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Scottish printers are facing the toughest market conditions in the UK and among the hardest in the country’s 500-year print history, experts have claimed.

Steve Sibbald, national officer for Unite, said the industry north of the border was “suffering severely, more so than the rest of the UK”.

Simon Fairclough, director of the Scottish Print Em­­ployers’ Federation, described the Scottish market as “exceptionally difficult”.

The two gave their prognosis on the sector after they struck a wage deal that proposed an additional £9.07 per week for Grade B printers, taking their minimum weekly earnings to £280.95.

Fairclough said the outcome of the negotiations was “satisfactory” and added: “While last year I recall describing the outcome to our talks as embodying a ‘spirit of realism’, this year we focused our endeavours on stressing the danger to jobs of reaching an unworkable, unaffordable settlement.”

Scottish print’s troubles have been highlighted in the last week by the closure of the Highlands’ largest print company, Nevisprint, with the loss of 43 jobs.

The sheetfed printer, which was part of NBH Holdings, received just one purchase offer – from an individual who, in the end, was unable to take matters forward.

Administrator John Mon­tague, of Grant Thornton, said: “We approached a number of parties and explored all the possibilities. It is disappointing that we couldn’t sell it.”

Former Nevisprint sales director Trevor Forward and account manager Mark McConnell have been taken on by commercial printer Stewarts “to provide continuity of service to Nevisprint customers”.

Managing director of Livingston-based Stewarts Terry O’Hare said: “It’s always very sad to see such companies with long traditions suffering.”