The Washington, Tyne and Wear-based company has been working with schools in the North East to educate young people on the opportunities that are available to them in the sector.
A team from the company recently visited Thorp Academy in Ryton, Gateshead to deliver a presentation to 140 year nine students on the print industry and the different career paths they might look to experience.
As well as discussing life around the business, Simpson Group’s development director Sarah Tishler and company trainer Monika Rudnik spoke about what employability skills students should be developing to prepare themselves to be work ready, and the ten skills highlighted in the UK STEM programme.
“It is interesting to see that a lot of students aspire to be in the type of jobs that the print industry employs, but would never have considered a career in print,” said Tishler.
“As a STEM ambassador, I want to get the print industry firmly out there as an option for students to consider. At Simpson Group we have fantastic opportunities for young people through our apprenticeship programmes and we’re really keen to share that with the region.”
The business has employed young apprentices in roles including print administration and management, print finishing, litho print and regulatory compliance over the past few years.
It also recently attended a careers fair at Grindon Hall School in Sunderland, where the team met students who are exploring career options after school.
“We’re looking at how our work with schools can be taken into 2019 and we already have some exciting ideas in the pipeline,” said Tishler.
“We want young people in the North East to see the variety of job opportunities that are available out there and right here in the region.”
Additionally, the company is working with Founders4Schools, whose digital platform is used by teachers to invite business leaders into schools and to share insight reports to highlight the companies contributing most in their area.
Late last year Simpson Group took on four new staff across various areas of the business to support further growth and strengthen its relationships with both new and existing customers.
The circa-£12m turnover company, which employs more than 100 staff across its 7,000sqm Washington base and satellite operation in Langley, also underwent a management buyout deal in February 2018 and then installed an Inca Onset X3 flatbed with robotic arm from Fujifilm after shaking hands on the deal at Fespa in Berlin in May.
