New Young People In Print initiative launched
A new group dedicated to inspiring the next generation into print has been established
Shining a spotlight on the industry
Friday, 16 Feb 2024 13:15 GMT
YPIP has been established by several professionals within the print industry
Young People In Print (YPIP), a new group created by several professionals in print and its associated industries, has been formed to bridge the gap between education and the workplace.
Elizabeth Bowerman, head of UK sales at Stephen Austin & Sons has spearheaded the group along with Paul Stead of ASL Group, Joanna Stephenson of PHD Marketing, Kelvin Bell of Vpress, Lucy Swanston of Nutshell Creative, and Delroy Simmons of Dayfold.
Bowerman, a long-term advocate of attracting young talent to the industry, says: “We are reaching out to schools and universities to enable students to see for themselves how amazing the print and packaging industries really are.
“Sadly, our industry has an old-fashioned image, and there is very limited print or packaging education available today, apart from print apprenticeships, but even then, not all printers are using their levy to fund employees.”
YPIP has been launched to promote the industry as a more dynamic, high-tech, innovative, connected, and exciting place to work, which Bowerman says has “clear progression routes and opportunities”.
The logo for Young
People In Print (YPIP)
“Workers are approaching retirement and there is a risk their skills will be lost, which could have serious consequences for our industry if not mitigated,” Bowerman adds.
The group highlights that the industry’s annual turnover of £13.7bn and the fact that it employs around 98,000 people in 7,200 companies (BPIF 2023 UK Printing Facts and Figures).
Bowerman highlights that the amount of tradespeople working in print plummeted by 73% between 2006 and 2021.
The group is part of a growing effort by many organisations within the print industry to challenge the negative, environmental, and false perceptions of print by the public.
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