TWENTY jobs are to be created at an envelopes firm after a successful merger helped deliver a £2m increase in turnover.

Washington Envelopes joined forces with Encore Direct, in York, a move that took turnover to £17m and safeguarded the company's future.

Washington Envelopes is responsible for producing a large proportion of the UK's direct mail envelopes. Turning out more than 50 million envelopes a week, the firm is one of the UK's leading envelope manufacturers and has its own print and reproduction departments.

The growth of the direct mail sector has helped fuel growth, with an increase of 5.4 per cent in envelopes landing on our doormats between the months of July and September last year.

Washington Envelopes, based on the Hertburn Industrial Estate, has invested heavily in specialist printing machines to keep pace with competition in the industry.

Julia Corkhill, sales director at the firm, said: "We are proud of our continued growth. The envelope industry is very competitive and the pressure to produce the highest quality envelopes as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible is continuous.

"We invest a lot of time and energy in research and development to offer the best possible service. Our growth is on course to continue, but we cannot afford to be complacent.

"It is paramount for anybody in this industry to keep abreast of technological advances and we will ensure that we continue to offer the best quality product we can."