The programme, which is orchestrated by local charity 24-7 Prayer Stanford, focuses on re-engagement for Year 9 students at two schools in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, where Bluprint is based and where its founders grew up.

Each week of the 10-week programme, students visit a company serving a different industry, with a ceremony at the end at Hassenbrook Academy. It has been running for two academic years and Bluprint has been involved since the beginning.

The two schools, Hassenbrook Academy and Gable Hall, count three of Bluprint’s four staff as former students, with managing director Robb Harman attending Hassenbrook. 

Bluprint marketing and communications manager Christie Harman said the programme was important as demonstrating that children aren’t closed off to the possibilities offered by the printing industry. He quoted from a student on the programme whose favourite company from the scheme was Bluprint and who said that she loved being involved in the “packing process”.

“Aspire is a thing to broaden the horizons and raise aspirations and if we can do that for the print industry as much as anything else – police, fire, technology companies – then that’s the sort of platform we want to be giving print,” said Harman. 

“The print industry is a funny one. The results are everywhere but the process behind it all is not. For them to come here to see the products we sell when kids only think normally of the printer in their bedroom or the local library, and not a massive Speedmaster 102, then I think it raises the awareness of print and the possibility of it being an industry that they could get involved with.”

Bluprint has already signalled its involvement with the scheme next year. The company sells a variety of anti-marking products, impression jackets and pressroom consumables, many of which are compatible with Heidelberg and Komori presses.