Rok cuts further 1,800 jobs as sale attempt fails

Efforts to find a buyer for the social housing and English construction business continue

The collapsed construction firm Rok has announced a further 1,800 redundancies after efforts to sell some parts of the business failed.

Administrators PwC said the jobs would go in the maintenance division across the UK and in the construction business in Scotland.

They are still trying to find a buyer for the social housing division and the construction business in England, which employ 500 people.

A total of 2,600 jobs have now gone.

"Regrettably, the redundancies made today were necessary as it became clear in the last 24 hours that we were not going to be able to find a purchaser for these parts of the Group," said Rob Hunt, joint administrator.

"Operations cannot continue and hence we have had to take steps to close both the maintenance and improvements division as well as the Scottish construction division. We have retained a small workforce to assist us in this process."

Rok plc and Rok Building Limited, based in Exeter, Devon, were put into administration earlier this month.

Earlier in the year, the loss-making firm said it had uncovered "serious failings" in financial and operational controls.