The IPIA Spring Networking Lunch was held at Argentinian steak restaurant Gaucho in Birmingham and hosted representatives from the print industry, agencies, suppliers, printers, print buyers, and end users.

After opening networking drinks, guests were moved in between courses to different tables during the three-course lunch to maximise their networking opportunities. The day was rounded off with a session from the event’s speaker, Paul Davison, head of letter specialists at Royal Mail MarketReach.

Speaking to Printweek at the event, IPIA marketing and events manager Sharron Mahony said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic, the support of the industry and from our sponsors has been fantastic. The room is buzzing, everybody is so pleased to be out and networking in person again.

“This is the IPIA doing what it does best, we are consummate networkers and encourage everyone into a great space in order to have conversations, meet people that they’ve perhaps not met before, reconnect with people that they already know, and talk about what’s happening and what’s new.

“It's just perfect, and this is an incredible venue, the team are amazing and I feel blessed that we’ve had such a great turnout. Later this year we’ve got a conference on 1 September at The MTC [Manufacturing Technology Centre] in Coventry, where there will be lots of networking to be had as well, and we’ve also got our Expo and Recognising Excellence Gala Awards on 1 December in Stratford-upon-Avon.

“It's about the industry getting together, supporting one another, and just doing what we all do best, which is championing print.”

She added: “One of the IPIA’s strengths is connecting buyers and suppliers, and I think today has done that quite successfully.”

Sponsors included Antalis, Fujifilm, Imprint MIS, Konica Minolta, PrintIQ, Xerox, and Vivid Laminating Technologies, while WorksThing was the event partner.