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Work experience can be fun as well as educational
Fun? I hear you ask? Just look at the smile on the face of Jacob Goring. Jacob recently spent one week with Rollmark in Thetford where he was shown a full range of digital technology and an offset press. (He loved it!) Taking printed output through to the finishing side, where he used a manually scoring device. And finally taping the finished booklet for the NHS. If you receive a copy of 'My Medicines Book' from the NHS, you never know, it might have been put together by a ve
paul.stead
Jul 231 min read


What if your next great employee came with £3,000 towards recruitment and training costs?
The newly launched Youth Jobs Grant gives employers the opportunity to access motivated young talent while receiving financial support to help offset the costs of hiring and developing new staff. The scheme opened for applications on 30 June 2026 and is available to employers across Great Britain. Why employers are getting involved Many businesses are facing recruitment challenges, skills shortages, and rising employment costs. The Youth Jobs Grant helps you: ✅ Receive £3
paul.stead
Jul 212 min read


LOL.. Love Our Landmarks.
Are you a UK based print organisation with an eye on encouraging young people to join our sector? Maybe you just want to raise the awareness of print in young minds? YPIPP has launched a new initiative, with the support of The Careers & Enterprise Company and the DWP. LOL.. Love Our Landmarks. We are encouraging young people to design a postcard featuring an image of their favourite landmark and we need print companies around the UK to provide the printed output to schools cl
paul.stead
Jul 131 min read


Young people are facing fewer open doors
Job vacancies are falling. Young people are facing fewer open doors. It’s time for the print and packaging sector to start opening them. Following the latest ONS labour market overview, we’re warning that the UK’s cooling jobs market could deepen the industry’s long-term skills challenge unless businesses continue to invest in young talent. The figures show vacancies are at their lowest point since 2021, with manufacturing businesses and SMEs among those feeling the press
paul.stead
Jun 221 min read


Financial support to help with the cost of employing a young person
The Department of Work & Pensions recently shared this information with Young People in Print. Real money, available to support the cost of employing young people. Need more information? Contact your local DWP office or get in touch with us.
paul.stead
Jun 41 min read


Baker Labels in Brentwood.
Not only a great place for experienced people to work, but also a welcoming and encouraging place for young people. Their story…… Yesterday we welcomed staff and pupils from CONNAUGHT SCHOOL FOR GIRLS for an introduction to Bakers and the world of print and packaging. The visit was part of an initiative by Careers Hub East and was originally instigated from an introduction via Young People In Print & Packaging (YPIPP). After an introduction to Baker Labels, BakPac and Baker M
paul.stead
Jun 21 min read


Sometimes hard work should be recognised....
The Print Industry Awards Print Project categories celebrate the businesses driving the industry forward. From exceptional craftsmanship and innovation to outstanding customer delivery and commercial success, these awards recognise the companies setting new standards across the print sector. Enter now: Best Publication Project Best Label Project Best Direct Mail Project Best Large Scale Project Best Commercial Print Project Best Packaging Project Best Use of Special Effects
paul.stead
Jun 21 min read


Printing's alive...
This is a great interview by Warren Werbitt, aka The Print Whisperer. He talks with Georgina Hebbard and Lara Vigar, two of my ASL colleagues who surely have a great future ahead of them. But. don't take my word for it.. listen to them.. ....and if you really want to keep up with print...listen to The Print Whisperer too!
paul.stead
Jun 21 min read


Trying very hard to do our bit.....
At ASL Group, we firmly believe in young people and the positive impact they can have on our industry. Recently, we were visited by Eva Lindy Wood of the Careers Hub to learn about ASL, have a tour of our Head Office and most importantly, discuss how we develop our employees within the company whilst preparing skills for their futures. There are plenty of roles in the print world which do not involve selling or maintaining machines, so it was great to explain these to Eva wh
paul.stead
Jun 21 min read


Why Print and Packaging Must Act on the UK’s Youth Employment Crisis
In response to the youth unemployment crisis, the UK Government commissioned an independent review to try to diagnose its causes. When its findings were eventually released in the form of a 217-page report, it shocked the nation. The Young People and Work: Interim Report found that worklessness among those aged 16-24 is high and rising, highlighting the risk of creating a “lost generation” without urgent action. Print and packaging, like every industry, has its part to play i
paul.stead
May 295 min read


Xerox hosts Young People in Print & Packaging at their Customer Innovation Centre in Uxbridge
In December 2025, Xerox played host to a number of students from nearby Bishopsalt School and Oak Wood School, both located in Uxbridge. The morning and afternoon sessions allowed for a total of 52 pupils to attend. Xerox people explained the range of job roles available in the print sector and gave the visitors a close-up look at some of the technology on site. A Q&A session afterwards gave plenty for the young people to think about. Thank you Xerox, Kevin O’Donnell, Keith N
paul.stead
May 111 min read


A Young Person in Print:- Josh Gilbert at Hickling & Squires.
A Young Person in Print:- Josh Golbert at Hickling & Squires. - YouTube What a truly refreshing and positive young man Josh is. A real credit to his parents, his company and himself. One of the questions I asked him was to describe print in three words. His answer, IDEAS TO LIFE has blown me away. He advises other people looking at the industry.. “You’ve just got to give it a go!” Josh Gilbert, you are on cool dude.
paul.stead
Apr 21 min read


Communication between generations is key...
Video details - YouTube Studio You might not realise that communication between generations isn't always straight forward. Young people think and communicate differently. How do you prepare yourself? Have a look at the video in the link and let Vera Donkers and Roos Vos of UNSNOOZED show you how. A simple card game that crosses generational boundaries... Great idea! For more information... vera@unsnoozed.nl or roos@unsnoozed.nl
paul.stead
Mar 251 min read


A Young Person in Print... Tabitha at Label Apeel!
The changing demographic of people in print is clear to see. Michelle Kellock of Label Apeel talks with Tabitha, a fantastic example of a young person in the print sector. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBemkGt8auw Great video and not a grey haired old bloke in sight. Thank you Tabitha and Michelle for taking time to share.
paul.stead
Mar 51 min read


YPIPP & Equalex: Inspiring the Next Generation Through Work Experience
Information supplied by Joanna Stephenson of Think B2B Marketing. At Young People In Print & Packaging (YPIPP), we are committed to connecting young people with high-quality work experiences that broaden horizons, build confidence, and prepare students for the future. Through our partnership with the Equalex Programme, a government backed initiative that provides structured, inclusive work experiences for secondary school students to explore careers and develop essential skil
paul.stead
Nov 25, 20254 min read


Attracting and keeping young talent in UK print & packaging: what’s working and what still needs work
If you ask a room of Gen Z what ‘print and packaging’ means, many picture ink-stained presses and cardboard boxes, not colour management in the cloud, data-driven workflows, brand design, automation, AI-enabled quality control or circular-economy innovation. That gap between perception and reality is at the heart of our sector’s talent challenge and also our biggest opportunity. What’s moving the needle? · Apprenticeships and early-entry routes. More firms are building
paul.stead
Nov 6, 20253 min read


Inspiring the Next Generation: How Young People In Print Supports International Day of Print
The print industry is alive with innovation, creativity, and opportunity and yet for many young people, it’s still a hidden world. At...
paul.stead
Oct 6, 20253 min read


Demystifying Print Careers: From Design to Production - Where Could You Fit In?
When most people hear the word print, they picture magazines, packaging, or posters. What they often miss is the ecosystem of talent...
paul.stead
Sep 22, 20253 min read


CDS is on the case... well done Darren Burley
No need to complicate things. Tell the young people in your area what to expect. The throw your doors wide open
paul.stead
Sep 11, 20251 min read


Getting your apprentice trained and certified.
Are you aware of how much it costs to train your apprentice? Do you know who can formerly train your apprentice? If you are a non-levy...
paul.stead
Sep 5, 20252 min read


International Day of Print: What’s Happening Near You This October?
This year’s International Day of Print is set for Thursday, October 9, 2025, and the team at Young People in Print (YPIP) invites...
paul.stead
Sep 4, 20252 min read


Equalex pilot scheme results.. (How young people are viewing work experience?
The Education Development Trust has recently carried out a pilot scheme in the Wakefield area, to test the governments new work...
paul.stead
Sep 4, 20251 min read


International Day of Print: What’s Happening Near You This October?
This year’s International Day of Print is set for Thursday, October 9, 2025, and the team at Young People in Print (YPIP) invites...
paul.stead
Aug 19, 20252 min read


Northern Ireland & Scotland too!
It's great news that this initiative is spreading and we now have involved parties in Northern Ireland (two so far) and Scotland (five so...
paul.stead
Jul 16, 20251 min read
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