Taking place at the city’s Oracle Bar, the event attracted attendees from across Yorkshire’s print, creative and digital industries.
John Watson, brother of the late Victor Watson – former president of Print Yorkshire and chairman of Waddingtons, presented the Certificate of Merit for the Victor Watson Trophy to Ismail Mulla, business reporter at the Yorkshire Post, during the event.
“This award is given to a young person in the industry who has shown particular promise either in personal development or in initiative, innovation or entrepreneurialism,” said Watson.
“Ismail joined the Yorkshire Post around four years ago as an intern, funded by The Printing Charity.
“He was supposed to be there for a year, but they thought so much of him that they offered him a permanent job on the business desk. Ismail is the first recipient of this award to come from the newspaper industry.”
The day also featured speeches from BPIF membership director Dale Wallis, CDI president Robert McClements and David Allan, who was elected Master of the Stationers’ Company last month.
Outlining some of the Stationers’ initiatives, Allan said: “Today the company retains close ties with all its industries and promotes excellence within them, specifically through the Stationers’ Innovation Awards, which has been won previously by Ryedale Group in our first year and by Parkside Flexibles in 2018 – both are companies proudly based in the North, an area known for its innovation.
“We are committed to educating for the future of our industries, through our university bursary scheme, supporting the very best candidates for master’s degrees and projects connected to our industries, and in supporting the Stationers’ Crown Woods Academy.
“There we’ve invested over half a million pounds in the Digital Media Centre, which is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment as well as mentoring and work experience for students from our members.
“And earlier this year we launched Apprentice 18 where in June 460 pupils met 30 potential employers of apprentices at a ‘speed dating’-style event at Ravensbourne University. It was a great success that will hopefully be repeated next year.”
The event was sponsored by Yorkshire accountancy firm Garbutt & Elliott and Ad:Venture, which supports start-ups and young businesses within the Leeds City Region.
Organisations including Tech Nation and CuratorSpace were also in attendance, outlining the ways they can support businesses and creatives, while freelance painter, printmaker and illustrator Chloe Kutkus Morton, whose business has been supported by The Printing Charity through The Prince’s Trust, displayed examples of her work.
