Commenting on the release of year-end accounts for the Close Brothers group, where its business in the print sector was described as "difficult", Barley said that signs of a recovery could be seen.

"The number of corporate failures hitting us has reduced over the past two months, so hopefully going into the autumn we're all in for a better time," he said.

Barley has also said that the firm has "a lot of work to do" following managing director Murray Booker's resignation two weeks ago.

Barley has become more involved in the print side of the business since the departure of Booker, who he described as "irreplaceable".

He said he hoped that the firm's relationship with Heidelberg UK, as its preferred finance partner, would remain "as close as ever".

"But it would be nave of me to believe that Murray's departure comes free. So we have a lot of work to do to show the industry, including Heidelberg, that we remain as committed as ever."

Story by Josh Brooks