Ex-Tuffnells staff celebrate new jobs after depot closure

Workers from the Brierley Hill depot pulled together via the social media app after losing their jobs and many have now successfully found alternative employment.

A celebratory reunion was held at The Waterfront on June 30 for members of the group – many of whom have reportedly found employment with rival companies.

Driver Dave Mundon, who is among those made redundant, said the job losses had been a “massive worry” but it had been incredible to see former colleagues pulling together via WhatsApp to offer help with CVs, recommendations and even lifts.

The Tuffnells depot in Brierley Hill (Image: Google Street View)

He said: “It was just a drivers’ well-being group originally, but I realised it could be so much more.”

Dave and colleague Jerry Short got together and agreed to add all the staff to the group to help people move forward.

Emma Stainer, general operations manager, said: “I was blown away by how the drivers’ WhatsApp group added all the staff and started pulling resources.

“From helping with CVs to posting jobs and contacts. They’re no longer staff but more family in my eyes.”

It’s been three weeks since the company went into administration and although not everyone has managed to find new work, the group will continue to push for positive outcomes for those still job hunting and in need of help, Dave said.

Around 200 workers at the Brierley Hill depot, on the Wallows Industrial Estate, lost their jobs – and more than 2,000 staff nationally.

Tuffnells, which delivers large items to the retail sector, appointed joint administrators at Interpath Advisory on June 12 after failing to secure funding – having reportedly been under pressure due to Covid-19, increased costs and market competition.

Specialist employment law experts at Aticus Law say they have been instructed by a number of affected individuals from Brierley Hill and they are in the early stages of investigating concerns around how the redundancy process was managed.