Are you ready for Pricing in Proportion on 21 August?
On Monday 21 August, Royal Mail’s new ‘Pricing in Proportion’ tariffs will come into force. This is a major pricing change which will change the way all mail is sorted – don’t get caught out!

BPIF secures refund of PQQ payments from Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
The BPIF secured another victory in its fight against public bodies which charge a fee for tender documents.

New maternity regulations try to be even-handed
New rules relating to maternity rights have been approved by Parliament and will be in force from 1st October 2006.

BCE awards 07 to recognise good UK environmental practice
Do you consider your business to be an outstanding example of good environmental practice or do you have a project that is going to have a positive impact on the environment? The BCE Awards have been recognising and celebrating corporate commitment to environmental excellence for 30 years.

HSE inspections to target printing companies
The Health and Safety Executive under its Revitalising Health and Safety Initiative is to target print and print-related companies in 2006/7 with specific initiatives commencing August 2006.

Paper prices
Coated woodfree sheets and coated mechanical reels experienced some price depreciation in July according to the latest paper price indices. The downward move reflects over-supply in certain markets and comes despite continued attempts by suppliers to raise prices.

25 per cent increase in Employment Tribunal claims
ACAS has published its annual report which indicates, amongst other things, a substantial increase in the number of claims made in the year 2005/06.

Benchmark your cost structures today
Download the BPIF's quick cost structure benchmark tool, enter your company data to the excel file and see instantly how you compare with UK and German industry averages.

Director General of the CBI to open Print Congress 2006
Richard Lambert, Director General of the CBI will make the opening presentation at Print Congress 2006 on 9 October 2006.

ALI recognises significant improvement at BPIF training
After a gruelling inspection week at the beginning of June 2006, the ALI confirmed on 28 July that BPIF Training has achieved an overall score of Grade 2 for its delivery of apprenticeships and adults programmes to the printing industry.

BPIF puts Fogra & GRACoL G7 colour calibration methods to the test
Two different methods of implementing the ISO 12647-2 standard printing conditions came under the microscope at a UK colour testing day organised by the newly reformed BPIF Technical Standards Committee at Heidelberg UK’s Brentford showroom.

BPIF and City Fringe launch financial package for London printers
The BPIF is a key partner in the successful bid made by the City Fringe Partnership for a £600,000 business support package over the next two years to assist printers and publishers in the City Fringe area of London.

Commissioners give some relief on taxability of termination payments
BPIF Legal has had enquiries recently from several members who are being pursued by the Inland Revenue over the question of tax payable on Payments in Lieu of Notice

PrintIT! now registering schools & signing up twinning printers for year 2
PrintIT!, the nationwide scheme created by Picon to encourage young people to consider the printing industry as a career, has launched its 2nd year with more than 300 schools registered for the programme.

Supply2.gov.uk: your experiences
Mixed reports have been received about the success of www.supply2.gov.uk, the Government’s online portal for lower-value sales opportunities in the public sector.

Record number of entries for British Book Design and Production Awards 2006
This year has seen a record number of entries to the British Book Design and Production Awards with many entries coming in from companies that are new to the awards.

Goodhead Group invests in BPIF at Platinum level
Following on from its £2 million investment in pre-press, press and finishing, the Goodhead Group has invested in BPIF membership at platinum level for its three sites in Bicester, Colchester and Banbury.

BPIF rescues London Printers from drought order cleaning ban
Swift lobbying action from the British Printing Industries Federation has protected the London printing industry from a Drought Order proposed by Thames Water.

Small companies satisfied with their banks' level of service?
International research by the ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) reveals how good the relationshiips are between SMEs and their banks.

Do you want others in your company to get BPIF Online?
If you would like other managers in your organisation to access the BPIF's online services it's easy to do!

HSE’s height aware campaign 2006
The HSE is currently running a 'Falls from Height Campaign' to raise awareness of falls from height accidents and provide useful guidance on how to reduce the risks.
The HSE has warned that everyday actions like reaching for a mobile phone, or a cup of tea, could be risking the safety of trades people working at height, with falls from below head height injuring thousands every year at work. Is it worth risking your life?

Stressing over stress
Stress tops workers’ health and safety worries according to new HSE research, with more than one in five concerned about it. The figures come from the first findings of the HSE’s worker survey, conducted as part of its Workplace Health and Safety Survey programme.

The Printing Industry Advisory Committee
What is PIAC?
The Printing Industry Advisory Committee (PIAC) was formed in July 1979 to advise the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) on matters concerning the printing industry.
The members of PIAC are nominated by the CBI and TUC and appointed by HSC to work together with HSE to advise the industry on health and safety. Current membership includes representatives from the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF), Newspaper Society (NS), Newspaper Publishers Association (NPA), AMICUS.

New asbestos legislation
The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 is in the process of being reviewed and revised by the Health and Safety Commission (HSC). The revisions are required to bring British asbestos regulations into line with European standards; specifically The Asbestos Worker Protection Directive 83/477/EEC as amended. The intention is to simplify the British regulations by bringing together all current asbestos legislation into one new document that will be known as ‘The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (CAR 2006)’.

Prepared for the New Fire Safety Regulations?
In October 2006, the Government is set to bring the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) into force. Will you be able to comply?

Fire safety in non domestic premises
New guidance is being published on fire safety by HM Government to reflect new legislation which comes into force in October 2006. The guidance which deals with fire safety in different types of premises is being published now and HSE Books is, along with other distributors, stocking each item.

European Week for Safety and Health at Work 2006 Safe Start for Young People
Safe Start: 23rd - 27th October 2006
This year’s campaign slogan is ‘Safe Start’ and is dedicated to the occupational safety and health of young people. These webpages contain helpful information for young people, employers, parents and supervisors of young people. European Week 2006 will run from 23rd – 27th October. http://hse.gov.uk/campaigns/euroweek/index.htm

From good to great: Johnson sets out BPIF's goals for next 3 years

BPIF Chief Executive Michael Johnson presented a blueprint for change in relation to the future management of the BPIF, the strategic opportunities the organisation will be pursuing, and the state of the organisation’s future finances in 3 year's time.

Walsh highlights solid and tangible results at BPIF AGM

Walsh's mid-term Presidential address highlighted the results the BPIF has delivered in four key areas: success through partnerships, modernisation, influencing external decision-makers and improved member services.

Mike Taylor invested as BPIF Vice-President

CPI UK Joint Managing Director Chief Executive and Fulmar Chief Executive Mike Taylor was invested as Vice-President of the BPIF at the organisation's AGM.

BPIF to welcome print management companies into membership
A Resolution allowing all types of print supplier to join the BPIF has been approved overwhelmingly in a ballot of BPIF members. New wording incorporated into the BPIF’s Constitution now provides for the admission into membership of “any firms engaged in production processes associated with printing, or in the supply of printing services”. The change was announced by President Dominic Walsh at the BPIF’s AGM in Sheffield on Wednesday 4 July and opens the door to BPIF membership for print management companies.

BPIF looks back on a year of investment

Finance Director Carolyn Payne described the past twelve months as “ a year of investment in people, property and representation” at the BPIF’s AGM in Sheffield on 4 July.

Twenty BPIF companies sign up to save energy costs in week one
BPIF member companies are warming up to the benefits of aggregated energy purchasing with 20 having returned signed agreements within the first week. Have you considered it yet?

Make more sales! Book onto Getting the Sale for Wednesday 2 August
The BPIF quarterly survey of trends, ‘Directions’, published in July 2006, reported that 41% of respondents considered that their order books were worse than normal. Our Getting the Sale course is a great way to reinvigorate the sales focus in your organization and to teach new practical skills that can make all the difference to your sales effectiveness.

2005 Winners say the Scholarships can make dreams happen
Several of the winners in 2005 have volunteered their experiences and the value of the award to their careers and that the scholarships can really make dreams happen.

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.

Receivables Finance - more to it than you think!
Why should one necessarily look to a clearing bank for working capital and/or acquisition finance? Don't just accept that the traditional way of structuring finance facilities is the right one. Look at the options. You may be surprised at what you find.

Sales Management training offered at discount rates for members
Introduce and develop best management practices into sales management at a one day sales course being held on the 29 June at the BPIF London office. This course is available to members at a special price of £195.

Does your company produce 'an idiot's guide to print'?
The BPIF is looking for a booklet to educate the hundreds of insurance brokers that currently market its commercial insurance product, BPIF First, about the printing industry.

BPIF Past-President Ken Iddon honoured
BPIF Past-President Ken Iddon has been awarded an MBE for his services to the printing industry in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, published on 17 June.

BPIF offers SME members competitive advantage through access to energy markets
The BPIF is working with energy specialists CMR Consultants Limited (CMR) to reduce members’ energy costs and to ensure that member companies of all sizes are benefiting fully from a liberalised and competitive energy market.

Expert factory planning could save your £00,000's
Save money and increase efficiency with our expert factory planning and layout service

BPIF Business offer expert advice and support on factory planning for members who are moving premises or whose business space requirements have changed.

Members have used the layouts and our recommendations to make strategic, financial or logistical decisions that are critical to the future of their organisations.

In one case a member estimates that we helped them save around £175,000.

BPIF featured in Supply Management magazine
For the second month running, the BPIF was been featured in Supply Management magazine, the magazine of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), read by a wide range of your customers. The BPIF received coverage as part of its campaign against public bodies’ requests for fees in return for processing tender applications.

BPIF looks back on another sparkling year

Published ahead of the BPIF’s AGM on 4 July, the Federation’s Annual Review for 2005-06 - Delivering Results, highlights the benefits BPIF members have received over the past twelve months and the achievements realised on their behalf.

Michael Johnson commits to leading the BPIF for a further 3 years
BPIF Chief Executive Michael Johnson has agreed to commit to three more years as leader of the UK’s premier trade body. The news was announced by BPIF President Dominic Walsh at the Federation’s Board meeting on 6 June, and will come as a considerable relief to BPIF members concerned to secure Johnson’s continued services in the period ahead.

BPIF Global Watch Mission share digital best practice from US

The findings of a visit to upper New York state to study best practice in digital printing were the subject of a seminar held at Leeds University on 7 June attended by over 100 people. The event was coupled with an afternoon devoted to digital printing organised by the Centre for Industrial Collaboration in Digital Printing at Leeds University.

BPIF Shaping print's future in Europe
Intergraf, the European federation for the printing industry, last week appointed Bob Hodgson, Chairman and Chief Executive of Ormolu Group, as its President at its General Assembly on 2 June. The appointment marks a triumph for the British printing industry’s efforts to drive forward change within Intergraf and Europe.

Personnel Online features new section on World Cup employment issues
Sven Goran Eriksson is certain not to be the only manager with staff problems this World Cup, but at least his can be dealt with by a decent medical team and some inspired substitutions. But both printers and football coaches alike will need to be well-prepared, to anticipate the likely issues, and to deal with them in the best way possible when they do arise.

When you sell at Market Price - Do you know your Cost Price?
We are all used to having to cut prices to win and retain business. But do you know what each job will really cost and the true extent of discounts

BPIF continues strong membership growth in 2006-7
The BPIF has added 84 members in the first two months of 2006-7 including 19 Celloglass sites. This strong performance follows on from the 222 members recruited in the previous year to 31 March 2006.

CSR: tree-hugging PR fad or sound business practice?
Anyone who has had to compile a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy for a tender application will have views on how effective CSR has been, for their business and for their community. Have your say on the issue on the BPIF Discussion Forum.

New BRLA Chairman elected

Trevor Smith, Managing Director of Amberley Adhesive Labels Ltd of Blandford Forum, was unanimously elected as BRLA Chairman at the last meeting held on 23 May 2006.

Global watch mission
The BPIF won funding from the DTI Global Watch Mission programme to lead a group of UK printers on a study tour to New York State to assess the state of digital printing in that area. Hear first hand the result and conclusions drawn from the visit at the FREE seminar on 7 June.

Overseas trade statistics 2005
Exports down, Imports up - but the printing trade balance remains in the black.

Meet the North West’s marketing buyers – 28 June
Up to 25 marketing buyers in the North West will be looking for new suppliers, including printers at a Meet the Buyers event at Haydock Park on 28 June.

Don’t Mention the “O” Word!
A well-known international sporting event is to be held in England’s capital city in a year 6 years from now. However, if you refer to this international sporting event , in print, you could find yourself on the wrong side of the law

Tell Gordon Brown how to spend your taxes
The Government is planning its Comprehensive Spending Review, which shapes its entire size, shape and activities for the next ten years. If you have any views on how your taxes should be spent – improving the transport infrastructure, building nuclear power stations or putting money behind training – now is your chance.

Deadline for £2,500 training scholarships next Friday 12 May
Do you have a young person in your organisation that could benefit from £2,500 to support their education in the industry?

‘How to create a CSR policy’ – BPIF member toolkit
The BPIF has created a template for member companies to use to create a Corporate Social Responsibility policy

New category for digital books at 2006 Book Awards
The Limited Edition and Fine Binding category of the British Book Design and Production Awards 2006 has been extended to include digitally printed books.

Do you want to meet at least 7 print buyers in a day?
With only 38 printers signed up to date, do you want to miss being one of the lucky few to meet up to 25 pre-qualified print buyers on May 10?

IPEX viewpoints: the role of digital
IPEX 2006 did not just showcase new technology, it showcased the industry’s leading voices discussing the future of the industry. The view of Anne Mulcahy, ceo of Xerox, encapsulated the current debate over the role of digital in the future of print. She forecast that printing was about to become a service industry, following the pattern of other industries suffering from an over capacity and falling prices

North West trianing provision awarded at grade "B"
Hot on the heels of the EV visit to the North East a few weeks ago, the North West team was also EV'd for Training Co-ordinator Dave Hall and Deputy Head of Training, Ken Bate, it was a grueling 8 hours.

Important pan-Government print tender – don’t miss out!
Members should not miss out on the opportunity to tender for the cross-departmental Government print services roster worth at least £300 million that was released this week, closing at noon on 24 May. Over 20 central government departments, including the Department for Transport, Central Office of Information and Department for Education and Skills are signed up to use the roster when it comes into effect.

BPIF surveys reveal a shifting industry
There has been a significant increase in the use of shifts by printing companies. More than 50% of firms now operate shifts, an increase of 10% on previously, according to the BPIF Manpower survey report 2006. The recently published report, supported by Mercury Search & Selection, reveals that flexible working patterns are fast becoming the norm.

National Wage Settlement 2006/07
We have now received notification from the Amicus GPM Sector that its members have accepted the proposals for a new wage agreement for 2006/7.

Optimism eroded as costs continue to climb
Printers found the traditionally slow winter quarter to be considerably worse than forecast and worse than any other period in the last three years according to the latest BPIF Directions quarterly survey of trends. The climate of rising costs, increasing pressure on prices and squeezed margins shows no signs of dissipating.

North West training provision awarded a 'B' grade
Hot on the heels of the EV grade A visit to the North East a few weeks ago. The North West team was also Externally verified and awarded a grade B.

BPIF takes action on PQQ ‘donation’ requests
The BPIF is taking action on public sector contract notices that demand a payment before pre-qualification documents are released. The organisation is encouraging its members to alert it to contract notices requiring such payments, to enable it to ask the body issuing the notice, under the Freedom of Information Act, to account for the sums it is requiring and explain its plans to refund any sums surplus to requirements.

Reduce the environmental impact of your print
A new website called www.twig.uk.com has been launched that takes the environmental message and gives people the information and contacts to act.

BPIF and PIRA publish future visions for magazines and direct mail
Nearly 70 printers and suppliers to the printing industry took time out on 16 March earlier this month to hear the findings of a new BPIF-Pira research study (supported by the DTI and Canon UK) into the future of magazines and direct mail.

‘One stop shop’ for government contracts launched
The Government’s Small Business Service (SBS) has launched its online portal, www.supply2.gov.uk, for public bodies to post work of a value below the £100,000 Official Journal of the European Union. The SBS expects the site to become a one-stop-shop for companies searching for lower value contract opportunities.

UK printers look into US digital

A group of UK printers, lead by the BPIF, have just returned from a very successful DTI sponsored trip to the Rochester are of New York State. Whilst they were there they visited 7 printing companies together with Xerox, Kodak Nexpress and Rochester Institute of Technology.

Financial Boost for City Fringe Printers
The BPIF is a key partner in the successful bid made by the City Fringe Partnership for a £600,000 business support package over the next two years to assist printers and publishers in the City Fringe area of London.

OFT review of bank services to small businesses
The Office of Fair Trading has announced a review of the services provided to small businesses by the main clearing banks.

‘The Evolution of the European Graphic Industry’ statistical report available
The BPIF has received the statistical report produced by Intergraf, the European printing industry federation. The report covers the general economy of the EU-25 countries and key figures about the printing industry in each country, including the value of different sectors of the industry and countries’ consumption of inks and papers

UK found in breach of Working Time Regulations
For most employers, the Working Time Regulations (WTR) mean only one thing – the 48 hour limit and the ability to opt out. All eyes are on the European Commission which is threatening to remove that limit. In the meantime, another issue has raised its head, namely rest breaks.

BPIF helps promote Government good communications
The BPIF is once again supporting the Good Communications Awards that aim to promote and encourage the public sector’s efforts towards improving communication with its citizens and its workforce. If you print for your local council, encourage them to enter!

Age Discrimination Regulations published
On 9th March the UK government published the final draft of these Regulations, which constitute one of the most important pieces of employment legislation since the 1970s and comes into effect on 1st October this year.

Digital Print to feature in Daily Mail
Next Thursday's Daily Mail wil feature opportunities in digital printing in the careers section and we hope will give a plug for www.jobinsprint.com where BPIF members can advertise their vacancies free of charge.

Excellence Awards at IPEX 2006 - Dont forget to book your place
The two biggest events of 2006 are taking place alongside each other this year, the BPIF is holding it's Excellence Awards at IPEX 2006, this will ensure visitors and exhibitors as well as BPIF members and finalists will get the most out of the opportunities available. Everyone will be there - industry leaders, prize-winners, fellow professionals - all sharing the good times and the great.

BBFA Study Tour to Milan, 1-3 March 2006

24 BBFA members and guests travelled to Milan on a three-day study tour organised by Friedheim International and OMG Milan. The study tour included visits to print finishing companies Eurolega, Primavera, Albani, Antero and Legamatic in the Milan area concentrating on companies specialising in high speed saddle stitching and high speed perfect binding lines.

Over 140 delegates attend cartons conference
Over 140 del