Dozens of employees who lost their jobs after their events firm went into liquidation will each receive two months’ pay following an employment tribunal.
At least 60 people who worked for Blitz Communications, headquartered in Elstree, put claims in after they were made redundant in 2020.
The event productions specialist firm, which partnered with the likes of ExCel in London and the NEC in Birmingham, was one of the casualties of the Covid pandemic.
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A tribunal report published this month says Blitz Communications “failed to comply” with part of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992 when redundancies began being made on August 17 2020, before going into voluntary liquidation less than a month later.
The parties at the tribunal hearing at Watford Employment Court agreed Blitz Communications did not fully comply with the requirements of the act because consultation did not begin at least 30 days before the first of the dismissals took effect, while the requirements for the election of employee representatives were not complied with either.
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Blitz Communications, which was founded in 1989 and taken over by global events company GES in 2014, was ordered to pay a protective award of eight weeks' gross pay to each of the claimants, of which there were at least 60 named in court papers.
This is said to take note of the circumstances of the case, including Blitz’s financial situation.
All other claims against Blitz Communications, as well as the Secretary of State, have been dismissed upon withdrawal, papers added.
When trading, Blitz worked across a wide range of live events from award ceremonies, product launches and conferences to immersive brand experiences, theatre productions and exhibitions.
Its headquarters in Centennial Park is to become a car dealership for Volvo and its electric offshoot Polestar after plans were granted permission by Hertsmere Borough Council in the summer.
Along with a showroom, the development will also provide a workshop, MOT services, valeting, office space and 154 car parking spaces.
Planning papers state the new facility has the potential to create 80 full-time jobs.
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