Billington set to shut site in Bristol
Steelwork contractor Billington has said that it is preparing to close its steel plant at Bristol and merge two others in South Yorkshire a little over two weeks after the firm said client delays and falling confidence will hit year-end numbers.
The firm has not confirmed how many jobs are affected but said a formal consultation has begun with affected employees in Bristol where it has a structural steel operation at Yate.
In its latest annual report, Billington said it employed 520 people at the end of last year – an increase of 12% on the 463 on its books at the end of the previous year.
In a Stock Exchange announcement yesterday afternoon, Billington said: “The Board continually reviews the group’s operations to ensure that they are structured in the most optimally efficient manner and are reflective of the current and projected future market environments in which Billington operates.
“A consolidation at Barnsley would provide the group with the flexibility to more closely align operational capacity with market demand, together with reducing overheads and delivering significant cost and operational efficiencies.”
In its interim results last month, Billington said revenue in the six months to June fell 28% to £42m while pre-tax profit was down two thirds to £1.7m.
Chief executive Mark Smith said: “Following a strong performance by Billington in 2024 it is unfortunate that the market for structural steelwork and the construction industry more widely has, as a result of economic uncertainty and lack of consumer confidence, become increasingly subdued during the first half of 2025.”
It said that delays on a “number” of jobs meant its 2025 results “will be below market expectations”.
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