Regional newspaper publisher Archant is hoping to avoid compulsory redundancies in a shake-up of two of its daily titles.

After a 30-day consultation with staff, it was confirmed that the Ipswich-based Evening Star and East Anglian Daily Times would be losing eight sub-editors.

The redundancies are part of a wider package of changes to production processes at the papers which will also involve subs re-applying for their jobs and advert designers laying out news pages.

In a statement, Archant Suffolk managing director Stuart McCreery said: “Following the required period of consultation, the Archant Suffolk business has presented a new editorial structure and workflow that has an impact on how editorial production operations are carried out.

“The change results in some redundancies. However, there have been several expressions of interest in voluntary redundancy that will reduce the need for compulsory redundancies or possibly eliminate the need altogether.

“Staff are now applying for positions within the new structure and the next phase of the project is to ensure that those with the right skills are appointed to the appropriate roles.

“As has been stated throughout this project there is no impact on the news gathering resource and it is only an efficiency change with production roles that has been sought.

“There has been some welcome positive input during the consultation process from individual members of staff but most disappointingly no input from the NUJ, who have unfortunately caused some upset within their own bargaining unit and consistently reported both our objectives and proposals inaccurately.

“I am confident that over the next few weeks we can introduce the new structure and workflow and continue to deliver our high quality products with improved efficiency to our valued readers.”