AN EXPANDING Blackburn print firm has been named best business of its type in the country for the third time in six years.

First 4 Print Finishing, which operates across two sites on Whitebirk Industrial Estate, produces up to 12 million promotional items a day and fulfils about 300 million mail packs a year.

The firm, established in 2003, employs 100 full time staff and exports to Belgium, France and Germany.

It was named SME of the year at the annual 2015 print week at the Grosvenor House, Mayfair.

The firm also won the same award in 2010 and 2011.

Managing director Dave Nestor said the award was down to the hard work of all at the company.

He said: “One of our biggest assets is our workforce who all live locally. Their loyalty, commitment and passion for First 4 has undoubtedly directly led to our collective success.

“Our consistent investment strategy is certainly attributable to our continued success in this category, having completed a recent £2 million investment program in the latest high-speed, efficient production lines.

“In addition to this, 2016 will see a £1.2 million investment program to bring both of our Blackburn operations under one roof and further capital equipment investments will also follow.

“In 2016, we will see the creation of a further 20 jobs in our Direct Mail Division due to significant contract wins with a multinational retail mail order company.

“Over the next couple of years we intend to cultivate our product offering and continue to work with some of the UK’s largest Direct Marketing clients.

“Direct Mail had been written off in the battle against Digital Media, however sector growth is up 4.5 per cent over the first six months of this year with DM proving to be an effective driver alongside other advertising streams in the modern media market place .”