Mannin Group is to make five people redundant following its sale to the Bradley Group for an undisclosed sum.

But Mannin’s director Steve Brown said, aside from the redundancies, the take-over was the start of a new era for the business.

’Unfortunately the redundancies were needed to improve overall efficiency,’ he said.

He confirmed that four of the posts that have disappeared represented compulsory job losses and one had been voluntary.

But he added the company would always operate in the Isle of Man.

’We have a number of large print contracts that we would not jeopardise and a requirement is that those are carried out in the island.

’Our equipment will remain here in the island,’ he said.

Mr Brown, whose father started the business in 1979, said as far as customers were concerned, they would see no difference.

’We are the same company with the same products and, if anything, we are enhanced by being part of a £15 million group.’

The Bradley Group, which also owns Quinns printers, with premises in Belfast and Liverpool, took over Mannin at the end of January. Mr Brown will remain in charge of the Isle of Man business which still employs more than 20 people.

The group publishes the monthly magazine Manx Tails and the business publication, Business 365, both of which will continue to be produced.