60 jobs go at Lostock firm

Julian Minta, 30, of Heaton, spent nine years developing his vehicle management business, the HM group.

Last year the company boasted an annual turnover of £5 million and employed about 70 people but in December one major part of the group - HM Garage Services Ltd - ceased trading.

Yesterday receivers were called into the company's remaining major section - HM Total Vehicle Management Ltd.

It means around 60 people have lost their jobs at the Lostock-based firm in recent weeks.

This morning Mr Minta spoke of his sadness at the companies' failures, but refused to comment on the reasons why receivers had been called in.

He added: "It's been a combination of all sorts of things, but I'm not prepared to discuss the details. We seemed to be doing well then things changed and trading didn't go to well. It's due to various factors. The workers know how I feel about the situation."

A buyer is now being sought for HM Total Vehicle Management and another branch of the group, HM Recovery Ltd, will continue to trade as normal, with seven employees.

Andrew Dick, who has been appointed a joint liquidator, said: "HM Total Vehicle Management is currently trading. We're hopeful of selling the business as a going concern."

The shock news comes just months after Julian told the BEN of plans to expand his business, based in Lynstock Way, Lostock.

Mr Minta had hoped to double turnover to £10 million and creating more jobs by the end of 1999.

Only last year the Bolton businessman bought out his partner, Neil Hodgson, to take sole charge of the group which operated throughout the country.

The duo first moved into vehicle finance and then set up a car and van hire firm, based in Weston Street, Bolton, in 1990. After that they moved into accident management, specialising in sorting out the aftermath of non-fault accident cases.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.