86 jobs at a wool factory in Dalry are at threat, it was revealed this week

Z Hinchliffe and Sons, who have been based in the Garnock Valley town since 1967, handed out 90-day redundancy notices to their 86 staff citing mild winters and a drop in demand for their products.

The factory was mooted for closure back in September 2013 but managed to survive but now closure of the firm, who produced the fabric which featured in the highly popular and successful Harry Potter film series, seems imminent.

Boasting a large range of high profile clients, such as Burberry and Lyle and Scott, the materials produced are of a high standard with the company also operating from their head office base in Huddersfield.

The North Ayrshire base for the company seems doomed but one local politician is hoping he can help those facing redundancy.

Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, which includes the town of Dalry, raised the matter at the Scottish Parliament and said in a statement: “I was first involved in this issue in 2013 when closure was previously announced.

“At that time I was able to liaise closely with the company and bring in Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International to help Z Hinchcliffe with sales and marketing support. This was the primary area where the company was having difficulties. It should be said though that production and product quality are of the highest standard; a tribute to the workforce and this makes the factory an attractive proposition for potential buyers.

“Scottish Enterprise agreed to account manage Z Hinchcliffe and all seemed to be well. Prior to the workforce being told the bad news, no-one had any inkling. Indeed, Scottish Enterprise said that just three months ago, in one of its regular meetings with the company that all appeared to be ‘hunky dory’.

“One would have thought, given previous experience, any difficulties would be advised by the company to Scottish Enterprise, SDI or myself, in order that we could again assist in ensuring Z

Hinchcliffe survives in Dalry.

“I discussed with the directors the reason for the company’s current plight and the way forward. It was difficult to get any sense out of what the company hopes to achieve. I don’t think that beyond disposing of Dalry and concentrating work in Yorkshire they really know.

“However, I believe that a buyer is genuinely being sought. A buyer who is willing to commit and retain the workforce will want to hit the ground running and workers clearly want the minimum of uncertainty and no break in their employment. However, Scottish Enterprise have been frustrated that Z Hinchcliffe will not let them look for another buyer, which is obviously cause for concern. The workforce too has been kept pretty much in the dark.

“Incidentally, I contacted the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) team on the very day the workforce was informed of possible redundancy. PACE is the Scottish Government’s national strategic partnership framework for responding to redundancy situations. Skills Development Scotland co-ordinates PACE at a national level and facilitates local level response teams who provide tailored help and support for individuals at risk of, or experiencing, redundancy. Unfortunately Z Hinchcliffe would not let PACE in to speak to the workforce.

“The Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and NAC are all keen to help and Fergus Ewing, MSP, minister for enterprise is personally dealing with this matter.

"Our overriding priority is to retain the factory under new ownership. If that happens I am sure that a forward-thinking, modern and dynamic management with an understanding of sales and marketing will not only secure the existing facility and jobs, but ensure a long-term prosperous future for the workforce.”

Director Robert Hinchcliffe said: “We have a situation where unfortunately we have had two successive mild winters and a drop in demand for our product. This has left us with more capacity than orders to fill. We have a capacity at both Dalry and in Denby Dale, Yorkshire. We cannot run two factories at such inefficient levels.

“As demand has not picked up we have had to give the news to staff that we cannot go on like this and are trying to find a buyer to safeguard the jobs. I really can’t say any more than that.

Asked would the operations shift to the firm’s base near Huddersfield, he said: “I have told the MSP the dyeing and binding of the wool is done in this base in Yorkshire. But we are looking at talks with potential buyers.”