90 jobs at stake as Communisis closes Manchester factory
COMMUNICATIONS and direct mail group Communisis is closing a cheque production facility in Trafford Park which employs 120 staff.
Chief executive Andy Blundell told TheBusinessDesk that 90 job were at risk, although there will be the potential for some transfers to sites in Leeds and Liverpool, and a Manchester office.
Communisis, which also has an operation in Crewe, is currently carrying out a consultation with the unions but wants to close the facility and move the work to Leeds by the end of the year.
The change is part of a restructuring plan which will cost £3.5m but make annual saving of £4m. Mr Blundell said there was still potential in the cheque market, largely due to demand from businesses. He said: “Although it is declining there’s long term viability and we’re the market leader.”
The Leeds site will be reconfigured with a substantial amount of the remaining, more commoditised direct mail print being outsourced and managed instead through the third party. The more specialist, higher margin direct mail and other production will remain in Leeds.
In a stock market statement Mr Blundell added: “These plans are aligned with the group’s strategy to reduce its exposure to the more commoditised sector of the print market by focusing on higher margin specialist production and to improve margins by reducing costs and improving capacity utilisation.”
