Organised by print advocacy group Young People in Print (YPIP), the factory open days mark the launch of a programme that will see 68 print companies across 91 locations welcome in young people from today (23 October) into early 2025.
“It’s not just an open day on 23 October, it’s going to be a rolling exercise,” explained Paul Stead, one of YPIP's founders.
“It’s been really positively received, and we’re very pleased with the uptake – but, and I’ll quote my old school reports – ‘Could do better’!”
Some of the UK’s largest print firms have agreed to open their doors to local schools, including Bluetree Group, Precision Proco, Webmart and Linney, but participating companies come in all sizes, Stead said, all the way down to the one-man operation at Blackwater Sign & Print in Maldon.
“He’s a small, individual business – but very keen to see young people in his area understand what print is all about,” Stead said, encouraging any interested printers to get in touch.
“It’s very encouraging [to see so many printers sign up], but not surprising, because printers do want to encourage people in. But it’s always been the communication [with schools] that has not quite worked.
“All we’ve done is acted as that communication point between people that want careers and people that can provide them.”
International Print Day’s 2024 theme is ‘#Printlife’, chosen to reflect why print is a fun and rewarding career, and print’s ability to capture important moments in our life as tangible keepsakes.
“This year is the 10th anniversary of International Print Day, and the annual mission to take to our socials and declare our love of print continues to grow worldwide,” said Deborah Corn, founder of International Print Day and intergalactic ambassador to the Printerverse at US-based print advocacy group Print Media Centr, which launched the annual celebration in 2014.
“With workforce development being a universal problem in the industry, #IPD24 is the perfect opportunity to share the cool printed products we can create, how print media supports digital media as a powerful communications channel, and help transform the reputation of print from an antiquated to a modern technology.”
Last year’s International Print Day generated more than 11 million impressions on print-related social media posts.
Speaking to Printweek, Corn added that the industry had a PR problem – and it has fallen to printers to advocate for their own trade.
“If we don’t do this, who will?” she asked.
“The best way [to spread the message] is to be involved with your local community and not just to make sales.
“Align with groups and causes you believe in, and support them with your services. Local business is grounded in relationships. Create some, authentically, and take it from there.”
