Broom family knew nothing of insolvency
Martin Broom: ‘we knew nothing of the insolvency’
After 112 years of family ownership, the Broom family sold the company to Mark Garner and Akis Chrisovelides. Six weeks later the boatbuilding part of the company went into insolvency with the loss of 70 jobs.
BROOM BUST: Boating Business spoke to Martin Broom on Monday September 13, about the insolvency of the boatbuilding arm of Broom Boats. He admitted to us he had been as surprised as the rest of the industry about the company going bust.
‘We’re extremely upset,’ he told us. ‘We had no idea. And we feel desperately sorry for everyone.’
Both the new owners are accountants, said Mr Broom. ‘One of them used to work for our accountants, so they knew the history and the position of the company,’ he added.
Asked if this was an asset strip operation, Mr Broom would only say: ‘Only time will tell.’ He added he hoped they would open the boatbuilding company again in the future.
But there is a ray of light in that there is likely to be work around for most of the workforce. ‘They are a highly skilled workforce,’ said Mr Broom, ‘and most should find work locally in or out of the boatbuilding industry.’
The Brooms are unlikely to appear at the PSP Southampton Boat Show. ‘We may go off on holiday,’ said Mr Broom.
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