South Coast Skips crippled by pandemic and rising costs, but managed to find new roles for staff Failed waste firm saved 70 jobs

By Chris Tindall

A West Sussex waste management firm that was served with a winding up petition by HM Revenue and Customs was able to transfer all 70 employees to another company before it entered liquidation.

South Coast Skips had been trading for around 20 years and held a licence for 25 skip trucks, tippers and trailers, running out of an operating centre on the Rudford industrial estate in Arundel.

According to business advisory firm FRP, the company faced significant financial challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, increasing costs and difficult trading conditions.

It meant South Coast Skips accrued liabilities to creditors and was no longer able to meet its financial obligations.

FRP said prior to entering liquidation on 3 March, HMRC presented the company with a winding up petition, but then a transfer was also secured for all staff to move over to Hoare Construction Group (HCG), which owns the Arundel site.

FRP added that it is now in the process of selling the vehicles, plant and equipment to HCG, which will continue to operate.