6 July 2006

Five collect £2500 BPIF Educational Scholarship bursaries

BPIF President, Dominic Walsh, presented five bursaries of £2500 at a ceremony held alongside the BPIF AGM in Sheffield on July 4. Now in their third year the BPIF Educational Scholarships, sponsored jointly by the BPIF and the Printers’ Charitable Corporation, seek to assist young people obtain education and training for a career in the UK printing and graphic arts industries, Chief Executive Michael Johnson told the audience: “I applaud these five ambitious young people – here is where the future of our industry lies.” PCC Deputy Chairman, Paul Rudd added his congratulations to the five winners and said “ We at the PCC are committed to helping printers at the end of their lives and now, in partnership with the BPIF we are delighted to be helping young people with the start of their careers.” The scholarships were awarded to:- Christopher Gannon, a 24-year-old Heidelberg operator with Pindar, Preston who will use his award to fund an online Foundation Degree in Printing & Publishing from the London College of Communication. Sabrina Sharma (28), currently studying an HND in digital media at Glasgow Metropolitan College will now be able to fund accommodation and travel for the third year of her degree on campus at Ayr. James Phillips (28), a prepress operative and colour specialist at C&R Printing Services, Leicester now plans to complete a five year part-time BSc in Print, Packaging & Graphics from Leeds University. Vanessa Norwood, a 26-year-old wife and mother living in Burnley has just completed her first year of a BA Honours Graphic Design course at East Lancs Institute of Higher Education at Blackburn. She will now be able to pay for full time nursery costs, travel and materials to complete her degree. Michael Hibbert, (23), followed his father into print after four years in the Scots Guards, and now is the No 2 printer on a Heidelberg 102 five-colour at carton printer Compack Ltd. Michael is keen to progress and will use his award to support an HND in Print Management from Glasgow Metropolitan College having completed his apprenticeship in machine printing. BPIF Deputy Chief Executive, Cicely Brown commenting on the high standard of the 2006 Scholarship entries said “Candidates came from all parts of the sector and all showed a real drive to succeed. Every scholarship is increasing the talent in our sector which will make a positive contribution to its success.”