Tag: Print Scotland

Scottish print is in safe hands as industry apprentices receive Awards

The vital importance of apprentices to the future health and prosperity of the printing industry in Scotland has been recognised right across the sector in the eighth annual Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year awards.

Four outstanding young apprentices received the approbation of their peers at the event earlier this month (June 16) organised by Print Scotland, the trade association and voice of Scotland’s graphic communication industry.

As well as representing Scottish print community and raising the profile of future leaders of the industry, the awards ceremony highlighted the way in which the industry is increasingly being seen as rewarding and socially worthwhile career option among younger people.

Garry Richmond, Director of Print Scotland, said: “The number of young people seeking life opportunities in the printing industry is growing all the time and 2023 could be a record year for apprentices, which is extremely encouraging.

“Employers are well aware of the imbalance in the age profile of their workforces and are very conscious of the need to introduce fresh, new talent, with new ideas and enthusiasms. Such people will be the future of the industry.

“The sector has significantly enhanced its support for apprentices the last two years and is definitely seeing the benefit of this forward-looking approach for employers and individuals. Now, we hope that the Scottish Government and its agencies will also loosen the purse strings to allow us to create more opportunities for our young people.”

The winners of the 2023 Apprentice of the Year Awards were:

  • Overall Apprentice of Year – Nathan Burns, CCL Design, East Kilbride.
  • Pre-Press Apprentice of the Year – Becky Young, J Thomson Colour Printers, Glasgow.
  • Press Apprentice of the Year – Fraser Galloway, NSD Labels, Dalkeith.
  • Post-Press Apprentice of the Year – Laura Macdonald, Bell and Bain, Glasgow.

Susan Graham, Print Scotland’s President, said: “As well as congratulating these very worthy winners, I want to thank all the employers who take on modern apprentices and the production teams and managers who take them under their wing to teach while hitting their own targets. Mentors have such an important role.

“The life choice of the apprentices is to be celebrated. We need to grow our own to control our own success.

“To illustrate the potential in the industry, I have just promoted someone who started as a graduate apprenticeship to commercial director and someone who started as an apprentice to manufacturing director. 

“A big thank you also to Training Officer Jim McKenzie. He has modernised the whole process. It is no longer paper-based and is now a flexible model which works for everyone. His industry knowledge is second to none.

“Finally, and far from least we would like to thank our sponsors: Antalis, Muller Martini and CCL Design who have made this Award ceremony the success it has been.”

David McGinlay, of Muller Martini said: “As a Group, we are very proud to support young people across the world to help drive the latest technology and trends. 

“Sustainable, professional, solid, we will always support Print Scotland in the quest to attract young people to our progressive industry.”

His remarks were echoed by Stephen Paul of Antalis: “We have sponsored the Scottish apprentice awards since their inception and are proud to continue to do so.

“These young people are the lifeblood and future of our industry and anything we can do to encourage them we would happily support. We wish all this year’s apprentices a long and successful career.”

Jim McKenzie said: “The industry is more creative than many people think, and it has a great future. Of course, it has changed, but so has every sector, and there are terrific opportunities for people who can rise to the challenge.”

Print Scotland provides training for Modern Apprentices through the Scottish Training Scheme, which provides a grant from the Scottish Government to cover the cost of the training.

It also provides a range of Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) as well as Modern Apprenticeship (MA) certification.

W: www.print-scotland.com

Scottish print industry apprentices honoured at Apprentice of the Year Awards

Print Scotland, the trade association and voice of Scotland’s graphic communication industry, has honoured four outstanding young apprentices in its sixth annual Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year awards.  

The occasion is part of its mission to represent the Scottish print community and to highlight the profile of future leaders of the industry. 

Garry Richmond, Director of Print Scotland, said: “Fighting and overcoming the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been at the heart of Scotland’s print businesses over the last 18 months. As essential workers, they have performed superbly. 

“We continue to believe that the industry needs to employ more apprentices to sustain Scotland’s print sector by encouraging more apprentices from an increasingly diverse range of backgrounds.  

“These awards recognise outstanding achievement amongst the young people who represent the next generation of our leaders of Scotland’s print sector. While we have been unable, again, to hold our usual annual Apprentice Awards as an occasion, the certificates were mailed and presented to the winners by their respective managers and mentors. 

“Print Scotland’s sincere thanks goes to our sponsors David McGinlay of Muller Martini and Stephen Paul of Antalis for supplying the prizes. 

“I should also like to put on record our debt of gratitude to Jim McKenzie of Ultimate Learning Solutions who has done a tremendous job in rapidly getting into his new role as Assessor and making a great success of it.”  

Jim said: “I came on board this year as the Assessor for Print Scotland, and it is a great pleasure to be involved in the work-based learning apprenticeship scheme which sees young people learning trade and core skills that will stand by them for life.” 

The winners of the 2021 Apprentice of the Year Awards were:  

  • Overall Apprentice of Year –Rachel Lawrie, FLB Group, Dalkeith 
  • Level 3 Post Press – Jake Anderson Hogg, FLB Group, Dalkeith 
  • Level 3 Print Administration – Robby McCann, CCL Labels, East Kilbride  
  • Level 3 Press – Jay Findlater, Newsprinters, Eurocentral 

Print Scotland’s President, Iain Robertson, congratulated the winners and wished them highly successful careers as the industry’s leaders of tomorrow. He said: “Despite these highly unusual circumstances, we continue to celebrate the achievements of our young colleagues in acquiring future-proof skills to take Scotland’s print industry forward. 

“Our members have demonstrated throughout the COVID-19 lockdown that print is an essential element in a civilised society. The print industry in Scotland has a real future across a range of skillsets and needs a constant flow of high-quality and motivated apprentices in even greater numbers, and from an increasingly diverse range of backgrounds, to fulfil its potential.” 

Print Scotland provides training for Modern Apprentices through the Scottish Training Scheme, which provides a grant from the Scottish Government to cover the cost of the training. It also provides a range of Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) as well as Modern Apprenticeship (MA) certification.  

Scotland’s printers prove they are essential workers too

The importance of Scotland’s print industry in quickly and efficiently disseminating information has been highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic, during which it has been a vital cog in the machinery employed to fight the virus.

The sector, which before the outbreak employed between 4,000 and 6,000 people, has been instrumental in creating literature, posters and stickers for the NHS and other public sector organisations, as well as helping supply vital PPE equipment.

The industry has also proved invaluable to other enterprises as they struggle to come to terms with new realities, for instance the food and drink sector which suddenly needed to promote new online or home delivery services.

But key figures within the sector feel that the printing industry has been significantly underappreciated since the lockdown began, and that it is deserving of greater recognition as an essential service.

Garry Richmond, Director of Print Scotland, the sector’s campaigning trade body, said: “Not enough credit has been given to printers over the course of this outbreak, because the stark fact is that nothing would be functioning without print.

“There would have been no food in the shops because everything sold in the supermarkets needs packaging, branding and labelling provided by printers. The NHS has needed forms, documents and notices about safe working practices. The list could go on.

“Print helps companies promote their goods and services and keep their customers updated, especially in critical times like this when the importance of verified and trusted information is paramount.”

Mr Richmond said that the sector had been operating at around 25% to 35% of capacity, with some firms shutting down completely in response to Government advice, others running on skeleton staffs and yet others implementing safe practices in order to carry out essential work. He said the figures were similar across Europe.

Some print companies have directed their efforts towards helping the NHS. Trade finisher Taskforce (Finishing & Handling) Ltd produced 2,500 face visors using plastic it had in stock then another 2500 using donated plastic. These have been deployed in care homes.

Alex Porteous, Managing Director of Edinburgh-based Taskforce, said: “We have been delighted by the letters of thanks we have received from nursing homes, care homes and hospices.

“We are appealing now for more donations of plastic. We need sheets of 250-500 micron PVC and, with enough material, we could produce 10,000 visors a day.”

Digital Typeline Publications (DTP) Ltd, also of Edinburgh, has maintained a limited production schedule and has used its laser cutter to produce PPE face shields for the NHS, care homes and the police.

Alun Joseph, Managing Director of DTP, said: “As well as being able to help the essential services, we are also finding that customers are looking at new products or new ways of promoting their products. We are glad to have been able to support them.”

Mr Richmond said that although the print industry in Scotland had been badly affected over the outbreak, he was optimistic about its ability to bounce back.

He said: “It might take until the end of the year before we are back to running at a more normal 85% to 95% capacity but, as the easing progresses, more and more firms are readying themselves for a resumption of business.

“They are reconfiguring desk spaces, installing sanitiser stations, working on social distancing and introducing elements such as staggered breaks. There is also consideration of South Korean working models such as separate Monday-to-Wednesday and Thursday-to-Saturday teams, which would also ease the strain on public transport.

“It is probably inevitable that there will be some job losses, but the industry is determined to do everything possible to keep them to a minimum. There will have to be changes across the board to make it work.”

Mr Richmond pointed out that print companies which were not members of Print Scotland were missing out on a huge range of support, advice and services which could be invaluable as they sought to bring their businesses back up to full capacity.

He said: “This is a time when hard-working printers need all the help they can get and Print Scotland has the infrastructure in place to support them as they try to get back on their feet at this unprecedented time.”

For more information, please contact Garry Richmond, Director of Print Scotland, c/o Dentons UKMEA LLP, 1 George Square, Glasgow, G2 1AL M:07776493740, w: www.print-scotland.com, e: garry@print-scotland.com