For example, did you know that the UK is the world’s fifth largest producer of printed products? That the UK print industry has a total turnover of £14.3bn and a gross value added of £6.4bn? Not only that, but with around 10,500 companies and 140,000 people employed by the industry, print had a positive trade balance of £1bn in 2009 and made a capital investment of £700m in 2008.

At a time when many of us are feeling down, it’s time to talk ourselves up. That’s why the BPIF is doing its bit to promote print’s role as a major contributor to the success of UK PLC. Using data from a wide range of official sources, the BPIF has published a new factsheet entitled UK printing – the facts and figures, a copy of which has been sent to all BPIF member companies. This sets out detailed information on the structure of the printing industry by region and product, as well as covering its economic importance and its productivity.

The BPIF has produced this factsheet as part of its ongoing programme of representational activity directed toward influencing government agencies and other organisations whose decisions impact on our industry’s interests. As with Priorities for Print, the lobbying document that we published last year, UK printing – the facts and figures will be used to educate politicians, parliamentarians and public servants about the vital role print plays in today’s economy, and a copy is to be sent to all MPs.

Getting the message out
The BPIF is keen to encourage companies to use it in their own contacts with external audiences, including customers. We are keen to share this publication with any companies (whether or not they are BPIF members) and anybody that would like to purchase a supply of copies, or to receive a high-resolution file to enable them to print some themselves, should contact Helen Dunn at the BPIF.

Of course no publication of this kind would be complete unless it also highlighted the effectiveness and sustainability of print as a modern communications medium, and the new factsheet does just that. Specific sections are devoted to these crucial facets of print’s role in the success of our nation’s economy, and these serve to illustrate how print and paper is one of the UK’s few truly sustainable industries and one which can add real value to any client’s promotions and campaigns, particularly as part of the integrated marketing mix. 

Getting this message across to media buyers, as well as politicians and the general public, is why the BPIF continues to provide support to the Two Sides campaign to promote the environmental credentials of print and paper, and we have now agreed to manage the UK website for the new pan-European Printpower campaign to promote the effectiveness of print as a communications and advertising medium. Together with the BPIF’s new facts and figures document, both of these industry initiatives provide us with the data, arguments and real-life case studies that we need to be able to talk ourselves up – to anyone who cares to listen. It’s up to us to use them, whenever we get the chance.

I shall still remain a part of this industry, initially working alongside the BPIF, and I am sure in future there will be other endeavours within the industry for me to get my teeth into. It is probably one of print’s biggest testaments that, after more than 30 years, my interest in this fascinating and exciting industry remains undiminished and I look forward to continuing to work with you all in the future.

Andrew Brown is BPIF director of corporate affairs. He steps down at the end of March. To contact Helen Dunn, email helen.dunn@bpif.org.uk

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30-SECOND BRIEFING ON… PRINT'S CONTRIBUTION TO UK PLC
• Print plays a vitally important role in the performance of UK PLC and has huge economic significance nationally
• The UK is the world’s fifth largest producer of printed products
• UK print has a turnover of £14.3bn and a gross value added of £6.4bn
• The print industry in the UK encompasses around 10,500 firms and 140,000 employees
• Unlike many other industries, UK printing had a positive trade balance of £1bn in 2009 and made a capital investment of £700m in 2008
• The BPIF has published a new factsheet UK printing - the facts and figures, a copy of which has been sent to all its member companies for promotional purposes
• As well as detailing print’s role in the UK economy, the document highlights print’s sustainability – an increasingly important factor
• Getting these messages across is why the BPIF continues to support the Two Sides campaign in order to promote the environmental credentials of print, backed up with facts, figures and real-world case studies – to whomsoever is prepared to listen