‘Cautious welcome’

Unite has called for urgent talks with the new owners of a boat firm to discuss implications for its members who work there.

Fairline Boats, a luxury boat builder in Northampton has been taken over by Russian investors.

“We are currently digesting the implications of what this means for employment and we would like to discuss the business model that the new management team envisages,” said Mick Orpin, Unite regional officer.

The company went in to administration in 2015 and 374 workers were made redundant.

“We will be seeking urgent talks with the company as to how many of the 374 workers will be reemployed,” added Mick.

The administrators FRP Advisory kept on 72 employees to service existing contracts.

“The company says that it will be continuing to operate from the Oundle premises, but says nothing about the Corby factory or the testing facility at Ipswich in Suffolk,” said Mick.

Unite has called for an inquiry by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) into the workings of private equity firms, after the news that the firm had gone into administration.

“We believe that Fairline Boats is a high-premium brand with a dedicated, long serving workforce with a viable future,” said Mick.

“We urge the management to work with Unite to achieve this goal,” he added.