“It’s amazing, we’re absolutely delighted. I still can’t believe it,” said ProCo chief executive Jon Bailey.
“I genuinely was humbled by the reaction, everyone was really pleased for us, they were delighted for the team and the amount of love from competitors was really humbling.
“It’s absolutely about the team. We push very hard at our place, we graft to get it right and we keep trying. And even when we think we get it right we don’t accept that’s good enough and I think the award is testament to that."
Around 800 guests attended last night’s glittering ceremony in the Great Room at the Grosvenor House on London’s Park Lane, where this year’s host, ventriloquist Paul Zerdin entertained the audience with a set that included an impromptu show-stealing appearance by BPIF chief executive Charles Jarrold.
However, the real stars of the show were the night’s 24 category winners.
After being shortlisted last year, CS Labels was crowned SME of the Year at the second time of asking.
Managing director Simon Smith said: “We’ve undertaken a huge investment programme over the last 12 months to try and develop the business and raise its profile in the industry – it’s really about where we want to be in the next 10 years.
“We’re absolutely blown away by the win. The last 12 months have been an incredible journey and this is a recognition for all our staff and the hard work they have put in.”
One of the most hotly contested categories this year was Customer Service Team, with this year’s trophy secured by Impress Print Services in Walton-on-Thames.
Helen Floyd, Impress sales and marketing director, said: “Customer service is a real team effort. The guys have worked so hard, and been so good in looking at how we can change things in our procedures to make things even better, so it was great to have that recognised. Everyone in the business is incredibly chuffed.”
“It gives real credibility to what we’re doing, a real pat on the back that the company is going in the right direction and then there’s the kudos it gives to the team. They can all be so proud of what they’ve achieved.”
One of the night’s double winners was London-based Boss Print, which took home the Prisms for Luxury Packaging Printer of the Year and Book Printer of the Year. Managing director Fenton Smith said: “It was a fantastic night, and I’m sure it will result in some new leads and new enquiries.”
One of the most popular categories, as ever, was the Trainee of the Year Award.
Dayfold production manager, Shaun Kempshall, who collected the Award on behalf of apprentice Stephen Dando, said: “Stephen is a great kid. He was 17 years old when he knocked on our door four years ago and asked for a job.
“Since then he’s gone from strength to strength at the firm.”
This year’s event also played host to a prize draw in aid of The Printing Charity, which raised £3,700. The £1,200 Virgin holiday voucher was won by John Brown Media production manager Mike Lamb.
“I think the last time I won anything I was twelve and it was a sweet raffle at school,” he said.
“I always enjoy going to the PrintWeek Awards as you a guaranteed to meet up with new and old colleagues and contacts within the industry. Winning the prize draw just made it all the more special.”
The final word goes to ProCo’s Bailey, who said he encouraged everyone to look at entering next year’s Awards.
“I really believe that if you’re really passionate about your business and what you do and why you’re doing it then you should enter, because if you win it’s fantastic, but even if you don’t it really channels your mind and reminds you of all the good things you’re doing.
“When we’re all moving so quick, just putting the entry together, it reminds you of all the great things you’re doing – it keeps you focused.”
To register your interest in the 2019 PrintWeek Awards, email sam.dewey@markallengroup.com
Award winners
Company of the Year
Presented by PrintWeek
Winner: ProCo
Highly commended
Buxton Press
Curtis Packaging
SME of the Year
Sponsored by Close Brothers Asset Finance
Winner: CS Labels
Highly commended
Northside Graphics
Customer Service Team of the Year
Sponsored by drupa
Winner: Impress Print Services
Highly commended
Go Inspire Group
Howard Hunt
Trainee of the Year
Sponsored by Heidelberg
Winner: Stephen Dando, Dayfold
Highly commended
Amy Craig, Security Print Solutions
Luisa Federico, Impress Print Services
Marketing Campaign of the Year
Sponsored by Quadient
Winner: Gemini Print Group
Highly commended
Impress Print Services
TOD London UK
Environmental Company of the Year
Presented by PrintWeekJobs
Winner: Nationwide Print
Highly commended
Park Communications
Luxury Packaging Printer of the Year
Sponsored by EFI
Winner: Boss Print
Highly commended
Beamglow
High-volume Magazine Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Denmaur Paper Media
Winner: Wyndeham Roche
Highly commended
Prinovis UK
Brochure Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Premier Paper Group
Winner: Pureprint Group
Highly commended
Cambrian Printers
CPI Colour
Post-press Company of the Year
Sponsored by Intelligent Finishing Systems
Winner: Screaming Colour
Highly commended
Empress Litho
Masters Bookbinding
Book Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Ricoh
Winner: Boss Print
Highly commended
CPI Colour
Nicholson Bass
Industrial Digital Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Konica Minolta
Winner: Go Inspire Solutions
Highly commended
Howard Hunt
Plastic Card Services
Direct Mail Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Sun Chemical
Winner: Geoff Neal Group
Highly commended
Go Inspire Solutions
Paragon Customer Communications
Out-of-home Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Brett Martin
Winner: VGL
Highly commended
SMP Group
Bespoke Magazine Printer of the Year
Sponsored by Denmaur Paper Media
Winner: Park Communications
Highly commended
Geoff Neal Group
Pureprint Group
Label Printer of the Year
Sponsored by BPIF
Winner: Label Apeel
Highly commended
The Label Makers
Bespoke Digital Printer of the Year
Winner: Screaming Colour
Highly commended
Pureprint Group
TOD London UK
Catalogue Printer of the Year
Winner: Precision Colour Printing
Highly commended
Wyndeham Southernprint
Newspaper Printer of the Year
Winner: Mortons Print of Horncastle
Highly commended
Reach Printing Services (Westferry)
Point-of-purchase Printer of the Year
Winner: Imprint Group part of Pureprint Group
Highly commended
Augustus Martin
SMP Group
Fine Art Printer of the Year
Winner: Pureprint Group
Highly commended
Boss Print
FMCG Packaging Printer of the Year
Winner: Curtis Packaging
Highly commended
D2 Printing
Social Stationery Printer of the Year
Winner: The Sherwood Group
Highly commended
Loxleys
Taylor Bloxham Group
Report & Accounts Printer of the Year
Winner: Empress Litho
Highly commended
Pureprint Group
