Around 5,000 agents working for catalogue firm Kleeneze face being shown the door after the 95-year-old business collapsed.

And around 140 staff at its HQ in Accrington and its warehouse in Heywood also risk losing their jobs now the firm has ceased trading and been plunged into administration.

Kleeneze sold cleaning products, gifts and homewares through a network of self-employed door-to-door agents.

The blow comes just over a year after a major restructure following a £1.2 million funding deal with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to consolidate its logistics and distribution operation in Heywood and create up to 100 jobs.

David Acland, joint administrator at FRP Advisory, said: "Kleeneze has performed well over the years and has a strong network of independent sales distributors.

"Unfortunately, tough trading conditions have resulted in the business entering administration.

"The business suffered from operational issues after its move to the Heywood distribution site earlier in 2017.

"There were logistics challenges and IT issues that took six months to resolve, which resulted in significant lost sales."

A buyer is being sought for the business but FRP warned that 69 jobs at its HQ in Accrington, Lancs, and 71 at the warehouse in Heywood, 15 miles away, are in jeopardy.

Kleeneze dates back to 1923 when founder Harry Crook set up in a broom cupboard in Bristol selling simply brushes.

Currently owned by Dallas-based holding company JRJR Net­­works, it was at one stage linked to Christmas hamper firm Farepak, which collapsed in 2006.

The last accounts filed for Kleeneze show a loss of £3.3million in 2016 on turnover of £21million.

Annette Bott, from the union, said: "This is clearly a difficult and upsetting time for the 140 staff based in Accrington and Heywood.

"We are pressing the administrators to find a buyer for the company who will protect jobs and keep the business going.

"In the meantime we are providing our members with the support, advice and representation they need.” </s> Around 5,000 agents working for catalogue firm Kleeneze face being shown the door after the 95-year-old business collapsed.

And around 140 staff also risk losing their jobs now the firm has ceased trading and been plunged into administration.

Kleeneze sold cleaning products, gifts and homewares through a network of self-employed door-to-door agents.

David Acland, joint administrator at FRP Advisory, said: “Tough trading conditions have resulted in the administration.”

A buyer is being sought for the business but FRP warned that 69 jobs at its HQ in Accrington, Lancs, and 71 at the warehouse in Heywood, 15 miles away, are in jeopardy.

Kleeneze dates back to 1923 when founder Harry Crook set up in a broom cupboard in Bristol selling simply brushes.

Currently owned by Dallas-based holding company JRJR Net­­works, it was at one stage linked to Christmas hamper firm Farepak, which collapsed in 2006.

The last accounts filed for Kleeneze show a loss of £3.3million in 2016 on turnover of £21million.

One agent last night said: “The customer pays for the product when it’s delivered.

“There is no outlay by the agent other than the £20 sign up fee. If the customer doesn’t want the product, the agent sends it back. No money lost.”

Usdaw is seeking talks with FRP. Annette Bott, from the union, said: “This is a difficult time for staff.” </s> Image copyright Kleeneze

One of Britain's oldest home shopping companies has gone into administration.

Kleeneze, best known for selling household and beauty products through its network of door-to-door sellers, said it had ceased trading on Thursday and 140 jobs are at risk.

But there is also a question mark over the future of 5,000 independent distributors who sell the products.

Administrators FRP Advisory is seeking a buyer in a last ditch attempt to save the 95-year old firm.

Joint administrator David Acland said: "Kleeneze has performed well over the years and has a strong network of independent sales distributors.

"Unfortunately, tough trading conditions have resulted in the business entering administration.

"The business suffered from operational issues after its move to the Heywood distribution site earlier in 2017.

"There were logistics challenges and IT issues that took six months to resolve, which resulted in significant lost sales," Mr Acland said.

Kleeneze's self-employed distributors deliver catalogues throughout in the UK and Ireland, earning cash or rewards for every sale they make - either at the doorstep or through their own online shop.

These sellers are a mixture of self-employed sole traders and partnerships, and many work for Kleeneze alongside other jobs.

The company employs 69 permanent staff at its head office in Accrington, Lancashire, and a further 71 at its warehouse in Heywood, Greater Manchester.

Usdaw, the trade union for Kleeneze staff, said it was seeking urgent meetings with the administrators in a bid to protect jobs.

Annette Bott, an Usdaw area organiser, said: "This is clearly a difficult and upsetting time for the 140 staff based in Accrington and Heywood.

"We are pressing the administrators to find a buyer for the company who will protect jobs and keep the business going. In the meantime, we are providing our members with the support, advice and representation they need." </s> More than half of Carillion workers find new jobs after firm's collapse

More than half of Carillion workers find new jobs after firm's collapse

Carillion went into liquidation in January

More than half of Carillion's workforce, just under 10,000 people, have found secure ongoing employment, the Official Receiver has said.

The massive outsourcing firm went bust in January under a £1.3bn debt mountain, with a pension deficit estimated at up to £2.6bn.

At the time, Carillion employed 20,000 people in the UK and was engaged in a variety of public sector contracts.

Some 54% of those employees have found work, with some 873 jobs being saved by employees transferring to new suppliers who picked up contracts that Carillion had been delivering.

But a further 97 employees have been given redundancy notices because no work can be found for them, a spokesperson for the Official Receiver said.

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This makes a total of 1,802 jobs made redundant and 9,946 saved since January.

More than 5,400 employees are still working on delivering some of Carillion's remaining services for public and private sector customers.

The Official Receiver spokesperson said: "Discussions with potential purchasers continue.

"I am continuing to engage with staff, elected employee representatives and unions to keep them informed as these arrangements are confirmed." </s> As many as 5,500 jobs are at risk after two struggling retailers have gone into administration after failing to secure rescue deals.

Toys R Us has reportedly lined up Moorfields to handle the process. The toy chain also faces a £15m VAT bill in the UK. It employs about 3,000 workers in its 106 stores.

Owned by Rutland Partners, electronics chain Maplin also faces imminent bankruptcy after it failed to secure a deal. PricewaterhouseCoopers, who had been conducting the talks on behalf of Maplin for the past eight weeks, has been lined up to handle the electrical retailer’s administration. It has 200 stores and employs 2,500 staff in the UK.

According to Sky News, the retailer had been in talks with Edinburgh Woollen Mill, the clothing company that owns Peacocks, Country Casuals and several other retailers, over a possible sale.

Meanwhile two possible buyers — The Entertainer and Alteri Investors — were understood to have held talks about buying parts of Toys R Us UK but no deal could be secured. </s> An update from the Official Receiver reports that nearly 10,000 former Carillion employees have now gained secure jobs through the transfer of contracts but approximately 1,800 have been made redundant.

A spokesperson for the Official Receiver said: “More than half (54%) the pre-liquidation workforce – close to 10,000 employees – have now been found secure ongoing employment so far through the liquidation. A further 873 jobs have been saved with employees transferring to new suppliers who have picked up contracts that Carillion had been delivering.

“Regrettably we have been unable to find ongoing employment for a further 97 employees who have been given notice of redundancy. Jobcentre Plus’ RapidResponse Service will provide them with every support to find new work.

“Discussions with potential purchasers continue. I am continuing to engage with staff, elected employee representatives and unions to keep them informed as these arrangements are confirmed.”

To date 9,946 jobs have been saved in total and 1,802 jobs have been made redundant through the liquidation

These numbers do not include jobs attached to contracts where an intention to purchase has been entered into but has not yet formally occurred

More than 5,400 employees are still retained to enable Carillion to deliver the remaining services it is providing for public and private sector customers until decisions are taken to transfer or cease these contracts.
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• Buy & Sell Construction Plant Machinery online with TCiTrader.co.uk. Find new, used & reconditioned Construction Equipment. Click here to view Construction Equipment Classifieds. </s> More than 2,600 jobs are in jeopardy as Bargain Booze owner Conviviality prepares to call in administrators.

The group, which runs more than 700 retail stores trading as Bargain Booze, Select Convenience and Wine Rack, said that “unless circumstances change” it plans to appoint administrators within the next 10 business days.

It will continue trading over that period in the hope of preserving as much value as possible for its stakeholders and is also working alongside advisers as it explores “a number of inbound enquiries regarding a potential sale of all or parts of the business”.

Recent weeks have seen chief executive Dianna Hunter step down after issuing a string of profit warnings and revealing a £30m tax bill.

The firm was forced to try to tap up investors for £125m as a result, but it has been unable to convince them of its long-term future.

The group said that secured creditors of the business can appoint administrators without notice.

According to the company’s most recent annual report published last August, Conviviality employs more than 2,600 people and has more than 700 retail stores trading primarily as Bargain Booze, Select Convenience and Wine Rack, alongside 352 franchises.

Conviviality supplies more than 25,000 restaurants, hotels and bars - including Wetherspoon - more than 700 franchised retail outlets, and over 400 independent specialists. It also caters to festivals and events, as well as major supermarkets.

It has been reported that parts of the business could be close to a potential sale, but Conviviality has warned many of the pubs it supplies through its Matthew Clark distribution division could face short-term supply issues.

It is understood accountancy giant PwC is being lined up as administrator if a buyer isn’t found.

The company’s collapse would cap a nightmare quarter for the retail sector.

Since January, Toys R Us and Maplin have filed for administration, while fashion retailers such as New Look and Select have embarked on radical store closure programmes.

Piling on the misery has been the under-pressure casual dining sector, with Prezzo, Byron and Jamie’s Italian all shutting restaurants and slashing hundreds of jobs. </s> Electricals retailer Maplin has collapsed into administration, putting 2,500 jobs at risk.

The 40-year-old firm said it had been hit by the impact of the Brexit-hit pound, a "weak consumer environment" and the withdrawal of credit insurance.

Administrators PwC said there are no immediate plans to close any stores or make any redundancies, although this will remain under review.

Outstanding customer orders will be delivered as usual and the administrators are currently assessing the status of gift cards. In the meantime, gift cards will continue to be honoured in stores and online.

It is the second company to call in the administrators on Wednesday after Toys R Us also announced it has collapsed on a bleak day for the British high street.

The group, owned by private equity firm Rutland Partners, called in PwC on Wednesday after attempts to rescue the chain failed.

Maplin has 217 stores in the UK, and PwC is still attempting to find a buyer for the group.

Graham Harris, the company's chief executive, said: "I can confirm this morning that it has not been possible to secure a solvent sale of the business and as a result we now have no alternative but to enter into an administration process.

"During this process Maplin will continue to trade and remains open for business."

Edinburgh Woollen Mill, run by retail billionaire Philip Day, had been touted as a potential rescuer for Maplin.

But talks are thought to have broken down, leaving Rutland no alternative but to call in administrators. </s> A spokesperson for the Official Receiver said:

More than half (54%) the pre-liquidation workforce – close to 10,000 employees – have now been found secure ongoing employment so far through the liquidation. A further 873 jobs have been saved with employees transferring to new suppliers who have picked up contracts that Carillion had been delivering.

Regrettably we have been unable to find ongoing employment for a further 97 employees who have been given notice of redundancy. Jobcentre Plus’ RapidResponse Service will provide them with every support to find new work.

Discussions with potential purchasers continue. I am continuing to engage with staff, elected employee representatives and unions to keep them informed as these arrangements are confirmed.
• in total, to date 9,946 jobs have been saved and 1,802 jobs have been made redundant through the liquidation
• this information does not include jobs attached to contracts where an intention to purchase has been entered into but has not yet formally occurred
• more than 5,400 employees are currently retained to enable Carillion to deliver the remaining services it is providing for public and private sector customers until decisions are taken to transfer or cease these contracts
• further information about rights in redundancy is available on gov.uk
Door-to-door sales firm Kleeneze, which employs around 5,000 people, collapses into administration after 95 years.