Reach says as part of the proposal, the work currently served by the Saltire print site in Scotland would be moved primarily to Reach’s Oldham site later this spring, with a smaller portion going to DC Thomson’s facility in Dundee.
The work currently served by the Watford site would be moved to the Newsprinters site based in Broxbourne, via a commercial outsourcing agreement, in the summer.
A thorough consultation process with all impacted employees in Saltire and Watford has begun, added Reach.
Chief Executive Piers North said: “Print remains an important part of our business, and will continue to drive considerable circulation revenue, but our future is firmly rooted in digital. This consolidation is a proactive and strategic move, positioning our business for long-term success.
“By refining our print operations, we can focus our attention on content and audiences - the core driver of our business - and accelerate our digital growth opportunities such as our digital subscriptions offering.”
Newsprinters says the 10-year contract marks a significant milestone and will help ensure the continued sustainability of printed newspapers in the UK
Darren Barker, CEO of Newsprinters Holdings Limited, commented: "This agreement represents another major milestone for Newsprinters and will help to ensure the long-term sustainability of UK print media in a challenging market."
Newsprinters says it is committed to managing this transition with the utmost professionalism.
According to the company, the provision of these services aligns with Newsprinters’ aim to offer long term certainty of print and distribution solutions to the UK print media industry.
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