Administrators from Duff and Phelps were called in last week after the firm which operates from headquarters in Liverpool hit cashflow problems.

The Strongs name has been around since 1969 and had earned a reputation in the North West delivering planned preventative and reactive maintenance programmes for big clients like Liverpool University and the Countess of Chester Hospital.

It also carried out design and build M&E installation contracts covering heating, air conditioning, ventilation, water treatment, fire safety and electrical systems.

Strongs had just won a subcontract package at Aintree University Hospital to refurbish the Waterloo day centre and a job to refurbish halls of residence at Birmingham University for Miller Homes.