The launch of the Manchester site, which officially opened on 9 May, follows the opening of the first hub of excellence in Edinburgh last year and a second in Leeds in January. The fourth and final centre will be in London, although no date has been set.

The development of these ‘hubs’ is part of Blake Envelopes’ overall growth strategy and is intended to ensure that the company has envelope and postal packaging experts positioned across the country, giving optimum national coverage.

The Manchester team has been bolstered by the recruitment of three former members of sales staff of Wepos, which traded as Print On: Caterina Crofts, Louise Kelly and Lorraine Cardwell, all of whom will head up the new hub. Leeds-based envelope and packaging overprinter Wepos ceased trading last month, with its stock and database purchased by Watford-based Peak Envelopes.

Blake managing director Michael Barter said expertise was the “governing principle” of the hub strategy.

He said: "Blake is a company that seizes opportunities, just as we did with Edinburgh and Leeds the same can be said for opening the Manchester hub. If you recall the reason for the opening of the hubs was to secure top talent, so when top talent becomes available we jump."

Blake marketing manager Jessica Roberts added that the Somerset-headquartered business was conscious that the London hub should open as soon as possible.

Blake, which also has a separate warehouse close to its Yeovil head office, employs around 60 staff and has a turnover of around £24m.