This article is more than 1 year old

Evesham Technology confirmed dead

End of the road for UK system builder

Decline and fall

Administrators arrived at the firm’s headquarters at Vale Park in Worcestershire on 3 August 2007 following months of speculation that Evesham Technology was in serious financial trouble. More than 100 staff were asked to immediately leave the premises on the bleakest day in the company's 24-year-long history.

It emerged that Evesham Technology went bust owing creditors nearly £7m.

At the time Austin blamed the sudden closure in May 2006 of the government's Home Computer Initiative (HCI) programme for a serious dent in the company’s turnover.

It was a very different story in April 2006, when Austin told Channel Business: "Fortunately for us we have our feet in lots of different ponds. We are not totally dependent on HCI; it is only 12 or 13 per cent of our turnover. It is really not going to cripple us." HCI provided tax breaks for employees, allowing them to hire-purchase PCs through their pay packets.

In February last year, Mohsan put the Evesham Technology Ltd brand up for sale: it had continued trading under the Evesham Micros Ltd name. That move swiftly followed the departure of Austin, who was the company's co-founder and chairman.

But no buyer had stepped forward by August 2008. So creditors agreed to an extended administration run.

As of today, the Evesham Technology brand appears to have completely ceased trading. A visit to the Evesham.com website eventually brings up an ominous timeout page.

Life after death

But late last year there was a glimmer of hope for Evesham Technology customers. Step forward Tewktech, which was recently formed by a group of former Evesham employees.

The firm offers customers free email support and said that where a remote fix wasn't possible, it will collect and repair Evesham Technology machines at its facility in Tewkesbury.

"It is very apparent that many customers do not know of the closure of Evesham [Technology] and that their warranty is now invalid," said the company's technical director Matt Habershon last December.

"The goal of Tewktech is to reach out to every customer and reassure them that there is a helping hand when they need it."

Evesham's Vale Park HQ is now occupied by new owners Foster and Freeman Ltd, which develops and manufactures a wide range of scientific instruments for police and forensic boffins.®

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