Around 800 guests embraced the Awards' ‘Best in Class’ theme, with Radio 4 News Quiz host Miles Jupp entertaining the packed Great Room at London’s Grosvenor House before kicking off the Awards proper, where Buxton Press scooped the coveted Company of the Year trophy.
“I really didn’t think we would win tonight. This has to be an unbeatable record, winning three times on the trot. We’ve all seen so much change, we’ve all fought through the recession and we’ve all made changes – and in our case those changes kept us going,” said Buxton chief executive Kirk Galloway.
“We’ve invested in the technology, we’ve invested in the people – you can look back and I think we set things right five or 10 years ago and where now seeing the consistent rewards in this wonderful market.
“And, I know it sounds corny, but Buxton isn’t just a one-man band, there are 135 people that are all involved in this process, and I think that’s what really makes the difference. Long live print!”
There were also a number of first-time winners on the night, most notably Awards debutant Northside Graphics, better known through its trading brands digitalprinting.co.uk and tradedigitalprint.co.uk.
“We are over the moon. It means so much to us because the amount of hard work our team puts in is immense. The competition was fierce; we didn’t expect to win so we are absolutely delighted," said Northside managing director Gary White.
However, the biggest cheer of the night, as always, was reserved for the youngest person to receive a PrintWeek ‘Prism’.
Ryan Samways, reprographics apprentice for Amberley Adhesive Labels, said he was “absolutely elated” to have been named Trainee of the Year.
“I had no knowledge of print at all before I started; I was initially interested in the creative aspect, that drew my attention to the sector. But now I like to see how complex the processes can get and understand the technical aspects.
“Amberley has given me all the support I needed; I’ve never felt more welcome.”
The biggest winner on the night was Pureprint Group, taking home an unassailable four awards from the eight categories it was shortlisted in.
“It’s been a fantastic night, way beyond anything we could have expected. I’m speechless. It was all about the team though, and it was great to see them up on stage after all the hard work – the diversity of the awards we won just shows how far the business has come. I think they’ll be celebrating long into the evening,” said Pureprint chief executive Mark Handford.
The event also hosted a prize draw in aid of The Printing Charity, which raised more than £5,500. The winner of the £1,400 hotel voucher up for grabs was M Partners joint managing director Mark Stribley.
Scroll down to see the full list of winners and high commendations or visit printweekawards.com for the full citations and shortlists.
To register your interest in the 2018 PrintWeek Awards, email sam.dewey@markallengroup.com
Award winners (in running order)
Bespoke Magazine Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Denmaur Independent Papers
Winner: Pureprint Group
Highly commended
Taylor Bloxham
Catalogue Printer of the Year
Winner: Wyndeham Southernprint
Highly commended
Wyndeham Roche
Brochure Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Premier Paper Group
Winner: Hampton Printing (Bristol)
Highly commended
Team Impression
FMCG Packaging Printer of the Year
Presented by PrintWeekJobs
Winner: Curtis Print & Packaging
Highly commended
The Sherwood Group
Report & Accounts Printer of the Year
Winner: Pureprint Group
Highly commended
Empress Litho
Direct Mail Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Sun Chemical
Winner: Howard Hunt
Highly commended
Geoff Neal Group
Social Stationery Printer of the Year
Winner: Cutture
Highly commended
The Sherwood Group
Book Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Ricoh
Winner: Push Print
Highly commended
Boss Print
Pureprint Group
Out-of-home Printer of the Year
Winner: SMP Group
Industrial Digital Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Konica Minolta
Winner: Paragon Customer Communications
Highly commended
Plastic Card Services
Bespoke Digital Printer of the Year
Presented by PrintWeekLive!
Winner: Pureprint Group
Highly commended
Rapidity
Label Printer of the Year
Winner: The Label Makers
Highly commended
CS Labels
High-volume Magazine Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Denmaur Independent Papers
Winner: Wyndeham Roche
Highly commended
Precision Colour Printing
Newspaper Printer of the Year
Winner: Mortons Print of Horncastle
Highly commended
Trinity Mirror Printing (Watford)
Luxury Packaging Printer of the Year
Sponsored by EFI
Winner: Boss Print
Highly commended
Screaming Colour
Point-of-purchase Printer of the Year
Winner: Augustus Martin
Highly commended
Imprint part of Pureprint Group
Post-press Company of the Year
Sponsored by Intelligent Finishing Systems
Winner: Rapidity
Highly commended
Folio Print Finishing
Fine Art Printer of the Year
Winner: Pureprint Group
Highly commended
Push Print
Marketing Campaign of the Year
Sponsored by BPIF
Winner: Impress Print Services
Highly commended Masters Bookbinding
Environmental Company of the Year
Winner: Park Communications
Highly commended Prinovis UK
Customer Service Team of the Year
Winner: GI Solutions Group
Highly commended
Prinovis UK
Solopress
Trainee of the Year
Sponsored by Heidelberg
Winner: Ryan Samways, Amberley Adhesive Labels
Highly commended
Alice Murray, Hunts
Scott Stockman, Tradeprint
SME of the Year
Sponsored by Close Brothers Asset Finance
Winner: Northside Graphics
Highly commended KCS Print
Resource
Company of the Year
Presented by PrintWeek
Winner: Buxton Press
Highly commended
Curtis Print & Packaging
ProCo
