MP and Mayor tour 140-year-old printing firm

Date published: 04 September 2018

Mayor Mohammed Zaman and Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd MP took a special tour of a 140-year-old printing firm, joined by Rochdale Online reporter Michelle Kight and Real Rochdale editor Claire Flett.

The visit to Jones & Brooks Printers at Smallbridge Business Park took place on Friday 31 August to learn how the local firm has remained successful after 142 years of business.

The tour was hosted by Ronnie Blair, Jones & Brooks’ managing director, and Allan Blair, director, as the latest issue of Real Rochdale was being printed.

Mr Lloyd said: “It is great to see one of Rochdale’s unsung businesses doing really well and creating local employment opportunities.

“This high-tech company offers high quality products to Rochdale Online, Rochdale Borough Council, the NHS and many others, which is testament to them.”

Mayor Zaman commented: “I am really pleased to see a huge setup printer which supports the local economy and employs local people.

“It is great to see them invest in state-of-the-art technology. Whilst it is a family-run business, the whole workforce is like a family, working together as a team, which is excellent.

“I was surprised to learn they produce so many products in the quantity they do. They are serious about the quality and customer satisfaction.

"Some staff members have been there for over 35 years, which shows real commitment that people want to stay and work here.

“The business is the backbone of the economy and we must support and promote them where possible.

“A big thank you to Ronnie for showing us around. I have learnt a lot about how magazines are produced, and the magic of collating the Real Rochdale magazine.”

Mr Blair, managing director and former professional footballer, said: “I am delighted to welcome both Tony and the Mayor to Jones & Brooks.

“I appreciate their comments and am grateful to them for taking time out to see exactly what we do.”

The printing firm, which remains a family-run business to this day, was founded in 1876 by Messrs Jones and Brooks in Shaw.

The firm’s first premises happened to be in the first purpose-built cotton mill in the country and there was great potential to provide a printing service for the local cotton industry.

Church magazines, street directories, draw tickets and delivery books made up some of the very first items produced. There was also a large demand for ledgers as almost all transactions were by hand. As a result, the craft of bookbinding was a major part of the business.

Later, ration books were produced in huge quantities and business prospered until the decline of the cotton industry in the 1950s.

However, with the birth of the National Health Service in 1948, the new provision was identified as a possible replacement customer and new printing machines from the USA were purchased for the new market.

Back then, carbon paper was the accepted but messy and cumbersome method of producing copies from both books and manual typewriters: Jones and Brooks Ltd were pioneers in introducing carbonless or self-copy (NCR) to a grateful Health Service.

In the last five years, Jones & Brooks has invested heavily in new technology to remain efficient and at the top of the market in providing first-class products to customers.

The company is still in private ownership and is housed in a spacious, state-of-the-art equipped facility which boasts a proud, skilled workforce, many of whom have over 25 years of service.

Employing over 50 staff members, Jones & Brooks is now an established name in Pathology Laboratories and Medical Record Departments throughout the UK and Ireland.

Issue two of Real Rochdale is out this week.

http://www.realrochdale.co.uk