Partner Article

Pie man saves engineering firm

A pork pie manufacturer has brought an engineering group out of administration, saving 117 jobs.

John Gatenby, owner of pork pie manufacturer Vale of Mowbray, has bought the business and assets of the Allerton Group and its subsidiaries.

Set up more than 50 years ago, Allerton Engineering and Allerton Bridges are a specialised steel fabricator and bridge manufacturer respectively. The Allerton Group employs staff at premises in Northallerton and in Tursdale, County Durham.

Allerton Engineering has been involved in some high profile construction projects, including the recent redevelopment of the Lansdowne Road Stadium, in Dublin, and the supply of steel for Heron Towers in London.

Mr Gatenby has owned Vale of Mowbray, in Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire, since leading a management buyout of the business in the mid-Nineties.

Joint administrator John Sumpton said: “Although the companies suffered cash flow problems, the underlying business is sound and benefits from a strong order book and a highly-skilled workforce.

“We are delighted to be able to find a buyer and to secure all jobs in these difficult economic times. We would also like to thank the employees and customers for their continued support during the administration period.”

Northallerton mayor Tony Hall, a former employee of Allerton Engineering, welcomed Mr Gatenby’s intervention.

He said: “This is excellent news. Allerton Engineering is a very important business in Northallerton. It has been here a long time, it employs a lot of local people and a lot of skills are being developed within the company.

“I suspect that it will have a lot of work on at the moment. Coming out of administration can only help the group to continue delivering a quality product.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .