Havant firm Long & Marshall facing cash crisis as MoD orders stall during coronavirus pandemic

Havant-based Long & Marshall has seen a huge drop in demand for machine-engineered parts used in the likes of the F-35 stealth jet project and the army’s Warrior fighting vehicle.

Despite notching a record-breaking year in 2019, the firm is now facing a 30 per cent drop in cash as orders stall.

And in a double-blow for bosses, landlords this week announced plans to hike the rent of the New Lane-based factory by an eye-watering £93,000, from £142,000 a year to £235,000.

Now the company’s founder has warned that after almost 50 years of trading, the organisation could be months away from folding if business doesn’t pick up.

Mike Long, who set up the firm in 1972, told The News: ‘We might not make it to 50 years. In this 50 years I’ve been close to going to the wall twice but by good management and good fortune we have come through it. This is a real fight for survival now.’

Mike’s son, Vince, who is now the company’s managing director, agreed and said he feared for the future of the business.

‘These are unprecedented times for us,’ he said. ‘We have never suffered anything quite as bad as this. It’s only hitting home now because we have had some decent orders at the same time the lockdown began.

‘It’s starting to get close to the point where we will be feeling the effects of this quite seriously.’

Skilled engineers toiled throughout lockdown to finish orders placed before the pandemic struck.

But as the company continues to grapple with a drought in orders, staff have been reduced to carrying out ‘odd jobs’ around the factory floor, like painting and cleaning to keep them busy.

The News understands senior managers are due to tell staff tomorrow about plans to reduce the working week in a bid to save cash.

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Mark Long, production director at the firm, has now appealed to the government to ramp up equipment orders.

He said: ‘We desperately need to see something of substance in the next four to six weeks.

‘A little bit here and a little bit there is not going to keep the wolf from the door by any means.’

He added: ‘We’re coming up for a 50-year anniversary and it would be very, very sad to see the business go down the pan because of a bloody pandemic.’

Havant MP Alan Mak has thrown his weight into the ring and today contacted Jeremy Quin, Britain’s defence procurement minister who is in charge of buying the nation’s new military kit.

Mr Mak added: ‘The Ministry of Defence say they have continued to place orders during the pandemic but are happy to look into Long & Marshall’s specific contract issue if they send details to me.

‘Having met Long & Marshall’s senior management during a visit to their site, I’m keen to help them.’

Long & Marshall employs more than 20 people at its site.

Last week, Meon Valley MP Flick Drummond raised concerns about a delay in military orders.

She said a firm in Whiteley, which maintains military helicopters, had been waiting since June to hear if it had won a new contract to carry on work fixing Apache and Merlin helicopters.

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