"Printing as a word is dead in the eyes of most school leavers."
This was among the bold views expressed at an off-the-record briefing hosted by suppliers' association Picon last week.


The round-table discussion brought together figures from all areas of the industry for a lively debate centred on "the image of the printing industry".


"There is a considerable gap in terms of attracting people into the industry as a career - we can design the best training courses in the world, but if you can't attract people it's a wasted effort," noted one education chief.


Picon chief executive John Brazier revealed that the association has extended its own training assistance grants scheme for a further year. The two-year project is backed by 100,000 available to assist members with external training courses for employees.


"Our members find it difficult to send people on training courses because of time and budget constraints, and they are no different to printers in that," Brazier said.


Ideas floated to raise print's profile included enhancing print firms' links with schools and a TV soap centred around a printer.


Story by Jo Francis