The annual awards programme, which is open to UK residents aged 16 to 30, offers cash grants of up to £1,500 to anyone studying for or who intends to study for a career in printing, publishing or graphic arts.

Last year the number of individual awards was increased from 15 to 24 on the back of an injection of funds from the John Crosfield Foundation and added support from the St Bride Foundation. This year the number of awards is set to rise again to 35.

"We said we would spend the money from the John Crosfield Foundation over three years, which we are," said Stephen Gilbert, chief executive of The Printing Charity. "So the charity put in more money last year and will continue to do so this year at the same time as looking for additional partners to sustain the growth of this fantastic awards programme."

Gilbert added that he was "pleased" with the progress in finding new sponsors although nobody had signed up yet to join current sponsors The Printing Charity, Unite the Union, The John Crosfield Foundation, the BPIF and St Bride Foundation.

He added that while the interest had mainly come from "traditional print industry sources" the charity would "welcome involvement from publishing and new media".

Last year's Print Futures Awards was said to have attracted the highest number of applicants since the scheme's launch in 2003 and with the increase in the number of grants, it is hoped that that growth will continue.

The deadline for entries is Friday 29 May 2015, following which shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in June ahead of the awards in July.

"We also welcome applications from people already working in print who would like to undertake short-term courses or training sessions to develop their skills," said Gilbert.