A BLACKBURN-based designer wallpaper company has announced that 20 workers could be made redundant following a 28-day consultation.

Graham and Brown, which is based in Stanley Street, may make is making the reduction in staff in a bid to make the company more efficient.

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The business, which was established in 1946, is aiming to drop from five to four shifts and will close the factory during selected holiday periods throughout the year.

Currently manufacturing operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but the change will see work halt over Christmas and New Year, for two weeks in summer, on the May Bank Holiday, for a week during Easter and during the October half-term.

The 20 positions up for redundancy in Blackburn are in the manufacturing sector and form part of the total 550 employees in UK and overseas.

A spokesman for the company said: “We have entered into discussions with our UK workforce and union representatives to change the operational shift pattern in our UK manufacturing and distribution facilities.

“The changing nature of our group business, with increased sales through ecommerce channels, new growing markets such as China and the Middle East, flat demand in Europe and difficult market conditions in Russia and Eastern Europe, means that our manufacturing facility needs to adapt accordingly.

“Unfortunately, the proposals, if approved, would result in 20 positions being made redundant from our total group workforce of 550 people.

“We are working closely with union representatives during this process. We are committed to supporting all affected colleagues and will consider applications for voluntary redundancy, as well as offering those affected the opportunity to take alternative positions elsewhere within the company.

“These proposed changes would ensure our manufacturing capacity has the flexibility to support the changing nature of our work.

“We believe the new shift system will enable us to run more efficiently and effectively to meet the demand of our global customer base, as well as ensuring the ongoing competitiveness of our Blackburn manufacturing facility.”

Tony Duckworth, president of Blackburn and District Chamber of Trade, said: “I’m disappointed about the potential job losses but I hope that this is a temporary blip for the company.

“The business is very keen to promote Blackburn and East Lancashire as a whole as a manufacturing base. I hope they are able to expand in the future.”

Graham and Brown features on the annual CoolBrand list alongside Apple and Nike and has offices across the world including North America, China and Dubai.