Simpson Group enters 30-day consultation ahead of London site move

Simpson Group has entered into a 30-day consultation with staff at its Heathrow facility, which could result in 20 redundancies within its production operation.

The Washington, Tyne and Wear-headquarted business is evaluating its options with the lease of its Middlesex site expiring at the end of March ahead of a sale to a property developer.

The facility, which houses a HP FB7500, a cutting table and other finishing equipment also acts as a southern sales office for the point-of-purchase (POP) printer.

According to Mark Simpson, chairman of Simpson Group, the company is actively evaluating its options.

He said: "We've entered into a 30-day consultation with staff as we think about the next step. We are looking possibilities that include moving to another production site, moving that production back to Washington or opening a new sales office in London.

"If we move production back, that will result in the loss of 20 jobs in London but create 12 new positions at our headquarters. We are also offering staff the chance to relocate should that option arise."

Simpson said the group has made an encouraging start to 2012 and is actively investing in new capital equipment ahead of a "big year" for the group.