As part of the initiative the firm has also invested around 200,000. The money was spent on kit for the bindery to improve speeds and efficiency, to upgrade its  Imprint MIS software and additional customer services staff.

"These are the first parts of structuring the business to take us forward for the next five years, it's a very exciting time," said Singh.

More investment is expected to follow. The firm hopes to announce upgrades to its personalisation kit and new enclosing machinery in the next few weeks.

The Leeds-based business has also relocated its customer-facing staff from its print and direct marketing services divisions' production sites into one building in order "to streamline communication and increase efficiencies", said Blackburns marketing manager Jonathan Cliff.

Singh, who took a "considerable" interest in the firm, joined after six months' gardening leave following his departure from Communisis Chorleys. He has been joined by ex-Howitt sales manager Paul Millington, who joined as account director following a three-month period of gardening leave.

Keith Tyler has also joined Blackburns as business development director. Cliff and Millington were colleagues of Singh during his time at Chorleys.