What positives are you able to draw on from the experiences of 2023?
2023 was another year where people in our industry showed how talented, committed and innovative they are. It was also a year where we saw a significant uptick in organisations in our industry focusing on wellbeing initiatives for their teams, which was a real positive that fits with UK-wide workplace findings, too: CIPD data shows that 81% of businesses have an increased focus on employee mental health.

What trend do you think has been accelerated because of the impact of inflation?
The need for people working in our industry to adapt to working in expanded job roles with fewer team members and more uncertainty has been accelerated as a result of inflation’s impact. Findings from the CIPD’s 2023 ‘Good Work Index’ show that more than half of respondents report they do things not formally required by their job, and more than two-thirds help others when their workload increases.

This new way of working requires people to be nimble, to adapt and to learn ‘on the job’ as their roles evolve and grow while the organisations they work for continue to adapt to a ‘new normal’ which, in fact, seems constantly to change.

What do you think will represent the single biggest opportunity for printers in 2024 and why?
The charity’s work centres on people, so that’s what I’m focusing on here, in two areas.

Firstly, the growing focus on employee mental wellbeing that I mentioned earlier is a great opportunity for businesses and employees in our sector. Not only is this the right thing to do for people, it’s the right thing to do for business, too. Building an environment where
people can thrive creates an environment in which the business will thrive, too. The CIPD found employers who take a strategic approach to employee wellbeing are far more likely to report positive achievements at both individual and organisation levels.

Secondly, I also mentioned before the ongoing need for people working in print to adapt and upskill to keep pace with change. Supporting this need to adapt, by upskilling the talented, dedicated people who work in print, is a great way for businesses to bring in new skills and capabilities, and, indeed, to bring them into the industry overall, by demonstrating their commitment to their employees by investing in training for them.

What are your hopes for 2024?
I hope that the resilience and innovation our industry has demonstrated so brilliantly in the last twelve months continue to build, and that this approach translates into a greater number of positive business-related outcomes.

I hope that organisations in our sectors continue their encouraging and inspiring focus on activities that support their employees’ mental wellbeing, and that more businesses join them in this. We are seeing some fantastic, innovative and cost-effective initiatives that are straightforward to roll out and make a specific, tangible difference to people working in those businesses. We are ready to support this activity by providing our helpline and discussing how best to integrate that into a suite of wellness work, or as a stand-alone initiative.

I also hope that, as a charity, we are able increase our reach of smaller organisations in our sector who so far may not be aware of the support we can provide them. This is an area of our industry where I’m really keen for our message to land in 2024.

What piece of advice do you wish you had been given in December 2022 to prepare you for the year you’ve just had?
Last year at this point I felt that “Expect the unexpected” was the best advice that I could have given myself in December 2021, and I predicted that this would be the case for subsequent years, too.

It feels like this was a fair prediction, as our industry saw yet another year of challenges and disruption – but innovation and resilience shone amongst this, bringing with them a sense of purpose, positivity and progress. So, I think perhaps that the best advice from December last year to prepare for the year we’ve just experienced would be “Expect the unexpected – but keep looking out for emerging bright spots and positives, too.”

What, if anything, will you do differently in 2024?
Rather than doing things differently, it's more about continuously being open to learning, both what’s worked, and what hasn’t worked so well, and applying that learning to next year’s activities. It’s also about continuing to build connections with the sectors the charity supports, so we can listen to a wide range of voices and views. This will help us to continue to ensure that the services we provide, and what we do differently, are in tune with the changing needs of the workforce in our rapidly-evolving industry.

Will you be going to Drupa 2024?
Unfortunately not, but I’m looking forward to reading about the show in Printweek, to keep in touch with what is launched and discussed there.

What would be your fantasy technology (or trend) you would like to see on show in Düsseldorf?
The show will be a real opportunity for the industry to make a point about the innovation and consumer-focused developments within it, by showcasing products and services that take print from its traditional position into something that truly integrates with the modern digital world, adding value and a compelling real-world presence within the current digital- first age.

Something that brought this idea to life really cleverly, and which I’m sure Drupa visitors would enjoy as much as the charity team did when they saw it, was the way Solopress launched their Soloflo API at the Print Show. They used the API interface to print visitor photos onto coffees on the stand, which was a great way to make the point about how innovative technology deployed in print can deliver value and talkability in the real world.

Sprouts, yes or no?
One of the charity team recently shared a recipe for Brussels Sprout gratin which has made me look at sprouts in a new light.