Zentia, which has two sites in Gateshead, is a former North East Business Awards winner
Scores of jobs have been lost at a Gateshead ceiling manufacturer which has been placed into administration amid challenging trading.
Zentia – formerly known as Armstrong Ceiling Solutions until a rebranding exercise when it was acquired in 2020 – employs a significant number of staff across two facilities in Gateshead, where it manufactures ceilings for contractors, architects and interior designers across the UK.
However, in common with a number of other companies operating across the building and construction supply chain, the firm’s two companies – Zentia Limited and Zentia Profiles – have battled challenging trading conditions recently, with the adverse impact of high energy prices impacting production costs. Zentia, which claimed the Made in Britain Award at the North East Business Awards in 2023, also saw sales fall lower than forecast.
Now Will Wright and James Lumb of Interpath have now been appointed joint administrators to Zentia Limited and Zentia Profiles Limited, with both citing the firms’ prolonged struggle against adverse trading conditions.
A statement from Interpath details how, in response to the deteriorating situation, the company’s directors took measures to stabilise its financial position, including securing a £6.5m capital injection from the shareholder last year, before subsequently exploring potential sale options.
However, with no solvent resolution available, the directors were left with no alternative but to place the business into administration. Following the appointment of joint administrators, production at the company’s two Gateshead sites has come to a halt. The vast majority of the workforce has been made redundant, leaving approximately 170 employees without work. A small number of staff have been retained by the joint administrators to support them in carrying out their duties, reports Chronicle Live.
James Lumb, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, said: “Zentia has a rich history in the North East, stretching back more than 100 years, and so it’s a tremendous shame that the difficulties facing many businesses in the construction supply chain have resulted in it falling into administration. First and foremost, our thoughts are with the companies’ dedicated staff who have been impacted by redundancy. As a matter of priority, our teams will be providing support to them over the coming days.
“Additionally, we will now be seeking a sale of the companies’ business and assets, including its residual stock, and would encourage any interested parties to make contact with us as soon as possible.”
Interested parties are urged to get in touch with the administrators at zentia@interpath.com.
Just five years ago, the Team Valley tile group — which has also featured amongst the North East’s Top 200 largest companies — was creating new jobs by bringing its manufacturing processes in-house, backed by a £12m finance facility. The company has supplied mineral fibre tiles and grids for suspended ceilings to a range of properties, including offices, schools and hospitals.
It has also played a role in numerous prominent projects across the UK, among them the transformation of Harton Technology College in South Shields and the renovation of Kings Church in Amersham.






You must be logged in to post a comment Login