Brexit and pandemic blamed as Bisset Adams folds

Attempts to rescue Bisset Adams have failed and the architectural practice has entered voluntary liquidation after 27 years, with the loss of around 20 jobs.

The firm, which had a string of civic buildings and offices to its name as well as an automotive and retail wing focused on Europe, called in the administrators last month. All staff, believed to number between 15 and 20, have been made redundant.

The practice’s main live project was Southmere Library at Thamesmead for Peabody, which it won in competition in 2017 against Adam Khan and Architecture 00.

Liquidator Mick Sanders, a partner at MHA Macintyre Hudson, said Peabody would have no choice but to find an alternative arrangement for completing the project which is understood to be at fit-out stage.

The firm blamed Brexit and a hardening of the business environment with ever-reducing fees. Sanders said that without the pandemic it would probably have been able to weather the other problems but the combination of Brexit and the pandemic were ”a perfect storm”.

It is not yet known how much debt Bisset Adams folded with but in its last accounts filed at Companies House in August for the year ending November 30, 2020, it reported a loss of £264,359 and net liabilities of £57,265.

Director Sarah Godowski said in an accompanying “going concern” declaration that she was confident there were sufficient future trading prospects to allow the business to return to profitability.

Sanders added: “They tried very hard but haven’t been able to turn around the debts they accrued over the lockdown period.

“They had a bit of trouble before covid but if it wasn’t for covid they would have got through. They are a victim of circumstances, there’s no two ways about it.”

Sanders said: “I am liquidator for 500 companies and I hold Sarah in the highest regard. She has done everything she can to avoid this unfortunate outcome.”

“They don’t appear to have done anything wrong: they just couldn’t get themselves out of this hole. I have much more sympathy for them than most people I see.”

Building has approached Bisset Adams for comment.