REVEALED: 239 jobs axed at Carillion's Wolverhampton headquarters

More than half the 460-strong workforce at Carillion’s Wolverhampton headquarters have lost their jobs so far.

In the 10 weeks since the construction and services giant crashed into liquidation, 239 of the people working at the Salop Street offices have been made redundant.

Just 221 people are left, most working in so-called ‘back office’ administration roles such as finance and HR.

They are working with the special managers of the liquidation, from accountants PwC, who were drafted in by the Official Receiver because of the size and complexity of the business failure.

PwC revealed it has racked up costs of £20.8 million in just the first eight weeks since the collapse, charging the Official Receiver an average of £12,500 per week for its staff working on the liquidation.

The headquarters team at Carillion’s offices will have been providing vital information about the company’s hundreds of public and private sector contracts and 18,000-strong UK workforce as PwC sought new operators to take over the work.

With its international operations and complex structure – around 27 different corporate entities – the expertise of the Wolverhampton administrative team will have been crucial to PwC’s work.

But as more of the contracts find new homes with other companies, there is less and less need for the city-based team.

They will almost certainly be the last to lose their jobs from the liquidation but there is little chance of a rescue for them, unlike those working on the many contracts around the country that have been taken over by new employers.

And today the Official Receiver revealed another 120 Carillion workers across the UK would lose their jobs this week.

A spokesperson said: "A further 481 jobs have been saved with employees transferring to new suppliers who have picked up contracts that Carillion had been delivering. More than 9,000 employees have now been found secure ongoing employment.

"Regrettably we have been unable to find ongoing employment for a further 123 employees who will leave the business later this week. Jobcentre Plus’ RapidResponse Service will provide them with every support to find new work.

"Discussions with potential purchasers continue. I am continuing to engage with staff, elected employee representatives and unions to keep them informed as these arrangements are confirmed."

So far 1,705 Carillion staff have now lost their jobs in the company's liquidation in January. Another 9,073 jobs have been saved, with staff transferring to new contractors but 6,400 remain in limbo. They work on around 70 contracts yet to secure new operators.

PwC has said it may be June before the full impact of the collapse is known, but hundreds of supplier and sub-contractor companies will be left unpaid and the total debts for Carillion will be in the billions. The company’s pension funds alone are said to be £900 million in deficit.

Despite its £5 billion turnover, Carillion had just £29 million in the bank when it failed.

The Government rejected last minute pleas from the company’s directors for rescue funding.

The company’s problems had been a growing debt mountain, estimated at £1.5 billion, and a series of problems at major construction contracts including the £350m Midland Metropolitan Hospital scheme at Smethwick.

Work at the site has been at a standstill since the company failed.