The workers union involved has welcomed news that events at Blackpool’s luxury sports car maker TVR, which led ultimately to former owner Nikolai Smolenski – in effect – buying his own business back without its debts, have been referred to the Department of Trade and Industry’s companies investigation branch.
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The decision by UK DTI minister Jim Fitzpatrick was greeted with approval by the Transport and General Workers Union. The union has pressed for an inquiry into what happened at the Blackpool firm especially after Smolenski appeared to have divested responsibility for Blackpool Automotive which was then very quickly placed into administration.
“This is a good decision by the DTI,” said Peter Booth, T&G national organiser for manufacturing. “It is the first step in delivering justice for our members but there is a long way to go in the process.”
Booth and local T&G officials were highly critical of the series of events in Blackpool which left a workforce skilled in hand-building prestige sports cars out of work and likelihood of future TVR-making being transferred abroad, possibly to an Italian coachbuilder and contract assembler, according to news reports at the time.
The Smolenski bid was accepted by administrators PKF ahead of local companies who had pledged their future to the local area and the workforce, the union claimed.
T&G demanded an inquiry both into the series of events and the system of administration which had allowed it to happen.
“This process has allowed Smolenski to offload his debts; get most of his money back; take the majority of the business out of the country; leaving the taxpayer to pick up the bill for redundancy, notice and holiday pay, and nearly 300 loyal workers without a job,” said Booth at the time.
Former owner buys sportscar maker back
Union wants car maker closure investigated
