3 March 2006

BPIF lobbies Ruth Kelly’s PPS on print training

Chatham-based Kent Art Printers hosted local MP Jonathan Shaw on a visit to the company on Monday 20 February, which was also attended by BPIF public affairs officer Lizzy Hawkins and training co-ordinator John Campey. Shaw is Parliamentary Private Secretary to Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Education and Skills, as well as being a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Print Group, the cross-party group of MPs with an interest in the printing industry. The BPIF took the opportunity to inform the MP about the continuing decline in print training provision caused by inadequate funding levels. Shaw, whose links with the printing industry stem from his involvement with the GPMU in paper companies within his constituency of Chatham and Aylesford, was impressed by Kent Art Printers’ environmental commitment and the positive impact this has had on its bottom line. Paul Anderson, marketing and technical director at Kent Art Printers, was particularly proud of the company’s recent installation of non-process plates, which had reduced the company’s water consumption by 31%. The discussion raised a number of industry concerns about training, such as the reduced funding for apprenticeships for over 19 year-olds, and companies’ resentment at having to plug basic skills gaps left by inadequate schooling. The meeting also told the positive stories about training in the printing industry: the immensely successful PrintIT! project that has introduced over 20,000 students from 500 schools to the printing industry; and BPIF Training’s great success in increasing the number of apprenticeships completed to far above the national average. Lizzy Hawkins was pleased with the meeting’s progress. “I am delighted that an MP with such close links to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills is taking an interest in the printing industry at such a crucial time for print training. We will continue to lobby for improvements to the funding arrangements for print training to reflect the true cost of provision, and I hope that Jonathan Shaw will be supportive of our efforts.”