The company has deemed the 7.9-acre facility both too large and costly for the current requirements of the business and possible buyers have also already been visiting the Derwent Yard site.

However, according to a BemroseBooth spokesperson, the company said it "fully intends" to continue security printing within Derby, despite not yet locating a suitable alternative facility to transfer the work to in addition to its Wyvern Business Park site in the city.

"BemroseBooth has to remain flexible enough to react to market conditions and respond to commercial pressures," the spokesperson added.

Kevin Hepworth, regional officer for Unite, said the current Wayzgoose factory was clearly too big for the company's reduced operations and it would move "when the price was right".

"It is difficult to marry the price of selling the current site and buying a new one, but I'm confident they'll find somewhere," he said.

A meeting to discuss the plans is due to be held tomorrow (13 October), attended by senior management from the group, an elected party of employees, staff from the company's Hull and Teesside sites, as well as Unite representatives.

The move to sell the Wazygoose follows the loss of around 30 staff when the company signed a "strategic partnership" with CTD Printers earlier this year.

This followed a decision to outsource the print and finishing requirements of its Promotional Products division. As a result, another 70 staff are still in the process of moving to BemroseBooth's Wyvern Business Park site.