118 jobs to go as Trinity Mirror axes a swathe of its Midlands' papers

LONDON - Publisher Trinity Mirror has announced plans to close nine newspapers and two niche publications, and merge two other papers, making 118 staff, including about 25 commercial staff, in its Midlands division redundant.

Trinity Mirror chief executive Sly Bailey
Trinity Mirror chief executive Sly Bailey

Trinity Mirror said it is estimated there will be 94 redundancies from a number of departments and 24 posts from the print site at Fort Dunlop. The company has now entered into a consultation period with all affected staff.
 
The publisher said it was taking the action to secure Trinity Mirror's long-term future in the region and the jobs of the majority of employees.
 
Last week, the NUJ revealed it had seen internal documents that showed Trinity Mirror was planning to close some of its papers in the Midlands and reduce the frequency of its morning business-focused tabloid the Birmingham Post.
 
In a statement released today, the company confirmed its proposals to close seven titles in the Midlands Weeklies division, including the Loughborough Trader Xtra, Lichfield Post, Tamworth Times, Burton Trader, Ashby Trader & Echo, Coalville Echo and the Walsall Observer. Trinity's offices in Burton and Walsall will close as a result.
 
It also plans to merge The Solihull News and the Solihull Times.
 
A further four publications will be closed in Coventry with the Bedworth Echo, Rugby Times and two "niche publications", the Earlsdon Blog and Farm Ad, are also to be closed.
 
A Trinity Mirror spokesman said due to a number of services to these publications being performed by employees of the Birmingham titles, a range of departments are also affected in Birmingham.
 
The spokesman said Trinity Mirror Printing Midlands has undertaken a review to ³"sustain the longer term future of the site" and 24 posts are understood to be under threat at the Fort Dunlop print location.
 
Georgina Harvey, managing director of Trinity Mirror Regionals, said the company is facing real challenges in common with all UK publishing companies and as a consequence this will involve difficult and necessary decisions.
 
Harvey said these actions are designed to "protect Trinity Mirror Midlands' businesses and the majority of its employees" and it is seeking volunteers from within affected groups and the rest of the Midlands business to minimise compulsory redundancies.

Market Reports

Get unprecedented new-business intelligence with access to ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s new Market Reports.

Find out more

Enjoying ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s content?

 Get unlimited access to ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s premium content for your whole company with a corporate licence.

Upgrade access

Looking for a new job?

Get the latest creative jobs in advertising, media, marketing and digital delivered directly to your inbox each day.

Create an alert now

Partner content