Four editorial staff have been made redundant at The North West Enquirer, as the paper begins a new sales and advertising push.

The region-wide weekly was launched in April by former Guardian journalist Bob Waterhouse and businessman Nick Jaspan, with the backing of two venture capital firms and a number of private investors.

But a review of the title showed that cost-savings could be made and that more investment was needed in sales.

As a result, four editorial posts have been made redundant, with the deputy editor, news editor, a sub-editor and a reporter leaving the title.

Managing director Nick Jaspan told HoldtheFrontPage: “This is a new business, we are 15 issues old this week, and with any new business you get some settling down.

“We are settling down to about 80 pages a week, plus supplements, and we needed to cut the cloth a bit.

“It is never pleasant but we still have 15 full-time journalists, which is a lot for an independent weekly.”

Three new sales staff are to join the paper, including a new head of sales, and a new sampling campaign – which will see between 4,000 and 6,000 copies a week given away free – will begin in September.

This will involve newsagents and some targeted door-to-door sampling to introduce more people to the Enquirer brand.

Up to 7,000 free copies are already given away each week at airports and through various property firms, in addition to paid for sales of between 10,500 and 12,000.

Nick said: “Sales are a bit lower than the forecast, but the front page can make a difference and we are learning these things.”