Up to 40 staff gathered at the company’s works after managers told them last week to stay at home, bringing site activity to a halt.

One worker told the Enquirer: “We were told to go home last Wednesday (6th) and nobody has been paid. We’ve been completely left in the dark about what is happening.

“We heard nothing more since and everybody’s fearing the worst.”

He estimated that around 100 people, including contract workers, have been left out of pocket.

Hescott was bought by local engineering services business The Aim Group in November 2024 and had been pushing ahead with expansion plans since the takeover.

The firm turned over around £14m last year and was recently named by Scottish Water as its low-emission steel supply chain partner alongside ArcelorMittal.

The appointment was designed to support the move to lower-carbon infrastructure and cut embodied carbon across Scottish Water’s capital investment programme.

But fears over the firm’s future intensified this week after group operations director Darren Brown posted on social media four days ago that he was looking for a new role.

The Enquirer has contacted Hescott Engineering and The Aim Group for comment.