THE management team from Wyvis Roofing have saved 30 jobs from the collapsed UBC construction group of companies.
Ian and Willie Sharp have bought the roofing division, which was profitable, from administrators at Zolfo Cooper for an undisclosed sum.
Willie Sharp, managing director of Wyvis Roofing Limited, said: "We are of course delighted that Wyvis Roofing can continue with business as usual and the entire team are now all 100% focused on taking the business forward as a standalone entity."
Elizabeth Mackay, joint administrator and lead partner for Zolfo Cooper in Scotland, said: "We are very pleased to be able to announce this sale and the attendant preservation of jobs.
"We would also like to express our gratitude for the assistance provided by both Mr Fergus Ewing, MSP, and Highland Council whose interventions were instrumental in allowing the business to continue as a going concern.
"This case has been an excellent example of local and national government working alongside both the management team and that of the administrators to achieve a positive outcome."
While the deal for Wyvis Roofing preserves employment around Inverness and the Highlands, some 238 jobs have already been lost from the collapse of UBC.
In Inverness 98 people were made redundant with 50 across the Western Isles, 45 in Bathgate, West Lothian, and five in Glasgow.
UBC Group, Wyvis Building Services and Mardon Project Services ceased trading just a few days after insolvency proceedings were initiated on May 8.
Zolfo Cooper said UBC, founded more than 40 years ago as Uist Builders, had run into cashflow problems.
The administrators had initially hoped to try to sell some of the businesses but the financial position meant there was no way to continue trading.
The group had a turnover of around £31 million and bases in Inverness, Glasgow, Dundee, Bathgate, Stornoway and South Uist.
At the time UBC managing director Seumas Pedrana said every possible option had been explored to avoid administration but UBC's fate had been sealed due to the general downturn in the sector and the inability of other companies to pay bills.
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