PrintIT!, the industry-backed initiative led by Proskills, has again confirmed substantial sponsorship commitment from an impressive number of industry heavyweights for its sixth year in succession. More than 35 print, paper and related organisations, as well as a range of trade associations and media partners have pledged their ongoing support to the project, which introduces GCSE students to many different aspects of print, and encourages them to consider a future career in the industry.
The PrintIT! project targets year 9 and 10 students studying for GSCEs in Product Design and Graphic Products and comprises a curriculum-mapped course including pre-printed teachers course notes and student work books, together with interactive teaching tools to deliver an insight into the many aspects of print and production. The initiative also includes an element of competition, where students are encouraged to create a print-based promotional campaign to promote Fairtrade goods in supermarkets. Following the introduction of new features during the 2010/11 academic year, including a new paper module in conjunction with the ‘Two Sides’ campaign, and a new interactive website (www.printit.org.uk), the initiative is on course to attract an unprecedented number of diverse and creative submissions.
Proskills has also expanded PrintIT!’s signature ‘Twinning’ programme, the element of the campaign that brings the course to life for the students. Schools have the opportunity to ‘Twin’ with either a printer or paper manufacturer in their local area to receive as much practical support as possible and learn about the print process first hand. To date, some 1,350 schools and close to 120,000 students have engaged in PrintIT! since it was created six years ago.
“We’re delighted with the ongoing support that the sixth PrintIT! initiative has received, which includes our Seven gold sponsors (Canon UK; Duplo UK; FujiFilm; HP; Pantone; Ricoh; Xaar). This clearly demonstrates the importance that these companies place on the scheme as a major educational driving force for the future of the industry. PrintIT! is a real testament to what can be successfully achieved when organisations come together to address an industry-wide challenge, and we are very proud that PrintIT! continues to go from strength to strength,” comments Tom Bowtell, General Manager, Proskills.
Wayne Barlow, Professional Print Channel Director, Canon UK and Chairman of PrintIT! adds, “We recognise the importance that PrintIT! plays in promoting young talent to an industry that continues to be a key contributor to the UK economy. Our industry has changed beyond all recognition in the past 20 years from a craft based industry to one dominated by the need for advanced IT skills. The new breed of printer needs to be computer literate, well educated and up with the latest trends. We therefore need to portray that image to schools in order to ignite students’ interest in pursuing print as an exciting and fulfilling career.”
He continues, “PrintIT! plays a vital part in bridging the gap between schools and print businesses. Apart from building some core materials into the school curriculum, it allows printing companies and schools to foster long term links. I am pleased as chairman of PrintIT! to announce that Canon is a Gold Sponsor for another year and will continue to back the work done to encourage the next generation to enter this fascinating and fast moving industry.”
Sharing this sentiment, Peter Jolly, Marketing Manager at Duplo UK adds, “PrintIT! continues to be an extremely important scheme for the UK print industry. Print can be creative, emotional, educational and inspirational, and it is a wonderful industry with some excellent entrepreneurial opportunities; PrintIT! communicates all of these messages to the younger generation. It will be the today’s young people that drive the print industry forward and PrintIT! beats the drum for print in the UK, that is why Duplo has backed the scheme from day one.”
Fujifilm is also thrilled to support PrintIT! for the sixth year running as a Gold Sponsor. Adding his support, Graham Leeson, Marketing Communications Manager, Graphic Systems Division, Fujifilm Europe says, “Aiding such a fantastic initiative that gives talented young people a real insight into the printing sector is very important to us. As the future lifeblood of our industry, it is vital that we equip young people with the knowledge of what an exciting and high-tech market the printing world is, and Fujifilm is proud to be a part of it.”
Long standing gold Sponsor HP is also proud to be a long term sponsor of PrintIT! and Proskills. “Over the last few years, the Graphic Arts Industry has been subject to much change, setting new challenges but also offering many new opportunities. As ever, attracting high calibre talent for the future has never been more important, and in that, PrintIT performs a very valuable service”, says Julia Cole, UK&I Marketing Manager, HP Indigo Digital Press and IHPS. “By evangelising and raising awareness for the role of print within today’s exciting marketing mix, PrintIT is able to support learners, schools and businesses, and encourage the talent of tomorrow to choose a career in print and paper.”
Paul Graham, Sales Director, Pantone EMEA is also delighted to join the line up of gold sponsors, “Pantone is honoured to be a sponsor of this PrintIT! competition and is delighted to provide the next generation of designers with the means to explore their creative talents, to find their own unique paths in the field of professional printing and related industries, and to set the new standards for the future of the visual arts communication.”
According to a survey of PrintIT! participants last year, 90% of teachers intended to participate in PrintIT! again, with 87% of teachers believing the course provided their pupils with a good insight into the future career options available in print. More encouragingly, 27% of students had enjoyed the course so much that they were now considering a career within print.
“It’s really exciting to be involved in a scheme such as PrintIT! which not only educates, but inspires future talents of the print industry,” comments Chas Moloney, Marketing Director of Ricoh UK. “The programme is an invaluable and effective means of engaging with students and demonstrating the wealth of print career choices open to them. Ricoh has been involved in the PrintIT! initiative for some time now and continues to do so because we feel it’s important to support the industry and raise awareness among the youth of today.”
Mark Alexander, Marketing Director, Xaar plc is also supportive of the industry-wide objectives of PrintIT! He says, “As the world’s leading independent supplier of industrial inkjet printheads, Xaar is keen to support programmes to educate young people about the potential of digital inkjet and to inspire the inkjet innovators of the future. PrintIT! is an excellent education initiative and we are very proud to be Gold Sponsors for the third year running.”
This years’ judging of the submitted coursework entries will take place in March by a panel of industry experts. The results and category prize winners for 2010/11 will be announced during a major awards ceremony attended by finalist students, teachers and parents, to be held on 12th May at Northprint 2011 in the Royal Hall at the Harrogate International Centre.
“Following the success of the Awards Ceremony last year, which was held during Ipex 2010, we are delighted to have been given the opportunity by IIR Exhibitions to host this years’ ceremony at Northprint 2011,” concludes Tom Bowtell.
“By giving the finalist students and their teachers the opportunity to ‘walk the halls’ and see the latest technologies first hand is invaluable in delivering the whole industry experience. Once again, I would like to thank and recognise the work of all our sponsors for their ongoing commitment, which has enabled us to further establish PrintIT! as a successful, growing initiative, and a forerunner in a new era of vocational learning.”
