Birmingham Jewellery Manufacturer Andra Jewels Enters Administration, 50 Jobs at Risk
A long-standing Birmingham jewellery company has collapsed into administration, threatening around 50 local jobs. Andra Jewels Limited, which specialises in manufacturing a diverse range of jewellery and providing production support services, appointed administrators on Monday, February 16.
The administrators, Andrew Pear and Milan Vuceljic of Moorfields, will now work to rescue the business. Andra Jewels, established in 1959, is a member of The National Association of Jewellers and the Responsible Jewellery Council, highlighting its industry standing.
Company Background and Operations
According to its website, Andra Jewels prides itself on preserving traditional skills and sharing knowledge within the jewellery sector. The company operates production facilities in Birmingham, offering services from cleaning castings and soldering to polishing and plating.
"With hundreds of years of collective experience we offer production support to jewellery brands as they grow from little acorns into great oak trees," the company states. It emphasises a collaborative approach, tapping into a deep network of industry relationships when specialised expertise is required.
Recent Industry Turbulence
This administration comes mere weeks after another Birmingham jewellery giant, WH Darby from the Jewellery Quarter, filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators. WH Darby employed 41 people as of its most recent accounts in 2023.
A notice of intention is a legal document filed at court, indicating a company's plan to appoint administrators in an effort to avoid liquidation. It can be submitted by the company, its directors, or a floating charge holder, typically a bank.
The consecutive struggles of these two Birmingham-based jewellery firms underscore significant challenges within the local manufacturing sector. The administrators for Andra Jewels will now assess the company's financial position and explore options to safeguard its future and preserve employment.
