you email me then I’ll happily tell you.
Would you plese be able to tell me then please , as I worked there for 25 years and no one has told me or 200+ staff anything
Unfortunately there is nothing much new to say, or of readable worth to put on here at the moment. The only bits of info I know that I didn’t include in the original post was that the CVA agreement was rumoured to be paying the creditors 70p in the pound which is very high compared to other CVA’s. I wrote about the closure of the factory in a new post a couple of days later if you saw that one?
Can somebody tell me why when Uniglaze2 was in trouble last year and it was discovered that some of the directors were found to have embezzled money that some of those same directors continued to serve on the board when the new MD was appointed? Can someone also tell me why the new MD was appointed in the first place when if you check out the director check website he has had nothing but a string of failures to his name with every one of his previous companies being dissolved
The plot thickens!!
testing testing123
Yep! Tis working me old mucker!
Several people seem to have very good sources who all seem to to know nothing would be interested to know who yours is and if they actually speak any truth !
XXX – the only info I put in the post from my source was in the 5th paragraph where I mention rumours. If you think I, or anyone else has got anything wrong, then please put us all right on here so that we can all get back on the right path of information.
DGB
There’s potentially tragedy involved in this story, which – if true – means that it’s not suitable fodder for speculation and rumours on a public forum.
this is a shame, i know there will be more work around for the other units lines, but there were some really good guys who worked there, i feel really sorry for them, usual problems cropping up from their demise though, people approaching us and asking us to make their units for them only can we be cheaper than what uniglaze were suppling to them, unfortunatly uniglaze have gone for reason and being very cheap is one of them, i for one do not intend to be going the same route of under pricing good products , i am sorry… Read more »
Jamie.. Don`t blame the “upvc boys”.(That`s all i ever hear when someone`s not happy with anything) You and the other unit boys can say NO.
Your big enough and can make your own minds up !
anything can be discussed on an open forum ,tragedy or not , you dont have to read it
the – lets buy a drill, a saw, a van and a fensa/certass registration for a few hundred quid even though we have no idea, but my mate said theres money in windows brigade upvc fitters are half the problem nige, no training, no idea, want everything cheap cheap cheap,- oh and i should of ordered it a week ago, so can you knock it up for tommorrow? you tell me an area where these guys dont exist? ive always been very public on here and glass talk that i mainly avoid upvc fitters due to the above people, and… Read more »
PHILIP ERNEST DAVIS MANAGING DIRECTOR UNIGLAZE 2 TRACK RECORD
McNally Industries Ltd. DISSOLVED
Entertainment Systems Ltd. DISSOLVED
McNally Gaming Ltd. DISSOLVED
Brent Leisure. DISSOLVED
Fine English Furniture Ltd. DISSOLVED
Nina Campbell Ltd. DISSOLVED
Anthony Little Ltd. DISSOLVED
Nina Campbell Upholstery Ltd. DISSOLVED cont……….
Arthur Brett and Son Ltd. DISSOLVED
David Salmon International Ltd. DISSOLVED
David Salmon Corporation Ltd. DISSOLVED
David Salmon Ltd. DISSOLVED
David Salmon Furniture. DISSOLVED
ABS Realisations Ltd. DISSOLVED
Andrina G Ltd. DISSOLVED
Uniglaze 2. Currently in Administration with the loss of 284 jobs cont……
Anon – are you able to provide proof of these companies that have been dissolved, from Companies House for example? I need to show that this info is true so I don’t risk being sent an angry threatening email! If not I mayhave to think about taking those down.
Thanks
DGB
Why on earth was a man with such a bad track record taken on as the managing director of uniglaze!!!!! The fraud squad need to look into what goes wrong when he’s involved anywhere!!!!
My questions are these
Which Administrators were used to dissolve these companies and what is Mr Davis’ connection with them?
Why was such un unrealistic figure of 71p in the £ reached during the CVA?
Why were management staff who mismanaged Spa road into closure then put into key positions at the Longwater Plant?
Why did Mr Davis give management positions to staff who’s only previous experience was working as an office cleaner? Cont……..
Why in August of this year did Mr Davis contact the EDP and give misleading interview to the effect that Uniglaze2 was doing so well that extra staff had to be taken on to cope with the growth?
Why did Mr Davis start handing out pay rises willy nilly only weeks before closure when the company couldn’t meet it’s financial obligations to creditors?
JUST A FEW QUESTIONS…………Can anyone enlighten me?
Yes they are a matter of public record on sites such as director check
Anon – I had a look on Director Check, some names are there, some are not. Just saying.
Check companies house
I will. I’m not trying to be difficult, but I have found in covering other administration stories things can get a bit nasty and any bit of wrong info is pounced on and I don’t want to land myself or anyone else in hot water because of it. Just trying to make sure everything is accurate :)
Got it! Seen all the companies you listed above! That is a poor track record to say the least!
Especially when you consider that Philip Davis was being paid £300 per day when he first joined Uniglaze2. I bet he’s not worrying about how he’s going to afford Christmas
Oh sorry forgot to ask, why has last month’s pension cheque to AVIVA bounced and will staff get their money back.
it just seems to be a big cover up.
Something is not right and that is for sure
i think you may find that the person who put money in, in 2011, is not silly and has an intrest, in my opinion.
Philip Davis was appointed by the new buyer who also had total financial control of the company
He may have had a majority share but the day to day running and decision making was down to Philip Davis fuck ups included
So what are we suggesting here, that the majority shareholder employed a screw up with a bad track record to ensure that Uniglaze 2 went to the wall so that he could buy it back with zero debts?
Dont get me wrong I’m not defending him in anyway , I feel he is to blame I just wonder like ypu why he was chosen ?
And I’m not suggesting anything of the sort , its just something to think about I suppose.
thats how it looks?
So why didn’t he just let Uniglaze go bust last year and save himself the £500k he put in and then just come in and buy it? I think that it is more probable that Philip Davis who talks a good game convinced them that he was the best man for the job. The guy was in fact a legend in his own imagination, who referred to himself as God (no I’m not joking) who spend most of the time promoting himself than saving Uniglaze. Which poses another question, why after using the title of Managing Director of Uniglaze 2… Read more »
There is only one word to describe this tragedy “CRIMINAL”, the way the staff inclusive of myself were treated , no notice, no money, and the probability of no home if new employment can be found….. All of our lives are in tatters. A disgraceful end to 25 years service.
As previously mentioned some one may be having a Christmas which they can afford…… My two Children won’t .
All I would like is some honesty and closure for recognition for my loyalty !
Mick i realise this is a very difficult time for all you guys who lost jobs and with 2 children myself can only imagine how you are feeling! maybe this will help maybe it will not. If you or any of the guys want help in getting back into the industry we at MyTradeTV will help as much as we can, we have a recruitment section and a news section where we can try and let companies know about you guys looking for work! The idea of our site is to try to improve and help the industry so if… Read more »
i amgetting the picture.
Please could u share it because I’m confused (I posed the original question) I get that UG2 staff have all been screwed over but by who???
sounds like DGB is just stirring. cruel to make comments on an issue that is actually affectingpeople’s lives like micks. without any real evidence or anything to tell anyone. dissapointing.
Anon – So is the BBC, local press, other online websites cruel to comment on the story? The news of Uniglaze going into administration is on many other websites and papers other than this one?
Ford has announced closures of two plants today. Sky News has been covering the news quite a lot this morning, speculating on what jobs may or may not be lost. Are they stirring? Are they being cruel? Or are they just reporting on something that is relevant to what they do?
Yes, they are reporting on these issues because it is their job – they have had the appropriate training and are doing it because it is what they are paid to do. they are a recognised authority (bbc anyway) for reporting news, rather than a salesman. i generally like your blog. but you need to think of the people who’s lives are being affected. you are winding people up.
So because this is a blog about the industry, and not an official news outlet like the BBC or Sky, I shouldn’t be writing about it? What about all the other online industry magazines that have written storied about this? They’re not the BBC but they are as free as anyone to write about this. I haven’t written anything bad. I haven’t speculated much about jobs. All I’m doing is providing a platform for people to talk about this issue, as well as anything people may want to mention. This article isn’t affecting people’s lives, it’s talking about bits of… Read more »
DGB:” I know a lot more about the Uniglaze story than I let on in the post above. I have a very good source with whom I had a good chat with last night and was told many more details. ” Uniglaze worker: “Would you plese be able to tell me then please , as I worked there for 25 years and no one has told me or 200+ staff anything” Just seems a bit cruel that you are claiming to be better informed than these people who have been laid off. the bbc only inform when they have information… Read more »
yes you are free to write about it, but think before you write. don’t stir. have some empathy.
Anon – you fail to mention my reply to him! This is the age of the internet and free speech. It’s a place where discussions about things such as this go on. I have had things written about me on Twitter and other websites, but I wouldn’t go to them asking me to stop or remove their remarks as they are more than entitles to say them as I am entitled to defend myself also. But I would never ask them to stop the writing. Those who have lost their jobs also don’t have to read this or any other… Read more »
fair enough.
There does seem a great deal of people that either “spoken to a source” or has a “friend” , and then we have the people that are mentioning people names in a libalist way but under the name anon, if you really have something to say , stop being a keyboard warrior , say what you have to say and put your name behind it. Here we have people saying directors were thieves, others seemingly starting a witch hunt for Mr Davis. If a person feels so strongly then don’t hide behind anon ! For those of us that lost… Read more »
Thank god for Ben. There is so much hate and venom in some of the posts above. Understandable, but I don’t think entirely justified. Everyone was told on numerous occasions that “things had to change” throughout the company; from factory to office. Maybe it was just a case of not realizing it until it was far too late. What else could they have done? Run it completely into the ground to the point where you would turn up for for work and the gates would be locked with a Notice of Closure letter stuck to them? That would have been… Read more »
It’s libelous Ben (but then Tom was always the stronger of the 2 of you) and it’s only libel if it’s not true.
Thank god for Ben. There is so much hate and venom in the many posts above. Which is understandable but I don’t think entirely justified. As Ben said, every single person in the company was told “Things need to change” on numerous occasions. Maybe it was just a case of no-one believing it until it was far too late. What were the other options? Running it completely into the ground to the point where everyone turned up one day to locked gates which a notice of closure on? That would have been far worse than what did happen. Uniglaze was… Read more »
Maybe it will be bought, drop the horrible ‘2’ and incorporate framing as well.
Lets all just face facts and put it down to bad management. That’s what it all seems to me, but what would I know, I’m just a number like the majority of the people that worked there! Grow up, move on and whatever happens in the future will happen! I wish everyone that worked there the best of luck in whatever you all do in the future.
Just found this blog and would like to post 4 points. 1- why were kpmg so keen to get us out the door with lots of orders for the rest of the month already input. 2- what made management decide 72p in the pound was a good figure for the cva repayment back in march 2011. 3- Why did the MD pull the company when he did (6 weeks of solid salesjust delivered ) 4- Why is it that monies taken from my wages have not ended up in avivas account but i am behind kpmg and lloyds when it… Read more »
cubbies right the senior management there was shocking,you can blame who you want but it hasn’t made money for years,mervyns a good salesman,and pat didn’t get involved enough,you can blame davis,but richard branson couldn’t save unglazed it was rotten.
UNIGLAZE 3 REGISTERED WITH COMPANY HOUSE ON 16th OCTOBER THE DAY AFTER WE WERE ALL PUT OUT THE DOOR, WTF!!!!
UNIGLAZE 3 registered office is 5 The High Street, Westbury on Trym Bristol, which is approximately 75 miles from Swansea which coincidently is where Glass Systems are based which is where ex Uniglaze Director Mervyn Raby is now working. Mmmm the plot thickens indeed.
Just for the record ex uniglaze director Mervyn Raby is NOT working for glass systems or anyone , so get your facts right before you start making accusations and at least have the balls to put your name instead of anon .
More bulls–t From the Raby clan or did glass systems get the wrong Raby I dont think so
At the time this was posted it was the truth. Why keep dragging it up its done.
well done Clouseau !!!— shame thatz aload of b/shit
i don’t think west bury on trim ihas got anything to do with glass systems,a registered office could be anywhere /,rumours are strong of glass systems coming to norwich which would be good for local job market.
uniglaze 3,sounds shit anyway.
JUST FOUND OUT GUY IN WESTBURY,BUYS NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST GONE BUST,THEN TRYS TO SELL NAME IF THEY RESTART,TO MAKE A FEW QUID.
strong rumours that glass systems will start selling in uniglazes patch next few weeks,and plan to open in the spring ?,any other news anybody
john wood say your real name /// i heard more like supertuff at windglass ovr day
they are not doing many units at old nicholls factory dont think its true also heard cet been sniffing around
this is so sad i havent stopped crying for weeks i cannot bear to think that now we will never get the chance to pay back our suppliers oh well bye bye uniglaze :(
This is all very touching , but if you were the real Philip Davis , surely you would know how to spell your own name ??? #schoolboyerror #justsaying
how’s max KT?? wouldn’t happen to be KERRI TILSON would you?
I have no reason to hide who I am ,how dare you bring my son into this , get a life
You obviously have nothing better to do if you need to start getting personal
uniglaze will rise from the ashes watch this space
any news bumpkin story gone cold ?
it’s dead get over it
too late :( our ashes have already blown away
All of this is not a joke – Please all remember nearly 300 people lost their jobs and many suppliers lost money that in turn could result in more job losses.
At least some people are trying to do the right thing that will hopefully mean some of us have a chance of getting back to decent jobs in our indusry!!
If you want the truth check out the latest news at http://www.glasssystemsltd.co.uk