Jobs secured as English firm rescues RB Farquhar

AN ENGLISH firm has bought the accommodation hire division of failed Aberdeenshire company RB Farquhar, safeguarding 72 jobs.

After Peterborough-based Elliott Group bought the business for an undisclosed sum yesterday, administrators Blair Nimmo and Gary Fraser, of KPMG, confirmed that all employees would be transferred to the new owner. Nimmo said: "It is very good news that we have finalised the sale of this local business."

RB Farquhar went into administration in November after turnover at its manufacturing business plummeted by 44.5 per cent. That division closed with the loss of 27 UK jobs, but KPMG kept the remaining hire and self-storage parts of the group trading.

Based in Huntly, RB Farquhar Hires provides temporary accommodation including offices, classrooms, canteens and toilet facilities. It has a turnover of about 7 million.

KPMG is also negotiating a sale of the self-storage business..