Following yesterday's announcement that City of Wolverhampton based company Carillion is going into liquidation, a new helpline has been set up today to support local businesses affected.

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The new number, 01902 912 322, is one of the first outcomes of the city's Carillion taskforce, and aims to provide support to Black Country and West Midlands businesses hit by Carillion's collapse.

Chair of the taskforce and the city council's cabinet member for city economy, Councillor John Reynolds, said: "Taskforce partners are working together to understand the very complex implications of Carillion's demise on local supply chains.

"Small and medium sized businesses - the life blood of our local economies - are often hardest hit in situations like this and are further down supply chains.

"This new helpline, operated by our colleagues at the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, will help us to pull together information on those businesses hardest hit. It's part of a package of measures partners are working on.

"Partners will then be able to provide targeted advice and guidance or sign post businesses to the best source of help.

"We want to reassure local supply chain businesses that we are working together to do all that we can to support them. Information gathered from the help line will enable us to work with Government and its official liquidator to support local businesses."

Chief Executive of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, Corin Crane, said: "It is estimated that up to 30,000 businesses across the country have outstanding invoices with Carillion where payment is becoming less likely. In the coming months we will hear tough cashflow stories, uncertainty over contracts and payments and we want to try and support supply chain businesses from themselves becoming insolvent.

"The helpline will help us to build a picture of the types and scale of issues faced by both Chamber members and many other businesses across the West Midlands."

If you are a business affected by Carillion's liquidation and would like support or have any questions relating to the situation please call 01902 912322 or email carillionhelp@blackcountrychamber.co.uk 

Further information for businesses who provided services to Carillion PLC, Carillion Construction Limited, Carillion Services Limited, Planned Maintenance Engineering Limited, Carillion Integrated Services Limited, Carillion Services 2006 Limited can be requested from the team of special managers appointed by PWC to oversee the official liquidation of the company. For further details visit Type=links;Linkid=10016;Title=Carillion Group;Target=_blank;.

The Carillion taskforce, includes representatives from the City of Wolverhampton Council, Black Country LEP, Department for Work and Pensions, West Midlands Combined Authority, Black Country Chamber of Commerce and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

  • released: Tuesday 16 January, 2018