In our four-page Careers Special, BPIF head of training Ruth Exelby states that the often quoted average age of people working in print, 48, may actually be shy of the mark. Now that is a scary thought for the future of the industry.

Don’t misunderstand me, there’s nothing wrong with older workers. In fact, they obviously have a hugely valuable role to play as we would clearly be lost without them. However, they could, and should, have an even more important role in the industry of tomorrow – as mentors of young printers of the future.

The problem is that there simply aren’t enough young people entering the industry to benefit from their wisdom.

Of course, there are fantastic schemes to encourage young people to consider print as a vocation. Last week’s PrintIT! Awards, which 16,000 kids from more than 400 schools entered, and the Stationers’ annual Careers Day, which attracted more than 250 schoolchildren, are two great examples.

But still, I wonder how many people in print could truthfully say they would actively encourage their own children (or grandchildren) to enter the industry? Depressingly few, I’ll wager. In fact, some, if they’re brutally honest, might even prefer to actively dissuade them.

But that’s just an aside; we need to attract young people from a greater sphere than just those related to people already in the industry.

And the key to doing that is to offer more than just a job, but a genuine career path. And the best way to demonstrate a career path is to offer access to comprehensive training.

Darryl Danielli is editor of PrintWeek.