A construction company whose directors delivered projects for major brands including Wetherspoon, JD Sports and Sports Direct has entered liquidation following mounting pressure across Britain's building industry.
Bolton-based Juma Construction Group was wound up after a special resolution was passed to place the business into liquidation.
The company was led by directors Matthew Hoyes and Julian Kirkpatrick, who together have around 40 years of experience in the construction sector.
According to the firm's website, the pair had previously completed work for businesses including BT and Revolution Bars during earlier stages of their careers.
The collapse was formally announced in The Gazette on Monday.
Joint liquidators Craig Johns and Jason Elliott from advisory firm Cowgills have been appointed to oversee the process.
Their responsibilities include selling company assets, settling outstanding debts with creditors and distributing any remaining funds to shareholders.
Both Juma Construction Group and Cowgills were approached for comment.
Juma Construction Group enters liquidation amid construction sector downturn, with group behind JD Sports projects
| GETTYThe company provided a range of construction services including office fit outs, refurbishment work, renovation projects, gas installations and civil engineering.
Among its completed developments was the design and construction of a training facility at John Leggott College in Scunthorpe.
The business also carried out a four-month fit out project at The Bridge Hotel on behalf of Ask Drinks Ltd.
The liquidation comes as Britain's construction industry continues to face its most severe downturn since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
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Construction firms also reported increased costs linked to energy, fuel and transportation.
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Construction activity has now been contracting for around 18 months despite Labour's pledge to deliver 1.5 million homes by 2029.
Figures released by S&P Global showed the UK construction PMI fell to 38.2 in May from 39.7 in April.
The reading marked the weakest level recorded since May 2020, when the pandemic caused major disruption across the industry.
Any figure below 50 indicates the sector is contracting rather than growing.
S&P Global said concerns surrounding the Iran conflict alongside domestic political uncertainty contributed to weaker demand for construction work last month.
Its research found uncertainty around economic conditions and the wider political landscape continued to weigh heavily on the sector.
Businesses surveyed said postponed projects and delayed investment decisions had significantly reduced available work.
Customer budget cuts were also cited as a factor behind reduced opportunities during May.
Political uncertainty has also continued to affect confidence, with Sir Keir Starmer facing growing pressure from some Labour MPs amid calls for him to resign as Prime Minister.
Despite the downturn, some industry figures said businesses remained focused on long-term growth opportunities.
Max Jones, head of construction at Lloyds, said earlier this month: "While ongoing uncertainty weighs on output, many firms are staying focused on current work and planning for future growth."
Mr Jones said companies were continuing to invest in workforce development while preparing for opportunities linked to cleaner energy projects and the defence sector.
The prolonged slowdown in construction activity is expected to create further challenges for the Government's housebuilding targets in the coming years.