News
Goodman Baylis falls to administrators weeks after buyout
Goodman Baylis has been placed into administration just weeks after its buyout by HS Printers.
The fate of its sister company, Borcombe SP hangs in the balance as the owners explore options with "a number of buyers interested". Currently, however, according to Steve Hardy, joint managing director of HS Printers, it is not in administration.
Sources close to the firm have told PrintWeek that a buyer has been lined up for Borcombe and could take the helm as soon as Monday.
However, Hardy said that sales at Goodman Baylis were too weak to sustain business and it would have been trading illegally had it continued.
HS Printers acquired the two companies last month but faced a hostile reception from suppliers owing to the bad debt left by former owner MPI.
The news comes just days after Jon Parvin, managing director of sister company Friary Press, revealed he has resigned from the company after only three months.
Ann Field of Unite hit out at the "cynicism and contempt" with which the staff at the company had been treated, calling for a DTI or BERR enquiry into the acquisition and subsequent closure.
"We are currently taking legal advice on a number of questions we have with regards to the closure and the apparent lack of consultation with our members", she said.
A statement from the administrators Harris Lipman is expected this afternoon (Monday).
More to follow...
Comments
uwe rosler - 31 October 2008
strange no comments
Concerned Onlooker - 31 October 2008
Does this involve Friary Press?
Jack Sheperd - 31 October 2008
Please let these companies close and RIP.
It is a sad day for the employees but good news that it happened early and creditors did not get a bashing \(hopefully).
Jestin Thyme - 01 November 2008
Hardy and Searle came into this story on big white chargers promising financial backing, big business attitude and clout. Searle never set foot in the building, Hardy spent one afternoon at Worcester gave a general address then left, leaving the company sharing an M.D. with Borcombe 40:60 in their favour.
Yes Mr Hardy, sales were too weak to sustain business, but the majority of clients were waiting for words and action from the new owners to give them enough confidence to come back on board.
When we did see an article about them in Printweek it more or less ignored Goodmanbaylis. Well done for an excellent PR move there boys!
Goodmanbaylis has been killed off by the actions of people who are just "chancers" with no real understanding of the industry.
This company will not be the last to suffer, and sadly those who get dumped in the gutter are generally the people who are the most skilled and capable.
donald frazer - 01 November 2008
This is the biggest smoke screen in the history of Print. It is obvious that the new owners were Mike Dolans stooge's, probably backed with Mike's own money. So to that he wouldn't be investigated by the administrator's, in my view this shoul be brought to the attention to much higher authorities too see where the actual money came from and how much did the company sell for
Bad Boy - 01 November 2008
Any word from Borcombe then? Another viewpoint maybe that the new guys did not do their 'due diligence' very well and were sold a 'pup' by Crozier, Dolan etc wit hidden debts and liabilities. Convincing suppliers that was a new ship must have been somewhat compromised by having the 'Agent of Death' (aka Martin daniels) stillon board. Actually 'Agent of Death' gives some stature to him. A more piss poor example of 'senior' manager it would be difficult to find apparently.
I'm sure this is typical. Good and loyal staff (with some of the usual useless bad apples) get shafted by financial 'giants' who didn't have the bottle to stand the course when it got sticky. Shame on them.
Goodluck to Borcombe. A good crew unfortunately steered by buffoons like Daniels. When will someone see the light?
Jack Sheperd - 01 November 2008
I don't know about Searle & Hardy more like Laural & Hardy!.
dave breeze - 01 November 2008
having worked at pimms,garden house press,friary press,butler & tanner and goodman baylis to be shafed again is just unbelievable,how can menzies sell a business and the new owners last 6 weeks ! questions need to be asked,they did the same selling pimms to garden house press which lasted 5 months! they are supposed to have the employees best intentions at heart, thanks menzies for screwing up my life and all my fellow employees.here's hoping we find a buyer for goodman baylis,best of luck to borcombe\(not mr daniels thou!)
neil green - 02 November 2008
i know this might sound harsh to the employees \(ex) of the company but maybe now is the time to just through the towel in on these companies and stop givng the employees false hope. Like i said it might sound harsh but theirs only so many times a company can resurface \(look at buckly and bland)
out of intrest what kit did they have a goodman, was it brand new cd's or was 10 year old 700's \(its usually the first one for ompanies like this)
Good luck to the ex employees and hope you find better work at other printworks
Ann O'Dyne - 02 November 2008
The closure of Goodman Baylis masks an avoidable human tragedy for the 100 employees who will now suffer through no fault of their own. This closure is a direct consequence of the cynical policy adopted by [EDITED - some suppliers] towards companies that are saved from closure by the perfectly legitimate, government & union supported process of pre-arranging a buyer to ensure continuity of employment and customer service, before a failing company is placed into Administration. These self-serving money grubbers will need to look carefully in the mirror before tucking into Christmas dinner this year, and reflect on the plight of those families they have inflicted this damage on for the sake of achieving a hollow victory by their policy
Sales Exec Available - 02 November 2008
After spending many good years with Ebenezer Baylis then Goodman Baylis, I, like everyone involved is deeply saddened & personally embarrassed by the conduct & actions of the various owners of the company over the last 10 months.
However, as we all now have to prepare for the future, as an Experienced Sales Exec & Print person, who achieves regular sales of around £1m a year even during the most recent turbulent times, I am taking the slightly unusual step of trying to reach as many companies as I can through this forum, as I feel this would be more beneficial to any prospective employer, rather than registering through agencies & their accompanying fees.
If you wish to strenghen your company & sales team - Please contact Martin Lewis on 07896 915676 or E'mail - kensden@btinternet.com
On a personal note - To the many friends and collegues I have worked with over the years, I would like to wish you all Good Luck for the future. There are far too many good & talented people amongst you to be lost to the industry.
Jo Malone - 02 November 2008
It's always good to see people such as Martin Lewis taking a positive and practical approach to this sad event. Good luck Martin
Chris Minshull - 03 November 2008
Its hard to be optimistic when something like this happens but I wish everyone at Goodman Bayliss the best in going forward. On a personal note many thanks to Steve Ringrose and Martin Lewis who have been fantastic to work with
delia minett - 03 November 2008
Goodman Baylis. Senior sales/print Exec - 03 November 2008
Responsible for print worth up to £1m per annum, am looking for a new home for this business.
If you're interested in talking to me please call me on 07742213233 or email – deliaminett@yahoo.co.uk
delia minett - 03 November 2008
Goodman Baylis. Senior sales/print Exec - 03 November 2008
Responsible for print worth up to £1m per annum, am looking for a new home for this business.
If you're interested in talking to me please call me on 07742 213233 or email – deliaminett@yahoo.co.uk
stan manley - 03 November 2008
I think Bad boy and Dave Breeze should lay off Martin Daniel. He may have been the cause of many suppliers to loose thousands of pounds and employees their jobs. His unique"i don't know my arse from my elbow management style'' may have cause despair to colleagues and customers. But I am sure somewhere there is goodness in his heart\( that of course if he has one). Good luck to all at Borcombe
A Moss - 03 November 2008
Martin Lewis has looked after nearly £1,000,000 of my business at GB over the last few years and has always been impeccable, honourable, timely and a pleasure to do business with - shame the same cant be said about the owners of the business.....good luck to all who worked there
fat boy - 03 November 2008
Well & truly shafted, won't be any surprise to hear if dear old Geoff " kpi's are the way forward, I should know I've ruined...... err sorry,run I meant to say run 22/23/24 companies...." Heyes.
Cathy Osborn - 03 November 2008
Swindon based B1 Print Company looking for quality Print Finishers \(3 x 12 hour shifts). Only heard excellent comments about all the staff at Goodman Baylis. Contact 07714 703 544 for more details
Ian Pearson - 03 November 2008
Well gutted for all of us at Goodmanbaylis a great company ruined ,good luck to you all
dave breeze - 03 November 2008
goodman baylis had a great setup,12,10,6 colour\(uv) 102 heidelberg presses & a 10 colour 104 komori,& some great finishing equipment + excellent staff.what a real shame its all going down the pan!! Best of luck to you all.
John Grove - 03 November 2008
A very sad day.
Having spent over 30 years as an employee and this year as an unpaid creditor, it really breaks my heart to see what's been done to a once great company.
Any employers reading this please note that really skilled and dedicated potential employees could be available to you.
My very best wishes to all friends and ex colleagues.
John Thatcher - 03 November 2008
It's a sobering thought to any youngster starting out learning a skilled trade in this country, that two thirds of the way into your working life, those skills you spent 5 years starting to learn and 30 odd years honing and perfecting, will suddenly be no longer required.
"Retrain" they say... but who will pay your mortgage, your car loan, your gas bills, your electricity bills, your phone bills while you retrain? You need to be young with few commitments to retrain......Oh..., but that's just 'training' then, isn't it.
Are we Luddites? Although being without a pay increase for 7 years, we stayed abreast of newer areas of expertise, Colour Management, LAB, RGB, CMYK colour spaces, CieLAB colour models etc...20 minute makereadies on the 12 and 10 colour presses.. less on the 6 colour UV.
Is that a recipe for a failing company? NO!
Did it keep us in a job? NO!
The reason myself and my colleagues lost our jobs was down to shady, exploitative employers wanting to make a quick buck. As soon as they realised that they didn't have the knowledge or the nous to make their quick buck, we found ourselves at the sharp end of a redundancy notice.
So, kids, don't tie yourself to one specific skill if you plan to stay in the UK... you'll end up a vastly over qualified van driver.
fat boy - 04 November 2008
Think Mr Thatcher has summed that up quite nicely
John Thatcher - 04 November 2008
This was the company that printed Winston Churchill's war memoirs with half of the House of Commons in attendance and some of the James Bond books...all laid low by a chancer in a crimplene suit and his chums!
Clive Keeble - 04 November 2008
It is to be hoped that the administrators will at least make some attempt to market Goodman Baylis as a "going concern".
No mention in this news report about the stance taken by local MP's : time for them to ensure that any possible funding goes to ensure survival of this long established british "manufacturer".
John Thatcher \(above) speaks the evil word "retraining" : it is our company laws which need "retraining", especially in relation to pre-pack administration, which are being abused on an almost daily basis.
Andrew Dale - 04 November 2008
Well said John T. I also have over 30 years experience of high quality multi colour printing. Its a sad thought that so much experince could be lost to the trade. Good luck to all at GB you deserved better than this.
Richard Grainger - 04 November 2008
Richard Grainger - 04 November 2008
Friary Press Customer Services/Sales Manager available. If you are interested please ring 07725649199 or email grainrj@aol.com
Having had to manage customer expectation during the roller coaster ride with MPI and latterly HS Printers I have nothing but admiration for the loyality of the Friary customers. I am deeply embarrased by this latest turn of events and want to publiclly apologise to all Friary customers I haven't yet been able to contact and thank those I have spoken to for their kind words of support.
A word also for the team at Goodman Baylis who have all performed with a high level of professionalism during this very difficut period.
Friary Press had a long history and a well-deserved reputation within the industry and the publishing world and this is indeed a sad day.
John Thatcher - 04 November 2008
Mr Blogs, unfortunately, your post has been filed under: Disregard.
The reasons for this are as follows:
1) Not having sufficient bottle to use your real name.
2) Below par spelling.
3) The punctuation of an over emotional teen from MySpace.
Tony Upton - 04 November 2008
Nice one John, my hero!
Fred blogs - 04 November 2008
oh how sad you really are!!!!!
Tony Upton - 04 November 2008
Bye, Fred.
John Thatcher - 04 November 2008
"And all those exclamation marks, you notice? Five? A sure sign of someone who wears his underpants on his head."
- Terry Pratchett -
A Doley - 04 November 2008
Oh come on Mr Blogs, lets have another story.
Jerry Phillips - 04 November 2008
I am another Friary Press employee who has enjoyed the roller coaster ride of relocation from Dorcester to Frome and then again to Worcester over the past 10 months.
I too have nothing but admiration for all the people that I have worked alongside from Butler & Tanner and Goodman Baylis and it has been a pleasure to have known you all.
My background is within Pre-pres but latterly have worked as a Night Shift factory supervisor and in Customer Services. If anyone knows of any work that could be suitable please do not hesitate to contact me on 07870861731 or jphillips1970@googlemail.com
fat boy - 04 November 2008
Fred lets have your real name, come on chap, step into the ring. We worked with out complaint, with out a wage rise for 7 years, in effect we got on with the job & we made ££££s fr our Masters because we valued having jobs,which , after being taken over twice in less than 12 months were ripped away from us by the ineptitude of the people whose values you hold so highly....... you prick
Graham Thomas ex Goodman Baylis \(Ebenezer Baylis) employee 23+ years
A Doley - 04 November 2008
Well Fred, I'm disappointed in you. I really was rather hoping you would justify your comments. But I am just as I'm disappointed in Print Week for removing your original comments. They may have been arrogant, patronizing and deluded, but isn't this a forum for people to have their say, and express their opinions? It would appear not.
Andrew Smith - 05 November 2008
Andrew Smith
Having worked for "Baylis`s for almost 21 years, I would like to thank all the wonderful people I have had the privilage to have worked with,shared jokes with, shouted at, and tried to do our jobs to the best of our abilities, however hard the circumstancies may have been . Can I ask you all to spare athought for Andy Burgess`s family today after his tragic death last month
Big Mess eeeee - 07 November 2008
I've only heard good things about GB, print is a tough trade with prices falling through the floor, WHY?
barbara fowles - 29 April 2009
my husband and i are very sorry to hear about goodman baylis closing my husband had a good job at the firm and since his redundancy 2 years ago we have lost our house. My husband had an apprenticeship with the firm when he first started and a good job i tried to move near the firm but could not get accomadation. I had heard they were starting up again i wish they would if my husband could et a job at the firm again i would try to move nearer for our last few years in employment.
barbara fowles - 29 April 2009
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