Falling work volumes could lead to job losses at a Bradford print and direct mail business which has started a 45-day consultation with staff over outsourcing some of the operations.

It is understood that up to 75 jobs at the St Ives Direct plant in Laisterdyke could be under threat as the £330 million turnover London-based St Ives Group considers ending the in-house enclosing operations – packing envelopes – in Bradford.

Last year, St Ives Direct closed its site at Seacroft, Leeds, to focus the direct mail business at the Bradford site in Battye Street, which employs a total of 265 people.

Patrick Martell, group chief executive, said: “We intend to carry on printing at Bradford but we don’t believe there is enough volume in enclosing to do it profitably. We are in discussions that may or may not lead to job losses.

“Direct marketing volumes are not increasing, therefore we need to look at the long term future of what we offer. We don’t think it’s going to disappear altogether, there’s just less of it. There’s a good market for added-value direct mail such as multi-channel campaigns that drive online interaction.”

According to industry sources the Bradford site typically operates seven days. The print side includes web, sheetfed and digital printing.

St Ives Direct’s customers include Google, Vodafone, RBS and Ford.

As well as direct mail, the Bradford site also produces commercial print such as brochures and catalogues.

The move follows the loss of 61 jobs at Tyersal-based print firm Alpha Media Solutions, which was closed by administrators last week after succumbing to tough trading conditions.