Birmingham City Council is to open talks with one of its major contractors over plans to expand its printing business in a bid to stop the firm leaving the city.
The Capita Document and Information Services business is rapidly outgrowing its unit at Holly Lane in Erdington and has confirmed it plans to move to a larger premises.
The firm carries out much of the printing, office support and publishing work for Capita-run council contractor Service Birmingham.
It also does work for many other organisations and other parts of the Capita empire and the city council is keen for the facility, and the jobs, to stay in Birmingham.
The firm, while refusing to rule out relocation to another city, has insisted that there are no plans to move before December 2015 and that staffing levels will be maintained this year.
Erdington MP Jack Dromey is also seeking a meeting with Capita bosses to ensure the firm stays after being approached by workers who fear for their long-term future.
He said: “I take the concerns of the Capita workforce very seriously and will be seeking a meeting with the top management of the company. If Capita want to expand, they should expand in Birmingham. They owe Birmingham nothing less.”
The unit is one of six throughout England operated by Capita Document And Information Services – the others are in London, Coventry, Bicester, Stoke-on-Trent and Darlington.
A Capita spokesman said: “Following a review of Capita Document and Information Services’ operations, it has been concluded that, to ensure its ability to meet growing demand, investment in a new print facility is required.
“We are currently reviewing our options, but we can confirm that there will be no reduction in staffing levels at the existing site in Birmingham during 2014 and it is our intention to continue to operate out of the this site until at least December 2015.”
Council deputy leader Ian Ward, who is currently leading negotiations with Capita over a £20m cut in the annual cost of the Service Birmingham contract, said they intend to talk to Capita about a new location for the print business in Birmingham.
He said: “I am sure we can find a suitable location within Birmingham for their growing business.”
