A long-established Hexham energy business has announced redundancies in its plumbing division as it begins a major restructuring centred on renewable and low-carbon technologies.
J P Westall, which has operated since the 1930s and serves customers across Northumberland and County Durham, made the announcement following a business review. The changes include the planned liquidation of the existing company and the launch of a new trading business, JPW Renewables Ltd.
The restructuring affects staff in the plumbing division. The number of redundancies has not been specified in the information released by the company.
New focus for the Hexham business
J P Westalls was bought by Northumbrian Property Services Group Limited in 2015, when the sellers were Philip and Peter Westall. Mark I’Anson, a co-director of NPSG, will become the sole director of JPW Renewables.
A spokesperson for NPSG said the review had led the company to concentrate on its “core strengths” and the increasing demand for renewable and low-carbon technologies.
“Regrettably, the restructuring has resulted in a number of redundancies within the plumbing division.
The spokesperson added that the decision had not been taken lightly and thanked those affected for their work and contribution over many years.
Heating services and customer support
Despite the changes, the company said it would continue supporting customers who have existing gas and oil heating systems. Its growth plans will prioritise heat pumps, solar photovoltaic systems, battery storage and underfloor heating.
Under the new trading name, the business will focus its investment and resources on specialist installation and service work. The company said customers’ existing commitments, warranties and ongoing support arrangements would continue without interruption.
The same experienced team and familiar customer contacts are also expected to remain in place, according to the company spokesperson. The business said the restructuring was intended to provide a more sustainable basis for future growth while allowing it to continue serving customers across Northumberland, County Durham and the surrounding area.
JPW Renewables’ stated direction reflects the company’s move towards technologies it says will play a growing role in the future of heating and energy, while retaining support for its existing customer base.