Quibell & Son and Humber Joiners called in the administrators on November 23.

The companies were both part of the Quibell Construction Group based in Stepney Lane, west Hull.

The firms’ demise resulted in the immediate loss of 90 jobs and the whole supply chain being left unpaid.

The Hull Daily Mail said 181 local firms were owed more than £3.1m by Quibell & Son while 24 were left unpaid to the tune of £69,2841 by Humber Joiners Limited.

The Mail said at least six firms have stopped trading as a result, with many others being seriously financially compromised by the company’s downfall.

One East Yorkshire–based company that asked to remain anonymous said: “Quibell going into administration sent us under.

“Thirty people here lost their job as a result – that is a third of the jobs lost at Quibell.

“We have now started up again but it wasn’t good for us at all.”

The two firms had a history stretching back 135 years and were responsible for some of Hull’s famous buildings, including the Guildhall.

The two firms’ parent company, Quibell and Son (Holdings) Ltd, went into receivership on November 29.

Another subbie said: “Many of these well established local firms, like ourselves, have been shut out by large frameworks secured by the likes of Quibell and other larger companies who are obsessed with chasing turnover rather than profit.

“The feeling is that many firms are bidding so competitively, and even below cost, as a matter of survival and as a means of retaining workers.

“There aren’t too many businesses that can afford to do that for long. Bidding work just to keep busy and keep employees working is financial suicide.”

They added: “The problem is how many quality, well organised, well established and previously financially sound local companies are the likes of Quibell, ROK, Connaught etc going to consistently take down with them.”