STAFF at Co Armagh firm Maurice Stevenson Ltd have been offered a potential jobs lifeline as efforts continue to secure a new buyer.
A spokesman for the troubled Lurgan firm, which went into administration earlier this week, said there was a "fair level of interest" from potential purchasers.
Administrator Gerard Gildernew had a meeting with employees on Wednesday afternoon and confirmed that efforts were ongoing to secure a buyer.
"There is a fair level of interest and the administrator is presently providing additional information to interested parties," the spokeswoman said.
Closing date for offers is Monday February 6 at 5pm, with a further meeting to update staff scheduled for a day later.
There was widespread shock following the news that more than 30 jobs were at risk at the family-run business, recognised as one of the north's longest established mechanical installation firms.
With a history stretching back to 1921, Maurice Stevenson was a long-term fixture of the Lurgan area, with three generations of the Stevenson family drawing a strong sense of loyalty from their staff.
Speaking about a number of "financial challenges" in recent years, Mrs Alison Stevenson paid a "heartfelt tribute" to all current and former employees.
In a statement issued by the company, she said: "It is with the deepest of regret that we find ourselves having to place the company into administration.
"I want to pay a heartfelt tribute to current and former staff who have worked hard and demonstrated immense loyalty to this firm and our family down through the years."
The announcement follows a downturn in the sector generally, resulting in contractors going into insolvency with consequential bad debts, all compounded by increasingly tight margins and a reduction in public sector works orders.
The death of the company head, David Stevenson, in 2012, also created significant challenges for Mrs Stevenson who, despite her best efforts, could not overcome toughening market conditions.
From its base in Lurgan's Annesborough industrial estate, Maurice Stevenson installs heating and ventilation services and provides facilities management for the healthcare, education and local government sectors.
