Just over 550 guests were entertained by host Jayde Adams, who treated guests to a comedic rendition of Nessun dorma before revealing the 20 winners of Printweek’s iconic Prisms.
And while her aria wowed the guests, nothing could prepare the audience for the deafening cheer from the Solopress team when the company secured the evening’s final trophy.
“It’s incredible, just so chuffed, the team are over the moon. For me it’s all about them and that’s why I decided to bring a big team, they all made it happen,” said Solopress managing director Simon Cooper.
“It’s about the culture we’ve created in the business, every single one of our 230 staff feels like they contribute a huge amount to the overall success of the business.”
He likened the experience of being named Company of the Year to walking up a mountain to the point of exhaustion, disheartened about the scale of the challenge ahead, only to look back and take stock of what you have already achieved – which re-energises you.
“For us this is the pinnacle, so I just couldn’t be prouder – this means everything to us,” he said.
SME of the Year Resource, which last won the award in 2019, similarly stressed the importance of their team.
HR and global operations director Gail Weathers told Printweek: “It’s not about what we print or what we create, it’s about people passion – that’s what the award means to me.
“You never expect to win – you hope, and I did hope, but it is the right time for us to win it again because we’ve got a lot of new people. We looked at our business strategy, our business model, and our people and basically just went for what we sustainably want to achieve, so I’m absolutely delighted that all of our hard work has paid off.”
The night’s only double-award winner Kingsbury Press, part of Bluetree Group, carried off the Book Printer of the Year and Post-press Company of the Year trophies.
Sarah Kilcoyne-Guilliam, deputy general manager at Kingsbury Press, said she was equally elated for her team.
“It’s really incredible to be recognised in this way, with both of the awards, I think it’s true testament to the team and the real passion and craftsmanship that goes into every project.
“The team are all on a WhatsApp group chat and were desperate to hear updates about how we did on the night. If you look at what we produce you can walk around the factory and they know who’s done the cover, who’s done the casing-in… everybody’s so passionate about what we do. It’s incredible as a company to be recognised for that quality standard.”
And while the Solopress cheer was loud enough to heard back at its Southend factory, it was almost matched by the cheers for the three talented young people shortlisted for Trainee of the Year.
Geneve Gurr from MacroArt, which will rebrand to Moss as of 10 April following its acquisition by US company Moss Inc last year, took home the award and the £2,000 Heidelberg bursary, with high commendations for Ollie Cooper from Gemini Print and Gabby Solarek from Eight Days a Week Print Solutions.
“I really didn’t expect it! I do print finishing and some printing, and I’m hoping to learn as much as possible about the industry with the support of Moss,” said a delighted Gurr.
Gurr’s colleague Warren Jones, a shift manager at the business, added: “We’ve been training Geneve over the last three years and we are extremely proud of what she’s achieved, and where she is today, and this award is a great end to all of her hard work.”
Scroll down to see the full rundown of the 2024 Printweek Awards winners.
2024 PRINTWEEK AWARD WINNERS
Bespoke Digital Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Fujifilm
- WINNER
Rapidity - HIGHLY COMMENDED
Showcase Creative
Bespoke Publications Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Denmaur
- WINNER
Hampton - HIGHLY COMMENDEDS
Empress
Kingsbury Press - Bluetree Group
High-volume Digital Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Bowe Systec
- WINNER
Propack Direct Mail
Book Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Canon
- WINNER
Kingsbury Press - Bluetree Group - HIGHLY COMMENDED
Generation Press
Label Printer of the Year
Sponsored by PCL Labels by Avery
- WINNER
The Label Makers
Packaging Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Landa Digital Printing
- WINNER
Duncan Print Group - HIGHLY COMMENDED
Showcase Creative
Post-press Company of the Year
Sponsored by Intelligent Finishing Systems
- WINNER
Kingsbury Press – Bluetree Group - HIGHLY COMMENDED
Showcase Creative
Wide-format Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Premier
- WINNER
SMP Group
Innovation of the Year
Sponsored by HP
WINNERS
- Innovation of the Year: ExhiBox
Imageco - Innovation of the Year: Business strategy
Mercian Labels - Innovation of the Year: Inclusive packaging design
Offset Print & Packaging - Innovation of the Year: Packaging
Qualvis Print & Packaging - Innovation of the Year: Brochure
Statex
Customer Service Team of the Year – SME
Sponsored by Close Brothers Asset Finance
- WINNER
Impress Print Services
Customer Service Team of the Year - Large Enterprise
Sponsored by BPIF
- WINNER
Eight Days a Week Print Solutions - HIGHLY COMMENDED
Route 1 Print – Bluetree Group
Environmental company of the year – SME
Sponsored by ECO3
- WINNER
KCS Trade Print - HIGHLY COMMENDED
Resource
Environmental Company of the Year - Large Enterprise
Sponsored by Premier
- WINNER
Kolorcraft - HIGHLY COMMENDEDS
Eight Days a Week Print Solutions
Tradeprint
Trainee of the Year
Sponsored by Heidelberg
- WINNER
Geneve Gurr, MacroArt – a Moss Global Company - HIGHLY COMMENDEDS
Ollie Cooper, Gemini Print
Gabriela Solarek, Eight Days a Week Print Solutions
SME of the Year
Sponsored by Compass Business Finance
- WINNER
Resource - HIGHLY COMMENDEDS
Duncan Print Group
Precision Card Services
Company of the Year
Presented by Printweek
- WINNER
Solopress - HIGHLY COMMENDED
Eight Days a Week Print Solutions