A county councillor has offered his support to residents after a major employer went bust and ceased trading
It was revealed last week that Pharmaceutical wholesaler Testerworld, which has bases in both Prudhoe and Newcastle, had collapsed into administration.
The company employed 86 people in Prudhoe alone, with 68 made redundant on May 9. In Newcastle, 13 of the 23 staff members lost their jobs.
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A total of 1,000 people across the company's 14 sites in the UK lost their jobs, leaving them in a situation that will doubtless put extreme pressure on household finances amid a cost of living crisis.
Coun Gordon Stewart, who represents Prudhoe South on Northumberland County Council, said: "I realise this will cause employees and their families a great amount of concern. I have been contacted by residents who have asked for additional information.
"I am in contact with the DWP job centre plus who are being proactive in supporting those in these difficult times."
Have you been impacted by Testerworld going into administration? Let us know in the comments
Testerworld is part of the Converse Pharma Group, a major supplier of medicines with a turnover of £300m. However, it ceased trading, along with a group of companies including Doncaster Pharmaceuticals, Crosspharma and Eclipse brands.
Administrators from Kroll were appointed to the business on Thursday, at which pointed it stopped trading immediately.
Philip Dakin, joint administrator, Kroll, said: “Pharmaceutical distributors and wholesalers form an important link between drug manufacturers and independent pharmacies and their end customers. It is a complex chain which means we will be working closely with the relevant regulators, the management team and the Group’s secured lenders to mitigate the impact on the pharmaceutical supply chain.
“On appointment our immediate objective will be to conduct an orderly wind down of the trading operations. The possibility of some small trade sales of parts of the business, has not been ruled out as we aim to maximise the return for creditors.”
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