Envelope specialist with £50m turnover goes into administration

Facade specialist Skonto Plan UK has gone into administration.The company, a subsidiary of Latvia-based Skonto Group, had operated in the UK since 2009 and employed 40 people.Initially focused on small projects, the specialist firm installed facades for clients including Berkeley Homes, Sir Robert McAlpine and Mace in recent years.Its Latvian sister company, Skonto Plan, carried out production, design and management, while the UK arm focused on installation.Skonto Plan UK appointed Clare Lloyd and Colin Hardman of Evelyn Partners as joint administrators on 14 August.Construction News asked Skonto Group if it intended to continue having any presence in the UK, but did not receive a response. Skonto Plan UK was also approached for comment.In its latest accounts, for the year to 31 December 2022, Skonto Plan UK turned over £50.4m, up from £42.2m in the previous year.The company posted a £205,736 pre-tax loss, which was down on the £7,998 profit posted the year before.At the time, it owed £18m to creditors, including £2.1m to trade creditors, the accounts showed.The company’s 40 employees included two in its warehouse, four administrators and 34 construction workers.A report from directors in the accounts said: “Skonto Plan UK has proven to be a trustworthy partner which supplies and installs high-quality products.“Future plans by the management of Skonto Plan UK Ltd include retaining and strengthening the current market position.”Projects it worked on in 2022 and 2023 included large residential schemes for Berkeley Homes at King’s Road Park in Chelsea, west London, and Mace’s Palmerston Court at Battersea Park, south London.An Evelyn Partners spokesperson acknowledged their appointment as administrators but declined to comment on any of the circumstances of the administration.