Machinery firm Hewden collapses weeks after Brexit warning

Heavy machinery firm Hewden has collapsed into administration with the immediate loss of 251 jobs and hundreds more in the balance weeks after warning it had been badly hit by the Brexit vote. Administrators at EY said 133 jobs have been saved after rival Ashtead snapped up three divisions of the group for £29m, as well as the Hewden brand name. The announcement comes days after Sky News reported that Hewden was teetering on the brink of collapse.