Jaguar Land Rover car engineer collapses into administration – no pay for 6 weeks

Staff still owed overtime payments from work over the Christmas period.

A Jaguar Land Rover car engineer has gone bust – after working with Bentley and Rolls-Royce previously, too. The British car engineer has collaped with 65 jobs axed.

HPL Prototypes, a Coventry-based company that designs and engineers prototype and concept cars, has gone into administration. Accounting firm RSM UK confirmed to the BBC that they have been appointed as joint administrators after “a period of financial distress and and economic uncertainty”.

HPL Protoypes opened in the 1920s and was the base for Triumph’s Le Mans racing team in the 50s and, between 1960 and 1980, was the prototyping division for Triumph cars

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A source told the BBC some staff have not been paid for six weeks and were still owed overtime payments from work over the Christmas period.

The spokesperson at RSM UK said “employees are making claims to the redundancy payments service for any wages and salary owed, including overtime”.

The website states: “Our site has housed many automotive highlights such as being the centre for Triumph Le Mans racing team during the 1950’s; then between 1960-1980 accommodating Triumph’s prototyping division.

“During the 1980’s, MGA developments manufactured iconic cars such as McLaren’s F1 concept car and the Bentley Java concept car. Lotus Prototype Cars manufactured the M250 here in the 1990’s followed by HPL taking ownership in 2000.

“At HPL, we are committed to continuing this ground-breaking spirit and maintain to stay at the forefront of Automotive engineering.”

The closure comes amid a slew of closures affecting the UK – from high street giants like TG Jones, Poundland and JD Sports – to independent businesses.

Coventry North West MP Tatwo Owatemi visited the site in January and praised the firm’s ‘incredible innovation’.

She added: “Their highly skilled workforce and cutting edge facilities showcase Coventry’s proud manufacturing heritage and its exciting future.”