35 jobs lost as Kirkcaldy plant hire business goes into liquidation

James Penman Plant Hire is in the hands of joint provisional liquidators Callum Carmichael and Michelle Elliot of business advisory firm FRP Advisory after its collapse this week. The business was based in Merchant Place and was on the verge of celebrating its 50th anniversary. It specialised in plant hire and groundworks in both the public and private sectors. All 35 jobs were lost in its collapse.

Mr Carmichael said: “James Penman struggled to maintain its financial obligations which stemmed from the pandemic and, regrettably, has entered liquidation. Our job now is to focus on supporting all staff that have been impacted with their applications to the redundancy payments service as we wind down the remaining business.”

A notice on the plant hire’s website said: “The affairs, business, and property of James Penman (Plant Hire) Limited the ‘company’ are being managed by Callum Angus Carmichael and Michelle Elliot who were appointed joint provisional liquidators of the company on March 5. The joint provisional liquidators act as agents of the company and without personal liability.”