The Trafford Press Group is calling for a national forum to address the issue of recruitment in the industry.


The Doncaster-based printer is forming links with three Yorkshire schools under the banner of the Trafford Educational Project. The project aims to persuade more school leavers to enter the trade.


"The industry needs to be more active. It should link up with schools on a national basis, and plan visits to show people that print factories are not smelly typesetting places," said group marketing manager Steve Kitchman. "Youngsters can come into the industry and be designers or IT managers, for example."


In association with Doncaster Chamber of Commerce, Trafford Press is supporting careers evenings at the schools, and encouraging visits and teacher placements.


It also devised internet projects for pupils aged 15-16, who were asked to put forward designs and ideas for the companys website.


"We need to get the message across that the print industry should not be ignored," said Kitchman. "Recruitment will be a problem for a few years before things change."


Recruitment is a growing problem in the industry; according to the joint BPIF/DTI Print 21 report only 12 UK colleges now offer printing courses, compared with Germany, which has almost 20 times the amount of apprenticeships.


* See Comment, p18.


Story by Fay Schopen