The company is moving the litho carton division, currently based in Yorkshire, to Newcastle because its existing building is too old to be upgraded.

However, the company has said that it wants as many staff as possible to move to Newcastle, rather than reemploy.

Corporate marketing and communications manager Bob Houghton said: "It is feasible for employees to make the move and we will give them as much support as possible.

"This isn't about skills or attitude, the guys at Bradford are impeccable, this is about the age of the building, which was built in the 1930s. We really hope that as many people as possible opt to move – it is not standard carton production at the site, it is more complex and these are really skilled people that we want to keep.

"We have spent 18 months investigating possibilities which would allow us to remain in Bradford. We approached Yorkshire Forward for funding but they refused and other options we looked into were not cost-effective. It is a shame because we have had a presence in Bradford since 1850."

Houghton added that the company's gravure, finishing – which includes gluing, cutting and creasing – administration and corporate departments, which encompass around 150 staff, would remain in Bradford at a second facility, which was newer than the former Scott Motorcycles site that currently houses its litho division.

The move is likely to result in further investment at the 250-staff Newcastle site, which received a considerable upgrade in 2010 although Houghton said that the fine details had been confirmed yet.