Chaos at Sudbury textiles manufacturer Vanners as company suspends operations amid staff claims of unpaid wages

Operations at one of the longest-running businesses in Sudbury has been suspended, as staff paint a picture of chaos under its new ownership, with reports of unpaid wages.

All employees of textiles firm Vanners have been placed on furlough, after being told on Friday that manufacturing at the factory in Weavers Lane would cease for three months.

The company – now trading as Vanners Silk (1740) Ltd – was purchased in late December by businessman Roger Gawn, having been placed into administration in November, under its previous title of Silk Industries Ltd, due to tough trading conditions.

But staff have spoken out this week of the turmoil they have experienced since the acquisition, alleging that some workers have only been partially paid, and others left without any pay at all.

They claim that the majority of the workforce had been furloughed in early January, but that many staff members had reported not receiving their furlough payments.

Those who remained on site also say that basic utilities were not paid for, creating health and safety issues, as well as resulting in phone lines and internet being cut off to the factory, meaning staff were unable to fulfil orders or keep in contact with their clients.

A senior staff member, who did not wish to be named, confirmed that employees are currently seeking legal advice over the alleged non-payment of wages, stating the situation has put a number of people into “severe financial hardship”.

“I’m flabbergasted by what has happened,” she told the Free Press. “In my whole career, I have never experienced anything like this.

“To be closed for three months is massively damaging for a textiles company. We’ll miss bulk orders over the summer and it will stop us making a collection for the autumn and winter, so it will affect a year’s worth of sales.

“People were so happy in December that Vanners had been saved, and to now be faced with this is inconceivable. It’s just madness.

“The staff are anxious and stressed. Some are single parents worrying about how they’re going to feed their children.

“The clients we have worked with and everyone we speak to is absolutely shocked and saddened by what’s happening.”

James Cartlidge, the MP for South Suffolk, said: “I was very pleased to hear what appeared to be such positive news on Christmas Eve when the administrator KPMG contacted me to confirm that they had sold Vanners to Roger Gawn, suggesting remaining employment at the factory had been saved.

“Thus, it is a terrible setback to hear that the company is suspending manufacturing. Above all, I am particularly concerned that some staff appear not to have been paid for a significant period of time.

“I am liaising with all appropriate authorities on an urgent basis to see what can be done to assist employees at Vanners.”

A protest banner criticising the new ownership of Vanners over the alleged lack of pay was hung in front of the factory earlier this week, before being removed yesterday, with images widely shared across social media.

One staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, said they were devastated by the situation, claiming some employees had not been paid for up to nine weeks, and that formal grievances over withheld wages had been filed with the company.

“A lot of staff are falling on hard times,” he told the Free Press. “We all feel trapped.

“We can’t claim redundancy because we are still employed, so we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. I just want out. I want to be made redundant, so I can claim my redundancy pay and move on with my life.

“I’m using up all of my savings. I’ve got three children, I’ve got a mortgage to pay, I’ve got bills and I’ve got to put food on the table.

“I’ve worked here for 22 years and never had a problem. All of a sudden, we have all of these problems.

“I’m devastated. I love the company and I have thoroughly enjoyed working there. It has been my life.

“I love my customers and, even though Covid has caused havoc, our customer base remained. The orders would still be there.

“We feel let down and hurt. We’ve got members of staff who have been there for over 40 years. It was such a fantastic company to work for and we feel betrayed.”

Another employee, who had also been a part of Vanners for more than 20 years, claimed that he was one of just three staff on site, after most of his colleagues had been furloughed, and they were unable to complete their existing orders or accept new ones.

“It’s devastating,” he added. “I’ve got two children at home, and I’ve got no money.

“It’s had a huge impact. I know one woman who can’t pay her rent. A few people have big mortgages and can’t pay them. It’s just a massive struggle.”

The sale of Vanners to current owner Mr Gawn was completed on December 24, with around 31 employees retained at that time, after administrators from KPMG’s restructuring practice were appointed to the firm on November 9.

However, the accusations of the failure to pay wages at Vanners has led to further scrutiny of previous business affairs of Mr Gawn.

In November 2014, then-MP for Corby Andy Sawford spoke in Parliament, asking for an investigation into the experience of workers at the former Aquascutum factory, which had been acquired and renamed The Clothing Works by Mr Gawn.

Mr Sawford told the House of Commons that Mr Gawn had subsequently been disqualified as a director, and that workers at the factory in Corby had said they were waiting for up to eight weeks’ pay.

The Free Press has contacted Mr Gawn for comment, but has not received a response.

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