Heidelberg has unveiled plans to support printing colleges by helping them to buy or lease equipment.


Under the plans colleges will be able to apply for a grant by filling in an application form. They will have to detail what they want, how it will be used, and what they have done to try and find alternative funding. Forms have been sent to colleges, and will be available online.


Richard Beamish, Chief executive of the Print & Graphic Communication NTO, said he welcomed the move to make machinery available at affordable prices. "Heidelberg has always supported colleges, but this is a formal, clearer step forward," he said.


Heidelberg marketing manager Richard Bradley said: "Theres been such bad press about the levels and quality of training in the industry that we were concerned. The idea is to support colleges, not just with hardware but with advice and personnel as well."


Training and recruitment are growing problems in the industry. A GPMU Executive Council Education and Training Committee meeting held last week included an examination of training structures in Germany. "What was significant was the placing of training and qualifications together, combining workplace activity with college-based learning. Over here we dont have a good enough college network to do that," said Beamish.


His comments come after the announcement by the Department of Education and Skills that a policy statement on the future of NTOs will not appear until late August. The paper, originally due to appear at the end of July, is expected to outline plans to replace the current 73 NTOs with 20 to 25 new sector skills bodies.


"The worry is that existing NTOs will be forced to merge and industries may not recognise individual sector needs," commented Beamish.


Story by Fay Schopen