Welcome to the March/April edition of Inprint and the first of 2021. While it’s shocking to think that it has almost been a year since the UK first went into lockdown, it’s great to start to see a beacon of light at the end of the tunnel as the COVID-19 vaccine is rolled out. It’s also inspiring to see how everyone has stepped up to the challenge of the pandemic, not only employers and apprentices, but in every aspect of life. We have had to adapt to a new way of working and living, and we should congratulate ourselves on our resilience. We hope that this issue inspires motivation and strength, and reminds you that there is a lot to look forward to in 2021.

The theme of this issue is a celebration of training. At the time of writing, we have just celebrated National Apprenticeship Week by hosting a virtual conference with an array of inspiring speakers – you can read more about this on page 18. We also give you a training update, including details on our School Engagement Programme on page 10, and introduce to you our new Business Engagement Manager for the Training team, Arun Madar, on page 15. It is as important as ever to emphasise to the younger generation the value of print and the opportunities that are on offer within our industry. Hearing first-hand from apprentices about their experiences is an effective and engaging way to do this. As highlighted previously, mental health remains vital. Further information on this can be found on page 4, and some useful links on mental health support specifically for apprentices can be found on page 11. Don’t forget to keep checking in on friends, family and colleagues.

Our BPIF Marketing team remind you how we can promote your business and how we can continue to fight your corner on page 20. From events and webinars, press releases, social media, and our Find a Printer service, to featuring in these very pages of Inprint, we want to help you stand out and promote your business in the best way possible. We love keeping up-to-date on what is going on with our members, and you can read some of our member news on page 26.

As mentioned, there is a great deal to look forward to this year. Our Print Network Webinar Series is returning this month, and we will also be hosting our BPIF Members’ Day in July – a day not to be missed! You can read more about our upcoming events and webinars on page 28. In the meantime, I hope you find this issue useful. Happy reading.