Pettifer staff carry off computers and printers in lieu of pay

Pettifer Construction’s employees, furious at the way they were treated by their former employer, are reported to have carried off computers and printers in lieu of unpaid wages and outstanding expenses.

A former employee told CJ: “On 27 November, Pettifer had more than 100 P45s ready to hand out. The pay run was due for the same number of staff on the same day, but the financial director of the group refused to release everybody’s salaries.

“Staff took computers and printers because they were not paid. There were lots of people crying at Pettifer head office – we trusted these guys. Nobody was expecting administration.”

The source claimed Pettifer Construction had new contracts worth a total of £58m that were due to start in March 2009.

There is also confusion regarding the purpose of a new company, called Fortis GB, formed in July. Pettifer directors Brian Pettifer and John Delwin Groves were both appointed as directors of Fortis in September.

Fortis GB then changed its name to Pettifer Construction on 30 September 2008, before changing it back again a day later.

Results for Pettifer Construction covering the 12 months to 30 September 2007 show a loss of £7.0m on turnover of £51m. The directors blamed “a number of difficult and problematic contracts” and said it was setting up new risk management procedures.

A number of directors had left and Chris Pape had been brought in as the new managing director.

Results for Pettifer Group covering the 12 months to 30 September 2007 show a loss of £794,000 on turnover of £7m, with the highest-paid director receiving £466,000. In the previous year, he took £2.1m as pay and another £1.4m as a contribution to his pension scheme.

In the same period, Pettifer Group Holdings showed a pre-tax loss of £3.9m on turnover of £87m and the highest-paid director received a total of £671,000.

Administrators for collapsed contractor Pettifer Construction have been winding-down the firm after admitting no buyers are interested in taking on the company as a going concern.