Job losses confirmed at Murray and Burrell

A total of 38 staff have lost their jobs this week following the collapse of Borders building firm Murray and Burrell.
Murray and Burrell Roxburgh St, Galashiels, baseMurray and Burrell Roxburgh St, Galashiels, base
Murray and Burrell Roxburgh St, Galashiels, base

The Galashiels-based company entered administration last week and despite an adminstrator being appointed no way of saving the business has been found.

Murray and Burrell’s workforce, mainly tradesmen and office workers, were told last Wednesday that the receivers had been called in and that the official 30 days consultation process had begun.

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Tasked with finding an alternative to job losses, Edinburgh-based accountants Thomson Cooper announced partner Richard Gardiner as adminstrator of the failing business on Monday.

A temporary suspension was put in place on any new jobs and the firm’s plight was raised in the Scottish Parliament immediately with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon saying everything would be done to help the workers who face being laid off in the run-up to Christmas.

However, just a day after being appointed, a Thomson Cooper spokesperson confirmed: “The directors explored all options in an effort to preserve trading and jobs. Regrettably, 38 jobs were lost as there is no prospect of continuing to trade.”

Scottish Government agencies, Scottish Enterprise and the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) team, are set to make contact with Murray and Burrell staff to support workers.

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South of Scotland MSP Rachael Hamilton said: “This is a sad day for the Borders. Murray and Burrell did great work and it such a sadness that we hear this news.

“Murray and Burrell employed 37 people and had such a positive impact throughout. The focus must now be on helping those 37 employers find employment and ensure support is there for all those involved in Murray and Burrell and their families.

“Being in business is tough and everyone needs to do all they can, including the Scottish Government, to support Scottish business, large and small.”

MSP Christine Grahame, who raised an urgent question in the Scottish Parliament last week, added: “It is sad that this much respected family firm, scanning four generations, has gone into administration.

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“Rooted for almost 90 years in Gala this has not only meant the workforce are now out of work, but because of the company’s commitment to the community, it will have a substantial impact on some 15 subcontractors and 30 or so more local suppliers.

Prior to the announcement this week, Murray and Burrell operations and finance director Gary Brown told the Southern Reporter on Friday: “We have applied to the court of session to appoint an adminstrator and I understand that on Monday morning an administrator will be in place.

“We have entered in to a 30 day consultation process with our workforce. How that will play out we are not sure, and whether we have a future, we are not sure.”

Founded in 1928 by Sandy Burrell and Andrew Murray, Murray and Burrell has a long and proud history and was at one point one of the regions biggest employers.

It has named “adverse trading conditions” as being to blame for the shock news.