The publishing of the findings coincides with the official launch of the eighth annual PrintIT! competition, which goes live this week as schools re-open for the new academic year.

"For print and paper to adapt and thrive we need a pool of young, enthusiastic talent. It’s only by us all engaging with schools, exciting these young people and showing them what dynamic and creative industries print and paper are, that we will attract the best talent to come and work in our sector," said Tony Lock, PrintIT! chairman and managing director of Duplo UK.

PrintIT! aims to expose 14-19 year-olds to the benefits and opportunities of a career in print through a curriculum-based module for GCSEs and A Levels in graphic products and product design and media studies, as well as diplomas in manufacturing and product design and creative and media.

More than 110,000 schoolchildren have participated in the scheme since its launch in 2005. According to the research, undertaken by PrintIT! organiser Proskills UK, the number of students interested in undertaking work experience in the print and paper industries doubled after they had participated in the scheme.

Nigel Hawke, training and development manager at TJ International, which was crowned Best Twinner at the 2011/2012 awards ceremony in July, said: "UK manufacturing urgently needs more schemes like this and long may it continue."

Around 40 print companies were official supporters of the scheme last year, and Lock has set the ambitious target of 100 more print firms becoming involved in this academic year.

"The real benefit to the print industry, other than simply increasing the understanding of the sector, is the twinning, they just get so many benefits from it," Lock added.

The PrintIT! Awards ceremony will be hosted at North Print & Pack in May next year. Printers interested in becoming PrintIT! supporters, or participating in the twinning programmes with their local schools should visit www.printit.org.uk for more information.