Two associated Aberdeenshire construction businesses have entered administration with the loss of 33 jobs.

Accountancy firm Johnston Carmichael said yesterday it had been appointed administrator of Alan Grant Grampian and ACG Contracts.

Both companies operated from offices at Main Street, Alford, Aberdeenshire with Alan Grant Grampian being involved in the construction of new homes, primarily for private individuals while ACG Contracts delivered civil engineering services to commercial, private and public sector organisations including local authorities.

The administrators have made 14 of Alan Grant Grampian’s 19 employees redundant, while 19 of ACG Contracts’ 21 staff employees have also been made redundant. The remaining employees have been retained to assist Johnston Carmichael restructuring partners Gordon MacLure and Matt Henderson.

Mr MacLure said: “Alan Grant Grampian and ACG Contracts are long-established businesses which, like many building contractors, have in recent years suffered from reduced margins and cashflow difficulties.

“Our immediate focus is on the employees of both companies and we will be liaising with government agencies, including PACE (the national partnership scheme for responding to redundancies) to ensure they receive all possible support at this difficult time.”