The results of the motion were revealed at the federation’s AGM this week.

Chief executive Michael Johnson claimed the organisation had already turned away companies as a result.

Johnson, who is in his final year with the BPIF, pledged to use his time to set the federation on a firm footing for the next decade.

"Three things will dominate my next year: succession planning, putting customer-centric services at the heart of what our members do and collaboration with other industry bodies," he told the AGM.

Johnson also resurrected plans to help smaller firms to get on the roster to supply government bodies’ printing.

"I spoke before about working with the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), but my public pronouncements were my downfall and the OGC ran for cover," he said. "This is unfinished business – we will do it better."

Non-binding talks are under way with EEF, The Manufacturers’ Organisation, he said, with the BPIF also in discussions with other organisations, including the PPA.

"All trade associations need to work out how to collaborate," Johnson explained. "It could be anything from shared services to a merger. Over the next six months or so, we will identify the right strategy for the next decade."

While talks with the EEF acknowledge the manufacturing roots of print, Johnson claimed it was important that print positioned itself as part of the UK’s creative services sector and he said the BPIF was researching trade bodies in the sector.

In addition, finishing touches are being made to Dotgain, the "customer-centric" marketing services body affiliated to the BPIF. It currently has 11 members, with 20 prospective clients for its services, which Johnson claimed could deliver a 6:1 return-on-investment immediately.

At the AGM, the BPIF revealed that a review of the fee structure and membership options was under way to increase membership, including lower-cost memberships for smaller businesses and a move away from the subscription model based on employee numbers to one based on turnover. Despite 5% attrition in membership in 2009, it is expected to gain 5% in 2010.

"We’ve had a lot of interest from firms that we’ve never been able to get interested before," Johnson said.

Just 16% of UK print companies are members of the BPIF, although they employ 52% of staff and account for 55% of the sector’s turnover.