A Hull-based construction firm with more than five decades of trading history has gone into administration.
Tucker Mechanical and Electrical Building Services – originally established in 1973 as Neville Tucker Heating Ltd – had carried out projects throughout the º£½ÇÊÓƵ from its primary headquarters at Sutton Fields Industrial Estate in Hull.
The company's offices shut following the submission of an administration notice. A winding-up petition was also lodged against the business last month by a Welsh staffing agency.
The firm, which also had operations in Birmingham and Gateshead, employed approximately 66 staff members according to its latest filed accounts, reports . Its demise comes despite the firm's involvement in several prominent schemes, including significant regional contracts at Hull Royal Infirmary and the Humberside Fire and Police operations facility in Melton.
Tucker had also won a £20m contract to provide mechanical and engineering design and construction services for the Siemens Gamesa blade manufacturing plant expansion in Hull, having submitted the most competitive tender for the work.
Telephone calls to the business now receive an automated response informing callers that premises have closed. Company emails also state: "The offices of Tucker mechanical electrical building services are now closed. These accounts are no longer monitored."
Former executives revealed the company's demise on LinkedIn, with one manager stating: "I would like to wish all the staff members at Tucker Mechanical and Electrical the best of luck in their future endeavours. Remarkably sad day going out of business and good people being made redundant.
"I've worked with some fantastic people and been involved in some amazing projects with Tuckers over the years and will always hold a special place. I hope everyone gets sorted with jobs as soon as possible. All will be assets to whichever company they end up working for."
The enterprise was initially established in 1973 to take advantage of the central heating surge, with founders Maureen and Neville Tucker departing the operation in 1999.
It underwent a rebrand to Tucker Mechanical and Electrical Building Services in 2018 to mirror its expansion into commercial, industrial and retail sectors throughout the º£½ÇÊÓƵ.
The firm had undertaken projects spanning numerous industries, delivering services to manufacturing facilities, high-rise corporate buildings, hospitality venues, healthcare institutions, educational establishments and major retail chains.
Notable contracts included the mechanical installations for more than 50 new Pure Gyms, the fresh flower market at New Covent Garden in London, a £538,000 project to design and construct a new environmentally friendly tennis club in London, and a £650,000 agreement to deliver a new permanent modular 24 bed ward at Hull Royal Infirmary. The most recent accounts, for the year ending January 31, 2024, reveal revenues of £25.14m, a decrease from £26.9m, while annual profit rose from £358,577 to £451,589.
At that time, the directors stated: "The directors were encouraged with the trading performance during the current financial year which was still affected by fluctuating inflation, high interest rates and challenging trading conditions in the construction sector. The company's order book and pipeline provide the directors with confidence for 2024 and beyond together and are committed with the on-going investment in the skilled workforce to meet the expectations of the customers."
This closure follows hot on the heels of petrochemicals behemoth Ineos announcing a 20% reduction in its Hull area workforce, attributing the decision to soaring energy costs and imports from China.
