The economic downturn has hit the public sector as hard as the private sector. Jobs are under threat and, along with other austerity measures, local authorities have examined their print requirements. In some cases, this has seen the closure of in-plants, with a preference for externalisation of the service. In others, the internal print facility carries out a wider communications role, fulfilling a multichannel communication function.

Changes in technology have brought changes in the way local authorities deliver information. The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and other local authorities have brought these together into a single comprehensive service.

Local government in-plant units operate under differing political environments, creating a diverse approach to the issue of public-private sector collaboration. There is no one right answer here. Some councils will promote in-plant units and allow them to compete for commercial work, others will forbid it. The bottom line is that many in-plant units are not allowed to compete for commercial work. Due to this position – which is out of our control – APCOM remains neutral on the argument, and the views of our individual members are not necessarily the wider views of APCOM as an organisation.

Business frustration
Having worked in both sectors, I can see both sides of the argument. There is, however, a bigger issue, which relates to procurement laws affecting public bodies. Local businesses get very frustrated with the perception that in-plant services ‘choose’ not to share work that is externalised on a local level. Unfortunately, purchasing levels mean that any external printing must be procured though EU procurement law.

While this approach works well for national public bodies, it forces local public bodies to place work with external services providers, which are generally outside their county or city boundaries or even out of the country; this could be through tendered contracts or framework agreements. It is also frustrating for many APCOM members and in-plant managers; they would relish the chance to work in partnership with local service providers, not only because it makes logistical sense, but also because they want to support their local community.

Instead of asking whether public sector printers should be able to compete for external work, we should ask why the private and public sectors can’t work in partnership. This would require a change in legislation, but could build on the multichannel strengths of the in-plant, as well as developing the local firms and utilising their strengths.

– Anthony Evans, president, Association of Print and Communication Managers (APCOM)

You can read the PrintWeek Briefing that this comment originally accompanied here