Former NFB chair's firm collapses

A construction firm run by the former chair of the National Federation of Builders has gone bust, just weeks after managing director Alison Perry was awarded an OBE for services to the construction industry.

Liverpool contractor Triangle Builders went into administration last week.

Earlier this month the firm’s managing director Alison Perry was awarded in OBE in recognition of her contributions to the building trade in her role as chairman of the National Federation of Builders.

Perry recently stepped down as chair of the NFB after heading-up the organisation for a year.

Administrator Mazars has been appointed to Triangle Builders and a creditors meeting was held last week, the Liverpool Echo reported.

One local supplier told the Liverpool Echo: “The firm owes to around 40 creditors, some of whom are sole traders.

“I would say our company has lost about £20,000 but some of them have lost up to £30,000.

“It grates to hear she’s been given and accepted an OBE when the company has been trading badly like this.”

Alison Perry said the decision to close the company was made with “great regret”.  

“Having explored all possible avenues, the extremely difficult decision to close the company was made,” she said.

“My company is not alone. Construction has the highest rate of insolvencies of any industry with companies failing at a rate of about 100 every month. In the face of such figures, no SME owner is immune, not even the chair of a national trade federation or an OBE.

“Thousands more SME building companies are struggling under the weight of collapsed public spending on construction, fiscal policy that has choked the housebuilding market, lack of lending from the banks and difficult procurement processes leading to fiercer competition. 

“Many of these are small family owned enterprises that have served their local communities for years and are now being squeezed.

“I accepted the OBE because it symbolises my pledge to build on my work championing the sector – that is what SMEs need and they need a strong advocate to do it.  I hope that my role with the NFB and my OBE will enable me to persuade the key decision makers to sit up and do something about the problems facing so many in construction, myself and my creditors included.”