APS Group to manage 130m print contract

Print manager APS Group has pledged its support to local SME printers after picking up a major contract with the Scottish government.

APS Group Scotland won the 'Fully Managed Service' element of a Scottish government contract for print and related services worth around £130m-£170m over two years.

Allan Doyle, managing director of the Scottish division, said: "This win will support the Scottish print industry. Print will be supplied through the SME sector in Scotland. We will secure a number of new jobs in Scotland, both at APS and among our SME supplier partners."

In winning the two-year contract, which begins on 5 April, the Scottish arm of APS will take on almost 60 employees from the previous incumbent RR Donnelley.

The group, which moved into Scotland in 2002, also plans to build a third print centre in Edinburgh to house the new employees.

Prior to the contract win, its Scottish arm had a turnover of £5m and employed 20 staff.

The wider group employs 497 staff and the new work created by the deal with the Scottish government is expected to take its turnover to more than £60m.

Other contract winners included in the tender were Pindar, J Thomson Colour Printers Montgomery Litho and Woods of Perth, who won work for litho digital and web printing.

Panda Litho, John McCormick & Co and 21 Colour won contracts for litho and digital work, while Allandar Print and Caledonian Colour Printers won a contract for litho printing.