20 jobs lost as Sheffield's Mr Rubble enters liquidation

Mr Rubble, the Sheffield-based domestic and commercial skip hire company, has been placed into liquidation.

Insolvency specialists Wilson Field Limited has been appointed to manage the process at the Recycling Centre on Stevenson Road, which has resulted in the loss of all 20 staff jobs.

The business, recognised for its bright orange skips, began trading in 2001 and had heavily invested in recycling systems to meeting increasing regulations on waste management and disposal.

Faced with cash flow problems, the company saw a significant decline in the demand for its services due to increased competition in the market over the last 18 months and the financial increase in permits for handling waste.

Andy Wood and Robert Dymond from Wilson Field were appointed joint liquidators of Mr Rubble Skip Hire on 21 December 2016 at a meeting of members and creditors.

Andy Wood, associate director and insolvency practitioner at Wilson Field, said: “Despite implementing a number of cost saving initiatives, recently introduced legislation relating to Landfill Tax, and environmental issues with the site, rendered the business model unviable.

“The directors came to Wilson Field for advice. We recommended seeking the opinion, and advice, from an independent specialist agent regarding the saleability of the business as a going concern to preserve the intellectual property value of the business.

“Potential environmental issues prohibited this and regrettably the company entered liquidation. As a consequence all 20 jobs have been lost. It is always sad to see a long-standing company go out of business with the loss of jobs.”

The company assets have been sold to an independent competitor within the local area, Richard Fletcher Plant Limited.

Director Carl Brittain started Mr Rubble Skip Hire in 2001 after leaving his job at a national waste company.

The company, which saw continued growth by operating trucks fitted with the latest technology, opened a purpose-built waste transfer station in March 2006 boasting a 93% waste recycling figure.