Selkirk jobs lost as no buyer found for trouble-hit car garage

The Dunsdale Haugh garage and showroom entered administration last week but there were hopes that a buyer for it, and the company’s other two dealerships in Edinburgh, could be found.

And while there is some interest in the city branches, Leonard Curtis Business Rescue and Recovery, the Glasgow-firm now in charge of the attempted rescue, say there has been “limited interest” expressed in the Selkirk one.

After a week of uncertainty for the firm’s 23 staff, they were given the bad news yesterday.

Joint administrators Stuart Robb and Michelle Elliot, of Leonard Curtis, today confirmed that the Selkirk dealership, which acquired the franchises for Kia and Suzuki in Selkirk from previous owners the Belmont Group in March 2018, has been closed with immediate effect.

They are continuing to adopt a hold strategy across the company’s remaining sites in Corstorphine and Sighthill whilst discussions with interested parties are ongoing.

Joint administrator Stuart Robb said “We appreciate that this is disappointing news for the staff based at Selkirk.

“Our focus is to ensure that those employees affected by redundancy there receive the best support possible.

“We’re working with Partnership Action for Continuing Employment to support them.

“In terms of the remaining parts of the business, there has been significant interest and we are in advanced discussions with a number of parties.

“We would like to thank the employees for their continued patience and support during this difficult period. Rest assured, we will endeavour to provide them with an update as soon as possible.”

Last year the Selkirk showroom reported an increase in new car sales and a 138% increase in Kia approved used car sales.

However, the firm, which last year sponsored Selkirk’s rugby and golf clubs, has since taken a dip in fortunes.