The firm employs members of staff who may struggle to find employment in other companies

The management of the sign-making division of a social enterprise have vowed to grow despite the council ending its funding due to Government cutbacks.

Eco Signs’ design development manager, Marc Smith, and production manager, Paul Harper, even say the end of council funding will allow them to divert resources to where they are most needed.

“We’ll be completely self-sufficient—we're going to bring all of the people with us, no jobs will be lost,” says Smith.

He adds: “If anything it will encourage it (the social enterprise) even more—we’ll be working with the National Careers Service who help people who are long-term unemployed.”

Eco-signs specialised in road signage since its inception in 1980 but recent years has seen a drive towards expanding its product range. Nowadays, it offers everything from banners to vehicle graphics.

The organisation reaches out to some of the more disadvantaged members of society who may struggle to find job.

Harper explains: “Some of the guys have beaten cancer, ex-football players with bad hips, backs and legs who are capable but have issues. They probably wouldn't be able to hold a job down somewhere else but we can adapt to their needs.”

Eco Signs is part of the Whitehouse Enterprise which will have its council funding withdrawn from November 1st. Despite the setback, Wilson thinks it could be a positive.

He says: “At the moment if we make any profit it gets taken back by the council and can get put into a department that isn't making any money.

“Now, if we’re hitting our targets and making money we can put it back into our own company and expand.”

Smith and Harper say the future employment policy will remain the same and they will be making bigger strides towards bringing more of the design work in-house.