The Awards were set up to help young people wanting to work in the printing, publishing or the graphic arts sectors fund their training.

Interviewed by judges from the three sponsor organisations – the BPIF, Unite and The Printing Charity – winners have to explain how they would use their prize money of up to £1,500 and talk about their ambitions for the future. The applicants are whittled down to between six and 10 winners based on these chats.

This year, nine applicants were successful and they were as diverse a bunch as ever, ranging from a classical musician turned computer graphic designer, to a marketing executive turned letterpress fanatic. PrintWeek caught up with some of them to see what their fresh eyes make of the industry they are joining and to ask where they see it heading in the future.

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Charlie Browning is entering his third year of a Print and Media Management course at the London College of Communication and hopes to spend some of his award to fund a visit to the Drupa exhibition in Germany in 2012

"I first got into printing by working for two years as a digital press operator at Advantage Digital Print in Dorchester. I’d finished my A Levels, didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do and saw an advertisement in the local paper for the job. I particularly enjoy the production aspect of seeing something emerge from raw materials to the finished product, but interacting with customers is also really rewarding. I think it’s an exciting time for print. Although the recession was obviously tough, I think it has streamlined the industry so that those making money can help it to grow again by investing in innovation. I’m writing my dissertation on web-to-print systems and how smaller companies are starting to consider this as a way of expanding their customer-base. I think over the next few years we’ll definitely see more and more companies offering cross-media services, and no longer just print. I’m confident the industry will continue to grow; printing is one of the biggest industries in the UK and it’s never going to die completely. Everyone would much rather have a nice looking postcard in the mail rather than an email. It’s just so much more exciting."

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Marie Cleaver has just completed a degree in Graphic Design at Portsmouth University and is using the award to help fund a master’s in Graphic Design

"A well-designed printed product is such a powerful thing; it has the ability to change the way people think – a printed booklet or flyer can sometimes, I feel, make a bigger impact on someone than the digital equivalent. My master’s degree will be exploring how graphic designers can effectively communicate complex information, such as scientific material. I find it really exciting when designers act as mediators, breaking information down and putting it back together in a way that people find accessible. I see the printing industry as healthy at the moment. The one thing I would change is a lack of awareness among some undergraduates about the benefits of designing for print. There are a lot of young design students who are interested in web design and who know about Flash and designing apps for the iPad, but they often don’t realise that print processes are the fundamentals that underpin everything. There is a trend at the moment of going back to older techniques but I hope it won’t just be a fad that comes and goes."

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Francesca Tortora works as a project manager for the BBC Performing Arts Fund and has discovered an aptitude for design. Her award will fund a one-year, part-time course in Graphic Computer Design at Shillington College, London
 
"I first developed my design skills in my previous role with BBC Learning, when I realised that it made sense to have a go myself rather than always paying external agencies to produce marketing materials. I did some training which gave me the confidence to progress from pretty basic Photoshop layouts of e-flyers to more sophisticated materials such as brochures. This has come in really handy at BBC Performing Arts Fund as we’re quite a small team; I’ve helped rebrand the charity, launch its website and social networks and produce flyers and brochures. I get a real buzz from producing something tangible. Project management is great, but you don’t get the same gratification of looking at something physical that you’ve created. I’m inspired by publications like Wired that make their printed and digital platforms complement each other. I see this as where the print industry is going, with digital interaction bringing the page to life, not replacing it. Print will always be needed for people who can’t access digital platforms; they should still have access to what charities like the BBC Performing Arts Fund are doing."

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Mandy Horton has been working at design agency Be Creative for five years and recently completed a two-week placement with letterpress printer Typoretum, which she used some of her prize money to fund

"Having the opportunity to do a placement at Typoretum has really confirmed for me that I want to be working in the more traditional print sector. My dream is to work as a letterpress printer; the results are just so impressive compared to digital print or commercial litho jobs. I definitely see this as a viable business opportunity as people seem to be placing more value on well-made products that are also more environmentally friendly as they last longer. That said, I’m really encouraged by how much concern companies like Be Creative are showing for the environment. People are more concerned to check the credentials of their suppliers now, although there’s always room for improvement. One thing the industry could definitely do better is promoting itself to young people. I was lucky enough to stumble into Be Creative on the administration and marketing side of things, but I wish I’d been more aware of the possibility of an NVQ or apprenticeship when I was younger."

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THE JUDGES
Kathy Woodward, chief executive, BPIF
"I have a great belief that education and training are the tools needed to create opportunities for people to enable them to cross barriers and excel. The Print Futures Awards supports this wholeheartedly, providing funding for people working in printing, publishing and graphic arts industries and allowing them to take advantage of the multitude of training schemes available. By increasing the skills of talented young people we can ensure that we maintain a vibrant industry at the cutting-edge of technology. I’d like to say a deserved ‘well done’ to all winners of this year’s Print Futures Awards."

Stephen Gilbert, chief executive, The Printing Charity
"I’ve been a judge for these annual awards since they were launched eight years ago. Every year, the applicants have impressed me with their enthusiasm and passion for getting something on the substrate. These are the people who believe in the industry, an industry that has a future, as was evident in the buzz at this year’s awards event. As a leading national charity for people who work or have worked in printing, publishing, graphic arts and the allied trades, we help people of all ages. Our association with the Print Futures Awards is important to us as it’s about helping young people and supporting the new generation entering print."

Steve Sibbald, national officer, Unite
"Unite is pleased to continue to support this good news story and I’d also like to offer my congratulations to those who were shortlisted. The winners of these Print Futures Awards represent their own and the industry’s future. Admittedly, the industry has changed more in the last 30 years than in the previous 300 and more in the last three years than the previous 30. This year’s annual awards event was a day to be optimistic and a timely reminder that we all have a common objective of a strong, successful and healthy industry. I’m proud of Unite’s role supporting these awards."