Directors of a West Cumbrian engineering firm, which closed on Friday with the loss of 130 jobs, said it was a sad day for them.
Chapel Bank Engineering in Workington shut its doors for the final time last week.
Run by Workington Engineering, it was one of the last heavy engineering sites in the country.
No-one from the firm was available to speak to Cumbria Crack on Friday, but in a statement by the directors issued today via administrators Leonard Curtis, they said: “We purchased the business in 2022 and are devastated that in the last three years, after the management team committed significant sums to the business, the promised investment has failed to materialise.
“It is a very sad day for us, the company, all the people associated with it – we have established some great friendships here – and the wider community.”
The Curwen Road site The business has had a number of owners over the years.
It traces its history back to the Distington Hematite Company in 1939, then the Distington Engineering Company in 1945. It was then Cumbria Engineering in 1979, then British Steel Engineering in 1992.
In 2000, it became Corus Process Engineering, in 2010 Tata Steel Projects, in 2016 it was known as British Steel Ltd and was TSP Engineering from 2017 to 2024.
t became part of the GMET Technical Services group last September in a rescue deal for the Curwen Road site.
It was formerly TSP Engineering, which was bought by Chinese firm Jinge Steel in 2020, which then placed it into administration.
It was then bought by family-owned GMET Engineering, based in Silecroft.
It traded under the name TSP Engineering and one of its directors was Robert Mawson.
Last year, the firm said it had faced tough market conditions, leading to increased financial pressure and debt.
A petition to wind up the company was published on August 2 2024.
n September, administrators Leonard Curtis said the plant’s jobs had been saved after a sale to Workington Engineering.
Set up in 2019 and known as Red Squirrel Developments Ltd until this year, Companies House lists four directors of Workington Engineering – one of whom is Robert Mawson. Simon Mawson is also a director.
Director John Hancock resigned yesterday, Thursday June 5.n September, administrators Leonard Curtis said the plant’s jobs had been saved after a sale to Workington Engineering.
Set up in 2019 and known as Red Squirrel Developments Ltd until this year, Companies House lists four directors of Workington Engineering – one of whom is Robert Mawson. Simon Mawson is also a director.
Workington Engineering director John Hancock resigned on Thursday June 5.
He said: “I know full-tine union officials and our MP have been involved, however plenty of effort has been put in to save British Steel in Scunthorpe – let’s see the same effort in Workington.
“I also call on Sellafield to not reject Chapel Bank in its hour of need. All of the fantastic work done in the past for Sellafield, including Magnox flasks, can be repeated in the future.
“West Cumbria needs Chapel Bank. I call on Sellafield to step up to the plate. With actions and money, they can do it to give Chapel Bank a lifeline and a future.”
Support for workers
A drop-in event for workers will be held on Wednesday, June 11, at Workington JobCentre.
The event, between 10am and 4pm, has been organised by the Department of Work and Pensions and will provide one-to-one benefit advice and information, CV writing and rapid response services for extra training support.
Several local employers will be present, including Morgan Sindall, Iggesund, Nuvia, Altrad Babcock, One Aim, M-Sport, Clark Door, Core Nuclear Solutions and Bureau Veritas.
Unite Union will also have a private room to be able to speak to anyone affected.
