ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

One of Australia's largest cleaning companies - Swan Services - has gone into administration after suffering losses from a number of unprofitable contracts.

Anthony Elkerton and David Young of Pitcher Partners were appointed as administrators to Swan Services last week along with Cleaners QLD, Cleaners SA, Cleaners ACT, Superior Cleaners WA, Cleaners New South Wales and Cleaners Vic.

All the companies have ceased to trade and the employment of 2,379 cleaners terminated unless otherwise advised.

Swan Services employs 2,466 people nationally and was run by founder and owner Robert Swan for 43 years. It had 901 staff in NSW, 578 in Victoria, 583 in Queensland, 64 in the ACT, 156 in South Australia and 184 in Western Australia.

The company had a turnover of just over 68 million euros in the last financial year.Elkerton says the administrators are working with Swan Services' customers and the trades union to organise a smooth transition of contracts to other cleaning companies.

"We are hopeful that the majority of employees will be recontracted by the new suppliers," he said.