WORKERS at a historic Quarry Bank steel firm have all been made redundant after the company entered administration.

Administrators were called into Bird Stevens – which has operated in the area for more than a century – earlier this month, but staff had already been laid off prior to their arrival due to “cashflow issues”.

The firm has been said to have been looking at getting investment to keep it operational, but ultimately has been unsuccessful.

The company, under the direction of the administrators, is currently unable to recommence trading as there is no money available.

Margot James, MP for Stourbridge, said it was “really sad” to see the “wonderful family firm” enter administration.

She added: “They did a lot for the local community and it is a great shame that they are not able to continue trading.

“They recently invested in high-tech equipment and I don’t think they were able to recover their costs.

“But I have been unable to speak to the staff, so I am not yet aware what the specific reasons were that caused their demise.”

The MP has urged the redundant staff - of which there are about 50 - to contact their local job centre to see what jobs are available for their skill set.

She added: “I can put people in touch with companies that are hiring, but I also advise the workers to apply for jobs at others firms.

“Many manufacturing companies are struggling at the moment, but one of the main issues is that we have a lot of skilled people who are out of work, all competing for the same jobs.

“But I am very sorry to see Bird Stevens and its staff going through this.”

Darren Brookes, director at administrators Milner Boardman Partnership, confirmed that he was appoint joint administrator of the company by its directors on May 4.

He said: “The staff had been laid off by the directors prior to our appointment due to cashflow issues. The company had looked to obtain external investment for some time but unfortunately could not obtain it.

“Potential interested parties had also assessed the business but chose not to proceed with any investment in or purchase of the business.

“Upon our appointment no funds were available to recommence trading and therefore unfortunately all the employees were made redundant.

“We are currently assisting them to make claims to the Redundancy Payments Office for entitlements due to them.”