What’s at the top of your Christmas wish list this year?
An economy that’s flying along next year, leading to the best year ever for print!

What trend (business or technology) do you think 2017 will be remembered for?
Probably the year of the multiple print trade shows!

What do you think will represent the single biggest opportunity for printers in 2018 and why?
It’ll remain what it was before – harnessing the great changes in print technology with data, analytics and targeting so that print continues to play to its unique strengths

What do you think will represent the single biggest threat for printers in 2018 and why?
There are risks to the economy if Brexit isn’t handled carefully. Closer to home, not getting the message across to our key markets about the unique and distinguishing capabilities of print communications as part of a wider mix remains a threat – it’s lose: lose if we don’t get this across.

What’s the one thing that the industry should do more of, or do better, in 2018?
At the operational level, talk to the BPIF about claiming your climate change levy rebate – it’s not often the government offers money back, and the window closes to new applicants in 2018. At the strategic level, think about the changing needs of your clients, and think through what that means in terms of opportunities and threats for next year.

What was your biggest disappointment in 2017?
It’s been a good year (so far!), but the industry remains highly competitive and it was sad to see a number of high profile companies exit.

What was your highlight of 2017?
Our members’ day is always a highlight, the Carol Service and drinks here at St Bride afterwards was a new tweak, and t’was great. From a BPIF perspective, it’s also been great to relocate our London office to St Bride.

What are your hopes for 2018?
Stability and growth in the economy, a thriving sector making the most of the strength of print, investing and developing a great workforce for the future.

Will the coming GDPR regulations turn out to be good news for our industry?
The effort required to achieve compliance is a worry for the sector.  Ensuring the provenance and responsible use of data is, in the longer term, going to be a good thing in ensuring trust and credibility of targeted marketing.

What was the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Lots of great advice from lots of great people, enlivened now and then with some conspicuous examples of how not to do things! Focus on the relationship not the transaction isn’t a bad mantra.

What was the most important thing that you learnt in 2017?
Be careful when discussing Brexit, emotions can run very high very quickly!

What if anything will you do differently in 2018?
We’ll be continuing to develop the apprenticeship training side of what we do, as the levy beds in, and, focussing on ensuring that the sector understands the value of the support the BPIF delivers.

What was the best Christmas present you ever received?
Still those waterproof cycling socks (see previous!)

Are you making any New Year's resolutions? If so, what?
Probably, and, probably keep them for at least a couple of weeks!