Staff sent home as Knaresborough housebuilder seeks urgent investment

A housebuilder based near Knaresborough has reportedly sent its staff home this afternoon after reports it was urgently seeking investment.

Ilke Homes is said to have told several hundred staff not to come into work at its Flaxby factory until further notice.

They have reportedly been told they will be paid, and will be called back in when the company finds an investor. Managers will continue to work in the 250,000 sq ft factory next week.

The company, which manufactures modular homes, was reported by industry publication Building to have been seeking a new investor this week.

Last week, Companies House began action to strike Ilke Homes off the register of companies because it was late filing. It discontinued the action two days later.

The company said it had been given an extension until the end of this month to file its accounts, during which time it was aiming to secure new funding.

Chief financial officer Patrick Bergin told Building:

“We can file, the accounts are ready, [but] the final conversation with the auditor is around whether they include a caution in the audit report that references the severe but plausible downside scenario.

“I’m shooting for the cleanest outcome.”

The Stray Ferret has attempted to contact Ilke Homes but not had a response.

Read more: