Another record year for the Print Futures Awards

Lord Black of Brentwood presented the 2015 Print Futures Awards at a reception at the House of Lords. The Print Futures Awards are grants of up to £1,500 each to help people aged 16 to 30 years pay for any costs associated with relevant training courses for a career in printing, publishing or graphic arts in the UK.

This year there were a record 80 entries and the 37 winners - the highest number since the scheme was launched in 2003 - were presented with their cheques by Lord Black at The Printing Charity’s annual reception hosted by Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde at the House of Lords..

The Awards are sponsored by The Printing Charity, the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF), St Bride Foundation, The John Crosfield Foundation, and Unite the Union GPM Sector.

Entries open in January each year and the Awards are presented in July, and more information is available on their website: www.printfuturesawards.com

Stephen Gilbert, The Printing Charity’s Chief Executive, said at the event:

“As one of the judges for the Awards, I am always inspired by the applicants’ enthusiasm for the industry they are joining.

“Next year I would like to see more young people applying who already work in the industry and want to undertake further training to develop their skills, including apprenticeships and NVQs. The Print Futures Awards have a vital role to play helping to train the new generation entering our industry.”

Lord Black thanked the staff and trustees for all the work the charity does, not only helping the vulnerable, but also helping the next generation entering the industry. He later added:

“It is always a pleasure to celebrate the Print Futures Awards.

“The media industry is lucky with the charities that surround it and The Printing Charity must be one of the most venerable of those charities.”

ENDS