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| Construction company Dawnus 'in administration' | Construction company Dawnus 'in administration' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Construction company Dawnus has gone into administration, according to subcontractors. | Construction company Dawnus has gone into administration, according to subcontractors. |
| People who work for the Swansea-based firm were called to a meeting on Thursday morning. | People who work for the Swansea-based firm were called to a meeting on Thursday morning. |
| But they were sent home afterwards, and could be seen removing tools from the site. | But they were sent home afterwards, and could be seen removing tools from the site. |
| It comes after work on the £12m Kingsway redevelopment in Swansea and a road project in Manchester were both halted. | It comes after work on the £12m Kingsway redevelopment in Swansea and a road project in Manchester were both halted. |
| Three school building projects in Powys could also be delayed, including one which is scheduled for completion in September. | Three school building projects in Powys could also be delayed, including one which is scheduled for completion in September. |
| Dawnus - which runs construction projects across the UK and overseas - has been contacted repeatedly by the BBC but has not commented. | Dawnus - which runs construction projects across the UK and overseas - has been contacted repeatedly by the BBC but has not commented. |
| However, people leaving the Swansea meeting said they had been told the firm had gone into administration. | However, people leaving the Swansea meeting said they had been told the firm had gone into administration. |
| The boss of one sub-contracting firm, who did not want to be named, said: "We got wind that there was problems a few weeks ago and decided to remove some equipment on site as a precautionary measure. | The boss of one sub-contracting firm, who did not want to be named, said: "We got wind that there was problems a few weeks ago and decided to remove some equipment on site as a precautionary measure. |
| "We are still out of pocket - but thankfully not a significant amount. | "We are still out of pocket - but thankfully not a significant amount. |
| "I think we might have got off lightly compared with what I've heard about other firms." | "I think we might have got off lightly compared with what I've heard about other firms." |
| On Tuesday, diggers were abandoned on the £15m Manchester-Salford Inner Relief Route improvement scheme, which is upgrading six major junctions along Regent Road. | On Tuesday, diggers were abandoned on the £15m Manchester-Salford Inner Relief Route improvement scheme, which is upgrading six major junctions along Regent Road. |
| It caused widespread disruption, with the equipment blocking the key route. Workers claimed they had not been paid by Dawnus. | |
| The following day, workers in Swansea were sent home by their bosses. | The following day, workers in Swansea were sent home by their bosses. |
| A spokesperson for the Manchester-Salford Inner Relief Road scheme, which is being carried out jointly by Manchester and Salford city councils, said it was seeking "urgent clarification" about the status of Dawnus. | A spokesperson for the Manchester-Salford Inner Relief Road scheme, which is being carried out jointly by Manchester and Salford city councils, said it was seeking "urgent clarification" about the status of Dawnus. |
| "We are currently pursuing all other options to ensure the project can continue as quickly as possible," they added. | "We are currently pursuing all other options to ensure the project can continue as quickly as possible," they added. |
| "City council staff and other contractors are currently on site to ensure it remains safe and secure following high winds overnight. | "City council staff and other contractors are currently on site to ensure it remains safe and secure following high winds overnight. |
| Who are Dawnus? | Who are Dawnus? |
| Dawnus has its headquarters in Swansea but runs construction projects across the UK and overseas. | Dawnus has its headquarters in Swansea but runs construction projects across the UK and overseas. |
| The most recent company accounts show the company had a turnover of £170m in 2017, but it also posted a pre-tax loss of £1.35m. | The most recent company accounts show the company had a turnover of £170m in 2017, but it also posted a pre-tax loss of £1.35m. |
| However last September, the company said it employed 700 people and was optimistic about the future. | However last September, the company said it employed 700 people and was optimistic about the future. |
| Among its past projects across the UK are the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity and National Police Air Service Air Operations in South Gloucestershire, a creative industries centre at Kingston College in London, and South Wokingham Secondary School in Berkshire. | Among its past projects across the UK are the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity and National Police Air Service Air Operations in South Gloucestershire, a creative industries centre at Kingston College in London, and South Wokingham Secondary School in Berkshire. |
| Dawnus has previously operated in west Africa, and worked on projects during the Ebola crisis. | Dawnus has previously operated in west Africa, and worked on projects during the Ebola crisis. |
| In August, during a UK trade mission to South Africa attended by Prime Minister Theresa May, Dawnus was unveiled as part of a consortium targeting oversea aid contracts. | In August, during a UK trade mission to South Africa attended by Prime Minister Theresa May, Dawnus was unveiled as part of a consortium targeting oversea aid contracts. |
| The company told BBC Wales in September that they felt optimistic about life after Brexit because of the opportunities for overseas work. | The company told BBC Wales in September that they felt optimistic about life after Brexit because of the opportunities for overseas work. |
| Dawnus won awards for its work at Tata steelworks in Port Talbot and Monmouthshire Housing Association. | Dawnus won awards for its work at Tata steelworks in Port Talbot and Monmouthshire Housing Association. |
| Among Dawnus's other projects in Wales are the £5.6m Roath flood risk management scheme in Cardiff, Bont Evans tree works and stabilisation in Machynlleth, Powys, and St Asaph flood defence works, Denbighshire. | Among Dawnus's other projects in Wales are the £5.6m Roath flood risk management scheme in Cardiff, Bont Evans tree works and stabilisation in Machynlleth, Powys, and St Asaph flood defence works, Denbighshire. |
| In Powys, Dawnus has contracts to build three new schools - two new primary schools in Welshpool, and a replacement for the county's first all-through school Ysgol Bro Hyddgen in Machynlleth. | In Powys, Dawnus has contracts to build three new schools - two new primary schools in Welshpool, and a replacement for the county's first all-through school Ysgol Bro Hyddgen in Machynlleth. |
| One of the primary schools is scheduled for completion in September while the other two projects have not yet started work. | One of the primary schools is scheduled for completion in September while the other two projects have not yet started work. |
| "The council has not received any formal contact from the company. Dawnus is a key partner in a number of our school modernisations projects and we will be working to mitigate any potential issues which arise," said Councillor Myfanwy Alexander, cabinet member for learning and Welsh language. | "The council has not received any formal contact from the company. Dawnus is a key partner in a number of our school modernisations projects and we will be working to mitigate any potential issues which arise," said Councillor Myfanwy Alexander, cabinet member for learning and Welsh language. |
| Meanwhile, businesses in Swansea said they were concerned about having a building site remaining in the city centre. | Meanwhile, businesses in Swansea said they were concerned about having a building site remaining in the city centre. |
| Mark Hanford, co-owner of of Boosh Salon, said it was "disappointing" that there will be "more disruption" to the area. | Mark Hanford, co-owner of of Boosh Salon, said it was "disappointing" that there will be "more disruption" to the area. |
| "Any business in Swansea has already taken a hit," he told BBC Radio Wales. | "Any business in Swansea has already taken a hit," he told BBC Radio Wales. |
| Mr Hanford added that although he had contacted Swansea council, there had not been given any reassurances about the future. | Mr Hanford added that although he had contacted Swansea council, there had not been given any reassurances about the future. |
| On Wednesday, Swansea council said it was in discussions with the company and was "monitoring the situation". | On Wednesday, Swansea council said it was in discussions with the company and was "monitoring the situation". |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf council said Dawnus had the contract for the £1.5m Pontrhondda Bridge replacement in Llwynypia, due for completion this summer. | Rhondda Cynon Taf council said Dawnus had the contract for the £1.5m Pontrhondda Bridge replacement in Llwynypia, due for completion this summer. |
| Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford described Dawnus as a "very important company". | |
| "It's obviously a worrying time for all those people who work for the company, but also there are projects across Wales the company is involved in," he said. | |
| The Welsh Government would do whatever it could to assist those affected, he added. | |
| David Price, finance editor of Construction News, said there had been rumours Dawnus was facing trouble after reports of losses. | David Price, finance editor of Construction News, said there had been rumours Dawnus was facing trouble after reports of losses. |
| "In 2014-2015 they made significant losses of around £13m, connected to work in Africa, and they have struggled to recover from that since then," he said. | "In 2014-2015 they made significant losses of around £13m, connected to work in Africa, and they have struggled to recover from that since then," he said. |
| The company also reported a loss of £1.4m last year, according to Mr Price. | The company also reported a loss of £1.4m last year, according to Mr Price. |