One of the best ways to engage with the next generation of print and packaging industry talent is to put young achievers in the spotlight. As three team members at @PrintRoom Group in Bracknell show, it's safe to say that the future of print is in good hands. Meet @Lucia Lewington, @Santino Lewington and @Hope Gaspar. They have shared a snapshot into their work and what makes them tick, from bringing creative ideas to life to getting stuck into exciting projects across al

The Simpsons episode ‘Bart Gets Famous’ sees Bart Simpson sneak into a TV studio. After a number of misadventures, Bart ends up on a stage in front of a live audience, knocks over the set, and says, “I didn’t do it,” which becomes a famous catchphrase and catapults Bart to international fame overnight. That might sound familiar, as it’s one of the most famous plots in one of the most famous TV shows of all time. And it all starts with a joke at the expense of packaging. W

Like all of us, young people encounter printed products and packaging every day. Often, they will interact with dozens of packaging items before they even leave the house in a morning. But how many of them make the connection between those experiences and a potential future career? For a while, the answer is: Too few. However, there are positive signs that this could be changing. The Government’s plan for vocational GCSEs in English schools is a welcome step towards fixing

We love to hear how young people in this industry are finding their feet and growing into their roles. Joe and Connor at bakers ins Brentwood ooze confidence and positivity. Great video. Thank you https://youtu.be/vDG10F7iDj8

The UK Corrugated Industry Trade Show (UKCITS) is teaming up with Young People in Print & Packaging (YPIPP) to promote an often-overlooked industry among students. The team will be presenting at the 2026 conference in Telford, as well as having a dedicated booth to foster links between corrugated businesses and young people on the show floor. UKCITS, now in its eighth year, is aiming to highlight ways of interesting young people in the opportunities presented by the industr

A huge thank you to the 65 print companies who have given their services and time in support of or Love Our Landmarks campaign. The idea is that by asking young people to design a postcard of their favourite landmark, they will gain a short insight into the Print & Packaging sectors, where creativity is key. This map shows the locations of the print service providers, who between them will reach over 800 schools and 1600 pupils. More feedback to follow, but for now, again

A big thank you to Kirsty Dailly of Bakers in Brentwood for this short video. Charlie Vickers is 23 and running two very expensive HP Indigo 200K printers. www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaqGOCYVbNo He was introduced into Bakers by a family member, fresh from school and is loving his job. Tasking himself with ways to "Improve what I'm doing" keeps Charlie on his toes and eager to grow in his role. Thank you Charlie for this insight into your job, how you found it and where you are g

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

The print industry is alive with innovation, creativity, and opportunity and yet for many young people, it’s still a hidden world. At...