News Beat
Boss hits out over ‘demise’ of York Handmade Brick Company
David Armitage, founder and Chairman of Alne-based York Handmade Brick Company, has made the attack in a letter to Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake, who until recent boundary changes was MP for the area the company is located in.
Mr Armitage, a fifth-generation brickmaker who launched the company in 1988, also told the Conservative MP that he was “currently negotiating a sale for the company and we are hopeful that the 16 jobs here will be saved.”
He continued: “We are extremely proud of what we have achieved over the past 38 years, providing bricks for many beautiful and historic buildings in Yorkshire, across the UK and in Europe and, at the height of our success, employing 26 people.
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“We believe we have made a very positive and lasting contribution to the built environment, proving time and time again that brick is the most attractive building material.”
Over the years York Handmade Brick Company has supplied bricks to The Shard Skyscraper in London, the London Bridge Railway Station and the restoration of St Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire.
Mr Armitage said: “Along the way we have won a host of awards, including supplying bricks for the new library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, which won the 2022 RIBA Stirling Prize, the most prestigious honour in the world of architecture.
“We have also featured regularly amongst the winners in the Brick Development Association’s Brick Awards, the Oscars of the industry.”
The businessman also told Mr Hollinrake his criticisms of the Labour government, which were also posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) by Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith MP.
Mr Armitage explained: “It will come as no surprise to you that we lay much of the blame for our demise at the hands of this appalling Labour Government.
“The combination of the 100 per cent increase in gas prices and the savage hike in National Insurance contributions for employers has proved too much.
“There are other factors, of course, but this deluded Government’s absurd anti-growth policies has ultimately closed us down.”
He added: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your unstinting support for York Handmade. We are proud of what we have achieved in your constituency, creating rewarding jobs for hard-working employees and making a positive contribution to the local economy. We are devastated that we are no longer able to do this.”
Since last year’s General Election, the company has been in the new Wetherby and Easingwold constituency, whose MP is Conservative Sir Alec Shelbrooke.
Sir Alec told the Press: “I’m really sad to see the York Handmade Brick Company has gone into administration citing the real-life impact on businesses of policy decisions made by this Labour government.
“The Armitage family have spent decades building this award-winning business, which I had the privilege to visit last year, and the impact of this news will be felt across the sector.
“If the Chancellor wants to stop further businesses going into administration, she must recognise the damage her tax hikes and new regulation is having on our economy. We need action on energy costs, less regulation and lower business taxes”.
The Press has approached Chancellor Rachel Reeves and 11 Downing Street for comment.
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