Plant hire workers share £100,000 payout after firm's collapse
James Penman Plant Hire went into administration in March 2024
- Published
Workers who lost their jobs when a Fife-based plant hire firm collapsed have been awarded compensation of £100,000, BBC Scotland News has learned.
James Penman Plant Hire went into administration in March 2024 with the loss of more than 35 jobs.
Twenty-five of those workers have now been awarded about £4,000 each.
One of the former workers, Robert Laird, said he was "delighted" to receive the financial boost 18 months after losing a job he enjoyed.
The 65-year-old, who worked in the business for more than 40 years, said he was deeply shocked when the company suddenly shut down and everyone lost their jobs.
"The whole thing came totally out of the blue," he said.
The company had been trading since 1974.
The firm had been registered at Lea Rig, Tyrie Farm, near Kirkcaldy.
Paul Kissen, from Thompsons Solicitors Scotland, who represented the workers said: "This was yet another example of employees being cruelly dismissed without any warning or consultation."