The firm had recently won a £50m student accommodation job for the University of Liverpool and has other big student halls jobs with Loughborough and Sussex Universities.

A company spokesman told the Enquirer: “We were told earlier this week Ocon has filed for a administrator to be appointed and that it was likely the company will be placed in administration.

The £60m turnover contractor employs around 85 staff not including site operatives.

This morning a spokesman for the University of Liverpool said: “The University has established a subsidiary construction company in order to take over responsibility for the delivery of its student residential development, Crown Place.

“As part of the arrangement agreed by OPAL Property Group and the University, staff currently employed by Ocon will transfer to the new University subsidiary.

“The University is committed to providing world-class accommodation for its students and has considerable expertise in the delivery of major construction projects.

“This arrangement will enhance our in house capability and secure the expertise of a team who have been working on the project since last summer. The team successfully delivered the University’s Vine Court student accommodation which opened to students in September.”

Ocon’s financial problems are understood to stem from its heavily indebted owners Opal Property Group.

Stuart Wall, who founded the student accommodation developer Opal Property Group, set up Ocon eight years ago to deliver his schemes.

The construction firm branched out in recent years working for other clients on student schemes and other building work.