Insurance supplier Empire goes bust

Empire, one of the largest companies in the insurance electrical replacement market, has gone into administration.

Insurance companies use the Leeds-based firm to restore electrical appliances that have suffered damage in the homes of their policyholders.

The company also has a retail and internet side called Empire Direct, which is one of the biggest independent electrical retailers in the country.

Administrators KPMG said the company suffered after trade credit insurers pulled cover on the business, which employs 350 people, in October.