A family-owned retail contractor based in Dorset has filed for administration after 40 years of trading.

J M Scully Ltd, of Walford in Wimborne, ceased trading in the past month with 54 members of staff made redundant.

Four staff are still in post on a temporary basis assisting the company’s joint administrators.

The firm, which was founded in 1983, specialises in refurbishment and construction fit-out works on commercial properties with previous clients including Boots, Argos and Co-op.

A notice posted on The Gazette earlier this month confirmed that officials at national firm Begbies Traynor had been appointed as administrators.

In a statement, the joint administrators said: “On March 23, 2023, Gavin Savage and Gary Shankland, partners at Begbies Traynor, were appointed as joint administrators to J M Scully Ltd, a privately owned construction and refurbishment business.

“J M Scully ceased trading immediately prior to the joint administrators’ appointment, and 54 staff were made redundant, with four staff retained on a temporary basis. The joint administrators are now assisting former employees in making redundancy payment claims.

“The joint administrators have notified creditors to JM Scully of the developments and are working to realise the assets of the business but at this stage the outcome is uncertain.”

It is understood the company’s finances came under pressure due to the pandemic, with work delayed and inflation pushing up material costs.

The four staff retained on a temporary basis are working with the joint administrators to process contacts and orders prior to administration.

The most recent results filed on Companies House for the 12 months to March 31, 2022, showed a 23million turnover with a pre-tax loss of £2.3million.

A J M Scully director sent a company-wide email in late March which said the “extremely difficult decision to cease trading” had been made with immediate effect.

It went on to say: “We are all devastated at the outcome and all we can do now is to thank you so very much for your help and support during your time with J M Scully.”