equity shoes leicester June 2009

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MD

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leicestershire
one of the mintest factorys we have found in leicester and one we have been trying to crack for ages..:thumb
The collapse of Equity Shoes marks the end of an era for the county's once-thriving footwear industry and for the 123-year-old business.Last month, the Leicester Mercury reported that bosses were searching to find a buyer to rescue the firm from financial difficulties.

After failing to find an investor, it was announced this week that all 98 workers at the firm, in Western Road, in Leicester's West End, will be made redundant by January 20. The company will be put into voluntary liquidation.

Managers had hoped that cash generated from Equity's sale as a going concern would allow them to continue trading and make up for a "substantial" deficit in the workers' pension fund.

They blamed the company's financial problems on falling sales and competition from cheap imports, and revealed the business had debts of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Equity, a co-operative owned by staff, is the last major shoe factory in Leicestershire. Its demise leaves a handful of much smaller manufacturers. The picture is in stark contrast to the heyday of the 1950s, when the shoe-making workforce in the county reached 170,000 and there were some 130 factories.

One worker, who asked not to be named, but who has worked at Equity for 35 years, said: "It's very sad. Many of the staff are angry. It seems there has been mistake after mistake here. A lot of them know they are not going to find a job anywhere else in the current climate."

Ray Spencer, Equity's general manager, said: "This is a very sad time for everyone at Equity Shoes. It brings to an end 123 years of the company as a footwear manufacturer in Leicester and one of the last remaining truly productive co-operatives in the country."

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A timeline on the company
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=eq...ngujBBg&oi=timeline_result&ct=title&resnum=11

was a cracking afternoon this topped off a good weekend!!
visited with little laura ,goldie, mr sam:)
 
nice pics as always matt, and it sure is mint (which makes a change). im sure it wont be long before the pikeys wreck it
 
Nicely done lads, cheers for the tag along. Mint place, very excited to see it at last !! :)
Camera was mucking about all day so only got a few in.. (mostly of random bits tho..) L.L

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With me its more wiggle in and wobble out tho...
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Definately another reason to return to the Leicester area! I even like the dated lettering on the outside! sad that these small firms couldn't keep going it seems few people seem to appreciate quality anymore. I bought a pair of British made DM's this weekend for £2.50!
 
One of the best preserved Industrial Buildings I've ever seen. So much to see, great architectural details. Brilliant variety of piccies peeps -thanks! :)
 
really good find guys...MD got some really wicked shot, really love 2 4 & 9. No 4 is exceptional, think the lighting from the roofing material is lush...
LL the shot of the keys is really nice, was there anything interesting behind the door???
 
haha what an explore, comedy access alot of open empty floors then getting locked in reception (whoops :eek:) and possibly setting the alarm off trying to escape :D

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about the most exciting of the factory floors as this one has the roof beams, the lower floors are all identical

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clocking in

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i was just about to give this a go when one of the absent Leicester explorers phoned me up on 'ive lost part of the engine mount to my mk1 fiesta'

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dartboards in the canteen area

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Reception aka the prision :eek::banghead

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safe shot

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didnt get chance to nose around the offices as an alarm sensor flashed at us :rolleyes:

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and safely out and off down the road to bump into a load of scallys on bowstring bridge

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Goldie87 second from the left then MD's head..........and the pikey kids
 
well done all,cracking pics

Gutted i missed this one !

Love the glass doors beautiful :)
 
Very good there, folks, 10/10 for that one :)

I absolutely love those glazed door, marked "offices" almost tempted to go and get them.....but i haven't got any offices in my house :cry: shame........
 
Wow great pics and explore, it does look like they have taken eveything with them and even swept up lol. Love the glass doors but shame you couldnt get round the offices.
 

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