One hundred jobs at risk at double-glazing factory

More than 100 jobs are at risk at a window and door factory after it entered administration, BBC Wales understands.

Staff at Everest in Treherbert, Rhondda Cynon Taf, were told the company was going into administration after two possible buyers fell through, according to the GMB union.

The union said staff of 50 years had been "thrown on the scrapheap".

The company and the administrators have been approached for comment.

The union said 96 people were currently employed at the Treherbert site, plus seven additional staff based in at an office in Llantrisant.

Administrators ReSolve Advisory Limited were appointed for the firm, known as Everest 2020 Ltd, on 24 April.

Gareth Morgans from GMB said the news was a "shock" for the workforce who felt "dejected" and "betrayed".

"They are so disappointed. It was only in 2020 that they previously went into administration, and were taken over as Everest 2020," he said.

"They thought it was a new beginning, a new horizon and it's happened again.

"But this time, with no buyer taking over.

"There's people there from between two years' service to 50 years' service, all thrown on the scrapheap."

On Tuesday, the gates of the factory were locked, with security parked inside.

A number of workers were gathered and said they had spent the morning at the job centre working out what they could do next.

Ian Smith, who has worked at Everest for 24 years and is the GMB workplace organiser, said staff had been warned on Thursday that the gates would be locked.

"There were people turning up changing locks, coming with chains, chaining the gates up. It was horrendous, absolutely horrendous," he said.

"It's a massive kick in the teeth, not just for me personally but for the local community as well."

Treherbert councillors Scott Emmanuel and Will Jones said they were standing by the workers, and would be supporting them and their families.

They said it would be a similar system as it was when UK Windows and Doors went into administration in October 2023 and nearly 500 jobs were lost, all in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

"This factory has been here since 1972. Some of the people working in this factory have been here 35 years," said Mr Emmanuel.

"I just think the whole thing, how they've been treated, is appalling."

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Chris Bryant, MP for Rhondda, said the news was a "massive blow" to the community.

"One hundred jobs may not sound like a very large company, but it's a big employer in the Rhondda and most depressingly some of the people either worked there for a very long time or they've recently moved from one of the other companies that has just recently gone bust as well," he said.

"It will feel as if they've been pushed from pillar to post and don't know which way to turn."

The site at Treherbert makes bespoke uPVC & Aluminium products.

A statement on the company's website said it was proud of the "close-knit" community where "a family atmosphere has prevailed at the factory over the years".