Hewlett loses role on £600m New Street project

Civil engineer Hewlett, which was rescued from administration by a management buy-out last month,  has lost its place on one of its most high-profile jobs, the £600m Birmingham New Street station revamp.

Four of Hewlett’s subsidiaries, including Hewlett Civil Engineering, were placed into administration in late January following a decision by one of its lenders, Lloyds Bank, to call in the administrators.

Senior managers then rescued the firm days later with a management buyout, saving 300 jobs.

Hewlett Construction, the new company formed by the management, has been working ever since to novate the contracts for jobs held by the defunct subsiduaries across to the new company.

Hewlett had been working on the civil works surrounding the new station but a spokesperson for client Network Rail confirmed its work will now be taken on by contractors Amey and MPB.

A spokesperson for Hewlett said it was “unfortunate” that Mace, the project director, had taken the decision not to novate the contract to the new company.

She said the business was still working with Network Rail on other schemes.

“Hewlett Construction has secured contracts with a number of existing clients, notably Miller Homes, Bellway Homes, GDF Suez, Leeds Bradford International Airport and The Forestry Commission,” she added.

Last month, in the wake of the administration and buyout Alan Cooper, managing director of Hewlett Group criticised Lloyds Bank’s decision to call in administrators and said it had “severely damaged” the firm’s reputation.

He said: “We regret that decision very much and we cannot turn the clock back. We are trying to repair a lot of that damage.”