The firm, which employed 141 people ceased operating due to poor trading conditions including the cancellation of a number of large orders.

Nearly all staff have been made redundant at the business, which had 126 staff in Newcastle- under-Lyme and 15 in Edinburgh. A few staff have been retained to assist with realisations and the wind-down process.

Its larger facilities management and maintenance business, George Birchall Service,  remains unaffected and will continue to trade.

Birmingham-based corporate recovery specialists Butcher Woods, have been appointed as administrators.

Butcher Woods director Rod Butcher said: “Sadly due to its financial position and its inability to meet ongoing commitments, George Birchall Ltd has entered administration. Butcher Woods is now seeking to maximise realisations for creditors by seeking to find other ways of fulfilling ongoing contracts.

“We will be contacting all creditors over the coming days to explain what steps they should take.”

George Birchall director Ian Birchall said: “After 38 years of delivering high quality mechanical and electrical design and installation projects to many well-known companies, it is with great sadness that we announce the closure of George Birchall Ltd, our contracting arm based in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

“Due to recent economic uncertainty, the company had encountered very difficult trading conditions leading to an unprecedented slippage in orders and cancellations.

“We regret that despite all our best efforts to help keep the business going it became impossible to continue, resulting in a number of job losses for which we are deeply sorry.

“We would like to make it clear that our larger facilities management and maintenance business, George Birchall Service Ltd continues with business as usual and continues to employ over 400 people at its offices in Newcastle-under-Lyme and London.”