The parliamentary under-secretary of state for skills visited Northampton School for Boys, whose pupils have gained a taste for the trade at Avalon Print.

"It introduces students to the opportunities in an advanced industry that is the fifth largest manufacturing sector in the country," said Hope.

"It puts them in contact with local employers and addresses schools' social responsibility", he said of the Picon-led national competition for 23,000 GCSE students.

The students are designing a promo campaign for charity Fairtrade Foundation and winners will be announced at April's Ipex.

Barry Ratcliffe, the school's graphic products-teacher (pictured left with Hope), said: "PrintIT! invigorates our teaching of the subject. It links theory with practice and the classroom with local businesses."

PrintIT! chairman Martyn Elmy said the scheme gave the industry a head start in recruiting a "young and vibrant future workforce".