Please find below an update from Robert McDowell regarding Summerhall Management and the continued defence of the winding up petition on Summerhall Management Ltd.
“A decision was taken by the Sheriff on the 21st October to continue this case until November 29th, subjecting us to a further period of 6 weeks of the current position working under prescribed restrictions.
We had continued to trade, as far as possible, within these imposed rules. This was done to protect the future of Summerhall, its staff and clients, following this action. Events with no financial outlay can go ahead under the allowed parameters of trading, hence some activity still taking place, some with changes. Most have been cancelled and moved to alternative venues. The effect of this has been significant and our calendar of events has been decimated.
These prescribed restrictions have been extremely challenging, including the inability to access our bank accounts, meaning that we cannot pay out box office income, make essential stock purchases, pay suppliers, or refund customers.
Summerhall Management Ltd has reached a position where we cannot generate or deliver enough activity and revenue to be able to continue as we have been since the petition was served. We have taken the difficult decision today to further reduce activity and to temporarily reduce contracted hours across the whole salaried team as well as temporarily lay off operational team members whilst we continue to defend the action, where we believe no tax is due. We have liaised with Unite, our Union and have written and spoken to all staff affected.
We hope that this is only a temporary measure. We understand how difficult this is for all those impacted. We continue to work with our professional advisors and HMRC, hoping a resolution can be achieved which will allow us to move on.”
– Robert McDowell, Director, Summerhall Management Ltd.