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| Construction company Dawnus 'in administration' | Construction company Dawnus 'in administration' |
| (about 3 hours 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. |
| And Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council posted on Facebook that a new road project in Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, had also been affected. | |
| Dawnus - which runs construction projects across the UK and overseas - referred the BBC to accounting firm Grant Thornton when asked for comment. | Dawnus - which runs construction projects across the UK and overseas - referred the BBC to accounting firm Grant Thornton when asked for comment. |
| People leaving the Swansea meeting said they had been told the firm had gone into administration. | 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 were 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 were 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, amid claims workers had not been paid by Dawnus. | On Tuesday, diggers were abandoned on the £15m Manchester-Salford Inner Relief Route improvement scheme, which is upgrading six major junctions along Regent Road, amid claims workers 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. |
| Swansea council said work on the Kingsway site had come to a sudden stop on Wednesday and it was taking control of the site. | Swansea council said work on the Kingsway site had come to a sudden stop on Wednesday and it was taking control of the site. |
| "We have already taken a number of steps and we are considering our options," a spokesman added. | "We have already taken a number of steps and we are considering our options," a spokesman added. |
| The council said it was working through issues relating to appointing a new contractor "as a matter of urgency" and was in discussion with the supply chain. | The council said it was working through issues relating to appointing a new contractor "as a matter of urgency" and was in discussion with the supply chain. |
| The council said Dawnus had also recently begun work as the main contractor for its new pupil referral unit at Cockett, and it was also taking control of that site. | The council said Dawnus had also recently begun work as the main contractor for its new pupil referral unit at Cockett, and it was also taking control of that site. |
| "We are determined that these two important schemes are completed as planned…we are taking all the necessary steps to resolve these issues as quickly as possible." | "We are determined that these two important schemes are completed as planned…we are taking all the necessary steps to resolve these issues as quickly as possible." |
| 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. |
| Last September, the company said it employed 700 people and was optimistic about the future. | 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 overseas 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. |
| 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. |
| "We will be working to mitigate any potential issues which arise," said Councillor Myfanwy Alexander, cabinet member for learning and Welsh language. | "We will be working to mitigate any potential issues which arise," said Councillor Myfanwy Alexander, cabinet member for learning and Welsh language. |
| 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". | 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. | "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. | 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. |
| Analysis by BBC Wales business correspondent Brian Meechan | Analysis by BBC Wales business correspondent Brian Meechan |
| Dawnus has grown from a small Welsh firm to a big name in the construction industry. | Dawnus has grown from a small Welsh firm to a big name in the construction industry. |
| It's one of more than 50 "anchor companies" identified by the Welsh Government as having global reach and a headquarters in Wales. | |
| Dawnus was seen as a responsible employer with a good reputation for delivery. | Dawnus was seen as a responsible employer with a good reputation for delivery. |
| Welsh construction firm Cuddy also went into administration recently, but the impact of the collapse of Dawnus has caused a greater shock throughout the industry. | Welsh construction firm Cuddy also went into administration recently, but the impact of the collapse of Dawnus has caused a greater shock throughout the industry. |
| One of the issues with the Welsh economy is the lack of small firms that steadily grow to become large companies. | One of the issues with the Welsh economy is the lack of small firms that steadily grow to become large companies. |
| And as Brexit looms companies are being encouraged to look to new markets, especially outside of Europe. | And as Brexit looms companies are being encouraged to look to new markets, especially outside of Europe. |
| Dawnus was a good example of a company that did both these things. | Dawnus was a good example of a company that did both these things. |
| However, it appears the firm has struggled to recover from past problems on some of its projects in Africa. | |
| Some in the industry are concerned other small businesses may now see it as a warning about expansion, rather than the success story it once was. | Some in the industry are concerned other small businesses may now see it as a warning about expansion, rather than the success story it once was. |
| Construction is incredibly competitive and margins are tight, and something going wrong on just one or two projects can cause enormous damage to a business. | Construction is incredibly competitive and margins are tight, and something going wrong on just one or two projects can cause enormous damage to a business. |
| On top of this, budgets are being squeezed in the public sector - and the private sector appears to be holding back on some investment due to the current uncertainty around Brexit. | |
| Projects like the M4 and Wylfa, which Dawnus would certainly have hoped to work on, are on hold. | Projects like the M4 and Wylfa, which Dawnus would certainly have hoped to work on, are on hold. |
| Whenever one of these large companies goes into administration the concern immediately turns to the suppliers, contractors and workers who will be affected by it. | Whenever one of these large companies goes into administration the concern immediately turns to the suppliers, contractors and workers who will be affected by it. |
| It may take some time before we know what the full impact will be. | It may take some time before we know what the full impact will be. |