FIVE jobs have been axed at the Dunfermline branch of Unipart Automotive Limited after the firm went into administration Staff at the Dickson Street branch are among 1244 to get the chop after Unipart failed to find a buyer.

Solihull-based Unipart, one of the UK's largest independent suppliers of car parts, employed 1813 staff and operated 180 branches and distribution hubs trading as Unipart Automotive, Partco Autoparts and Express Factors.

Following the appointment of Mark Orton, Will Wright and Jonny Marston from KPMG as joint administrators, part of the business was sold to Andrew Page and The Parts Alliance, saving 33 branches and 361 staff.

However, the remainder of the Unipart Automotive business has now been closed, with 1244 staff made redundant while 208 have been retained to assist the administrators.

KPMG partner Mark Orton said, “Despite intensive efforts over recent weeks, a sale of the whole Unipart Automotive business could not be reached, and a buyer could only be found for 33 of the sites on a going concern basis.

“Unfortunately, the business had been experiencing financial stress for a number of years, so the level of cash and further operational restructuring required to rescue a more substantial part of the business posed too much risk for most interested parties.  “Our team of employment specialists will be supporting all staff on completing redundancy forms and putting them in touch with job seeker services.

“We will now be reviewing what options are available for the remainder of the business, such as selling leasehold interests.” Unipart also directly supports more than 700 independent, owner-operated garages through its Unipart Car Care Centre programme, in addition to having 19 franchisees.

These companies fall outside of the administration and will continue to operate as normal.