Business coverage looks set to become the latest casualty of the cutbacks at Reach plc after it emerged that five specialist editors have left the publisher.

Reach announced last month it was looking to shed 450 jobs inluding 320 editorial roles.

So far the cuts have seen the closure of 13 of the publisher’s Live-branded websites and the scaling back of some football and rugby league coverage.

However the cutbacks now appear to be extending into other areas of editorial coverage, with some regional business editor roles being axed.

Although Reach’s specialist BusinessLive website, pictured, will continue to operate, it will do with fewer dedicated staff, with five regional business editors who previously contributed to the platform all leaving at the end of last month.

They were Tom Pegden (East Midlands), Jon Robinson (North West), David Laister (North Lincs and Humber), Andrew Arthur (South West) and Lauren Phillips (Wales).

Their departures leave BusinessLive with one reporter each covering Wales, the South West and the West Midlands, but no dedicated reporting staff in some other regions.

BusinessLive is a newsletter-first publication and it is understood that content for the newsletters will now be taken directly from the ‘Live’ network around the country.  It will continue to be edited by Alistair Houghton, former business editor of the Liverpool Echo.

David announced his departure as business editor for North Lincs and Humber in a post on LinkedIn.

He wrote: “Following Reach Plc’s major announcement last week that 450 jobs are under threat, I am coming to terms with my role being one of them.

“My work as a dedicated regional business journalist is something I have put my heart and soul into. I’m fiercely passionate about it and I’m proud to play an ambassadorial role for the area, and all that happens within it.

“However, I’m now preparing to look at future opportunities and would welcome conversations should my skill set be seen as an appropriate fit in the coming months. While journalism has been my career to date, it has honed qualities that are readily transferable.

“With 17 years of working with managing directors, chief executives and key stakeholders, initially in Grimsby, then across the whole of northern Lincolnshire and latterly the entire Humber, I have a sound knowledge of business operations, strong commercial awareness and a real feel for the fabric of this fabulous patch.

“How coverage will be orchestrated in the future remains to be seen, but if as proposed, then I feel it is a real shame for this region.

“The business news may be slightly niche from the mainstream, and not deliver the quantity of page views vital advertising support requires to stand alone, but it has been brought with care and pride in its quality, to a loyal and deserving audience.

North West business editor Jon Robinson also posted about his departure on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Wrote Jon: “So, after almost three years my time at Reach plc has officially come to an end.

“I’ve really enjoyed providing exclusive and agenda-setting stories and interviews for the likes of BusinessLive, the Manchester Evening News and the Liverpool Echo as well as the Daily Express and Daily Mirror during my tenure as North West Business Editor.

“Thanks to all the business leaders who have given up their time to speak to me about their successes and failures, the PRs and communications professionals for their insight and understanding and, most of all, everyone who has read even just one of my stories.”

Reach has declined to comment on the BusinessLive departures or give further details on how the site will operate from now on.