The forum was proposed by the BPIF in March, and a meeting outlining its objectives was held with the chief executives of 13 of the UKs biggest print groups last week.

The aim was to convince the industrys key players that a forum would be the right vehicle to create the changes needed to improve printing industry competitiveness and success.

"At the end of the meeting we asked for a show of hands, and it was unanimous that we should proceed to put a bid in," said BPIF chief executive Michael Johnson (pictured).

"We are trying to really effect change here not just tinkering around the edges. We want to take action to rejuvenate and redefine our industry, and its only by collaborative action that you can fundamentally change the shape of the curve," he added.

An action team will now work to put together a draft proposal by mid-June, and a business plan will be submitted to the DTI. Its anticipated that the forum would secure DTI start-up funding running into millions of pounds a similar forum for the ceramic industry, which is much smaller than printing, received 3.4m. If successful, the forum, which would be a distinct legal entity in its own right with its own board, could launch in the autumn.

Attendees at the meeting included Polestar, Field Group, MY Holdings, Pindar, Quebecor World, Lawson Mardon and Wyndeham. Two notable absentees that declined to attend were Communisis and St Ives.

Pindar chairman Andrew Pindar said: "Other industries have proved the value of these forums. It is right that the industry looks at what it can do for self-improvement. The question is whether people do have an interest in doing something for the common good? It doesnt drive away competitive pressures, and if you know that youre going to have inexorable pressure on prices youve got to do something."

Story by Jo Francis