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 delegates attended the BPIF Cartons Conference on 28 February at Staverton Park, Daventry. Organised by Angel Business Communications the conference took as a theme “The threats to, and opportunities for the folding carton industry”.

BPIF NVQ Training provision awarded a grade A
During the last two weeks the training team had a visit from an external verifier from City and Guilds.

His remit was to look at the NVQ provision from a quality assurance viewpoint and to ensure that we were meeting all the standards required for the NVQ in comparison with other providers and at a national level required by the awarding body.

70th YMP National Conference

The YMP Organisation has been running its annual conference for 70 years, this makes it one of the longest running annual events in the UK. The 70TH YMP National Conference, at Heythrop Park Oxfordshire, in February this year, was again a huge success. For the third year running Rhodes Event Management facilitated the training for the weekend, the theme of which was ‘Efficiency, Communication and Profitability – The Three Steps to Success’.

BPIF and Amicus to set up Joint Partnership Committee
The BPIF and Amicus are to establish a Joint Partnership Committee, whose remit will be to sustain the new Partnership Agreement and Code of Practice launched by the two organisations by Employment Relations Minister Gerry Sutcliffe at the DTI last December.

‘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

Exclusive BPIF member offer for 2006 Meet the Buyers
BPIF member offer: meet at least seven pre-qualified print buyers for less than £65 per appointment.

2006 book awards launched
The BPIF, Oxford Brookes University and The Publishers Association have once again joined together and have launched the British Book Design and Production Awards 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.

OgilvyOne tells BPIF DIG “print is here to stay”
Close to 40 delegates from the BPIF attended a packed conference last Wednesday on the UK Print Industry Transformation organised by IBM and the BPIF Digital Interest Group at the IBM Warwick Conference Centre.

National Council endorses proposed settlement
The National Council has endorsed the proposed settlement reached with Amicus GPM Sector on 16 February.

Excellence Awards Training short list announced
After a long and difficult first round of judging we are finally able to announcce the short-list for the BPIF Excellence Awards 2006 training categories.

Are you prepared for the new noise at work regulations?
New regulations come into force on 6 April 2006 to seek to reduce the noise levels at which employers have to take actions to protect their workers’ hearing.

Don’t take a risk on Raffles!
The Legal team have received a number of calls from members who have been asked to print Raffle tickets for fundraising events, and are unsure of what information needs to be printed on the tickets.

Print Industry Strategic Plan revised and updated

World Class Printing – the UK Print Industry Strategic Plan 2006 – has now been published. The plan is a joint publication by the BPIF, Vision in Print, Proskills and Amicus, and has been prepared in consultation with all of the industry’s trade bodies.

Finance conference proves to be a success
The first finance for printers conference attracted a committed audience of finance directors to London to hear that print can be profitable and value enhancing and that finance has a key role to play in the modern enterprise.

Survey of school leavers’ skills
In response to concerns expressed by employers about low educational standards among school leavers, the BPIF is offering members the opportunity to take part in a CBI project to identify what abilities employers need from school leavers.

BPIF and PIRA - Free seminar
A unique free-to-attend one-day seminar to be held on 16 March will present the results of a major new study by the BPIF and Pira International that examines what magazine publishers and direct marketing companies believe their customer base will demand from them in 10-15 years time.

Record short-list for 2006 Excellence Awards
Out of a record number of companies entering this year’s BPIF Excellence Awards, over 30 of the best companies in the UK printing industry are represented in the 2006 short-list.

YMP Conference is set to take delegates to the top!
This year's YMP conference is based on three main topics: Efficiency, Communication and Profitability. The event will allow delegates to become intimately involved with building and maintaing a successful company from a totally new perspective.

BPIF continues to lobby on third party accreditation suppliers
The OGC is now working on proposals for future policy with regard to third party accreditation suppliers. The BPIF will be working with the OGC and the CBI to lobby for transparency of operation.

John Ashfield to Chair South East Conference at Sandown Park

Polestar Hungary chairman John Ashfield’s considerable experience in print industry sales makes him the ideal candidate to chair the BPIF’s forthcoming regional conference at Sandown Park that will focus on marketing, customer service and how to win public sector contracts. The event takes place on Friday 24 February.

Maximise your sales through BPIF and XL's new sales courses
Research conducted by Harvard University concluded that sales negotiation outcomes can be improved by a factor of at least five times when individuals have participated in formal sales training.

BPIF Business and XL Training have developed a portfolio of short sales courses to meet the increasing necessity for enhanced sales skills in the print industry.

Quarterly energy prices
The Department of Trade and Industry release a quarterly report on UK energy prices. These average out the offering of different energy suppliers so do not allow direct comparison of suppliers’ offerings

DTI sponsors US visit to discover digital futures
A group of BPIF members will be going to New York State in March in search of best practice in digital printing and to look into the future of this important sector of the industry.

Gallus and HP Indigo to debate role of digital in label printing
The British Roll Label Association (BRLA), a Special Interest Group of the BPIF, held their last meeting on 23 February 2006 during which members debated the motion. 'This house believes that the future of the label printing industry is digital'.

Study on international competitiveness of UK print
The European Commission has agreed to provide €80,000 of funding to study the international competitiveness of the European printing industry. The study will examine the competitiveness of the European printing industry, particularly compared to China, India and South-East Asia.

Scholarships deadline approaches
March 15 is the closing date for entries for the 2006 BPIF Educational Scholarships awards,

HOAX: NetResult CEASE & DESIST email
If you have received an email entitled ‘CEASE & DESIST – Legal Action Pending’ from a company called NetResult, claiming that you have infringed on the Intellectual Property Rights of their client, please visit www.nr-online.com/hoaxes This page will allow you to check if your email is legitimate or whether it is one of a number of hoaxes currently circulating.

Government energy review finally launched
The Department of Trade and Industry has launched its long-awaited consultation on the UK’s future energy policy. Billed as ‘securing clean, affordable energy for the long term’, the review is an excellent opportunity to raise the printing industry’s concerns about the growing cost and uncertain security of the UK’s energy market.

6,000 student entries judged - we need your support!
Now nearing completion of its first phenomenally successful year, PrintIT! is looking for support from the printing industry in order to take the project forward into 2006.

Industry experts are at your disposal - can you afford to miss out?
Can you afford to miss out on the opportunity to gain expert advice on all aspects of growing your business from the large overview down to the small changes that could make the biggest differences?

The last few speakers have now confirmed for the Finance and Investment Conference being held on Thursday 9 February at the Chancery Court Hotel, London.

BPIF President takes Pensions Regulator to task
BPIF President Dominic Walsh, managing director of MSO Cleland, this week took the Chair of the Pensions Regulator, David Norgrove, to task over the Regulator’s plans for scrutinising funding plans for final salary pension schemes.

Royal Mail releases envelope specifications for 2006 local elections
Royal Mail has published its envelope specifications for the 2006 local elections. Members involved in printing ballot papers for the elections can download a pdf with the specifications from.

CBI Chief Economic Adviser confirms importance of the Print Industry
It has been confirmed today that Ian McCafferty, Chief Economic Adviser to the CBI for the last 4 years is to make the opening keynote speech at the Finance and Investment Conference.

2005 Printing for Profit industry survey now available
Following a rise in 2004 from 3.27% to 4.25%, the 2005 BPIF Printing for Profit Survey Report, sponsored by RSM Robson Rhodes, shows a disappointing fall in median net profit before tax as a % of sales to 3.62%.

Rate UK postal services
The EU is running a consultation to find out member states’ experience of the postal service, with a view to judging the effects of further postal liberalisation. Members can express their experience of the postal system through a simple online questionnaire.

Case studies of poor planning procedures needed
The BPIF is contributing to the CBI’s lobbying for further reform of the UK’s planning regulations. Despite a programme of reform running since 2001, many businesses still report slow or obstructive procedures that impede their ability to move or expand their business.

High Court decides bulk mail customers owed £40million by Royal Mail
In a landmark judgment the High Court has found in favour of the postal watchdog, Postwatch, against the regulator of Royal Mail, Postcomm, and ordered Postcomm to force Royal Mail to pay £40million compensation owed to bulk mail customers following service failures in 2003/4.

Date set for South East regional conference and race day
In today’s printing industry the depth of your customer and supplier relationships is key to the value of your business. Attracting and retaining customers through a better understanding of what they require from you is an essential skill for the success of any printing company. Whether there is a need to make yourselves more attractive to those managing the tender process, or to manage your costs better through improved relationships with suppliers, our 2006 Regional Conference will give you the information and ideas you need.

Gas supply FAQ document from government
The Department for Trade and Industry has produced a document that responds to the current speculation surrounding the UK’s gas supply. It outlines the likelihood of interruptions to the gas supply for customers on interruptible contracts and explains what will happen in the event of a gas emergency.

President’s Review of 2005

Following the Carols for Printers at St Brides Church, Fleet street, London, BPIF chief executive Michael Johnson, National President Dominic Walsh and immediate past Presidents Ken Iddon, Peter Yates and Roy Bailie were joined by members of the BPIF's National Council and Guests at the St Brides Institute in London. The President took the opportunity to review the BPIF’s successes throughout the year.

Ofgem wants to hear business experience of energy market
Ofgem, the energy market regulator, is carrying out an investigation into UK industry’s experience of the UK energy market. Comments about pricing structure, price increases, service levels, payment terms of different providers will provide Ofgem with much-needed evidence of how well the market is operating for small businesses, and will allow the BPIF to advise suppliers about how they can improve their offering to small businesses in a rising price environment

Pre-Budget report offers modest help for printers
The Treasury’s Pre-Budget report, published on 5 December, offered little in the way of exciting initiatives but did contain key proposals to help small businesses. The report promised that 2006 would see the completion of work on bad debt relief, Enterprise Capital Funds, the National SME Procurement Programme and National Employer Training Pilots.

BPIF Puts print on UK design agenda
A high-profile report on the UK’s use of design has highlighted the printing industry as an example of an enterprising industry that has fought against challenges to add value through innovative design. The British Printing Industries Federation used samples of its members’ products at a meeting with George Cox, chair of the Design Council, to demonstrate that the industry was a source of great design.

“UK Limited” – will you come out ahead of the game?
The Finance and Investment Conference on Thursday 9 February 2006 at The Chancery Court Hotel, London WC1, is aimed at Finance Directors, Finance Managers and Credit Control Managers and will help provide an objective insight into the structural issues directly affecting the economy, the markets and your business.

New industry studies help set the standard for excellence in print service

Winning more business by improving relationships between printing companies and their customers was the theme of two inspiring seminars held on 6th and 7th December in London and Wakefield respectively. The seminars, which were jointly hosted by BPIF, Vision in Print, PrintYorkshire and BSI, saw the launch of two exciting and thought provoking studies and of the new PAS 75 standard for print production and service.

BRLA members in efficiency drive!
The latest meeting of the British Roll Label Association (BRLA) on 15 November 2005 focussed on efficiency – in purchasing and manufacturing.

Awards entry deadline extended in response to rush for application forms
In response to requests from some of the 195 companies that have requested application forms for the 2006 Excellence Awards, the deadline for submitting entries has been extended to January 13th.

Same-sex partners win employment rights
Companies may need to review their employment policies in the light of new legislation in place from 5th December. Anne Copley, Head of Legal at BPIF says:

250,000 more employees covered by Disability Legislation
From 5th December new legislation takes effect with regard to employees suffering from a disability.

Ortega/BPIF Free Business Costing Appraisal
BPIF Finance, in conjunction with Ortega are offering a free review of your cost base during December and January.

New standard of excellence for print production and services published

PAS 75 the new print production and service standard has now been published and is available for purchase by members at a discounted rate. Developed and sponsored jointly by BPIF and BSI in consultation with printers and their customers, it focuses on optimising customer service and business performance. Non members please visit the BSI website www.bsi-global.com/Kitemark for more information

Carbon Trust Seminars - limited places available!
With both the Manchester and Wakefield seminars full, places really are limited. Find out here for a list of remaining dates and a booking form or contact Philip Thompson on 020 7915 8377.

BPIF highlights visually impaired market
Thirty BPIF members were introduced to the opportunities available to printers in the growing market for the blind and partially sighted at a BPIF event in London on Tuesday 29 November. The event, sponsored by Adobe, addressed the question of how printers can get involved in producing alternative formats for the blind and partially sighted.

International press recognise Excellence Awards

Journalists from Australia, Poland and the US have made further enquiries about the BPIF Excellence Awards following Cicely Brown’s presentation at last week’s IPEX Inward Mission event.

What can an Award do for your business?
Despite how good your business processes are, your company may not be reaping the full benefits of good management unless the outside world and your employees also know how good you are.

New employment law workshops
The South Eastern region have developed a series of three one-day workshops that will take you through all the main practical and legal issues involved in employing staff – from recruitment to termination.

Local Government Procurement Roadshow
OPO, the Society of Procurement Officers, is holding a ‘Selling to Local Government Roadshow’ on 8 December in London. The event is designed to help companies maximise their chances of selling to local government, and is billed as being particularly relevant to small firms.

BPIF promotes new Excellence Awards to international press community

Companies wishing to have their success in export markets or lean manufacturing recognised can now enter for two new BPIF Excellence Awards, to be awarded on 6 April 2006 alongside IPEX 2006 at the Birmingham Metropole.

Industry leaders challenge government on print training

A record-breaking 150 MPs, peers, printers and representatives from industry organisations gathered to hear print industry leaders challenge the government to deliver on its promises to improve print training at the annual All Party Parliamentary Print Group event at the House of Commons on 16 November.

Minister officially launches Partnership at Work Agreement

Mr Gerry Sutcliffe MP, Minister for Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs, today officially launched the printing Industry’s Partnership at Work Agreement and Code of Practice in a keynote address at the DTI Conference Centre, London.

BPIF staff run New York marathon
On Sunday 6 November Mike Hopkins, Regional Director - North, and Dale Wallis, National Health and Safety Advisor, lined up with 37597 other hopefuls for the start of the New York Marathon.

A £45 million opportunity for printers: event 29 November 2005
Members are invited to attend an event on 29 November addressing the opportunities for printers offered by the Disability Discrimination Act.

National Gallery wins Book of the Year 2005

The National Gallery Company took centre stage at this year’s successful British Book Design and Production Awards by winning the prestigious ‘Book of the Year’ Award, sponsored by Oce, with Raphael: From Urbino to Rome.

HSE launches ladders weeks (14 - 18 November 2005)
Falls from height are the number one cause of workplace deaths and one of the main causes of major injury in the workplace. Almost a third of falls are from ladders. In the year 2003/4 13 workers died from falls involving ladders and more than 1200 workers suffered major injuries.

Customer service seminar details published
Limited places will be available for these seminars, which promise to demonstrate the tie-in between customer service and profitability, and how printers can achieve it.

Health and safety website gets exclusive IPEX preview
Visitors to the BPIF members lounge at IPEX will be the first to preview the Amicus/BPIF Health & Safety (H & S) website developed with £70,000 funding from the DTI.

PrintWeek supports Excellence Awards

PrintWeek has become the official media partner for the 2006 BPIF Excellence Awards.

Improving government regulation is simple
Submitting proposals to simplify government regulations is not a complicated challenge, as information released by the Cabinet Office demonstrates.

Corporate Print goes ‘in-house’ at world-class recycled fibre plant

Seven members of the BPIF’s In-house & Corporate Print Services special interest group recently attended a meeting at M-real’s New Thames Paper Mill in Kent

Energywatch looking for SME consumers
Energywatch, the independent gas and electricity consumer watchdog, is holding a consumer event in London on 30th November, to highlight the problems faced by SME energy consumers.

HSE ‘Watch Your Step’ – Slips and Trips Campaign 2005
Accident Statistics - In 2003/04 slip and trip accidents nationally, resulted in over 11,000 ‘major injuries’ and 30,000

Amicus members vote for partnership deal
Successful conclusion to Partnership at Work initiative. Amicus members employed in the commercial printing industry and working under the Amicus/BPIF national agreement, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new National Agreement covering working conditions.

‘Selling to the UN & International Red Cross’ Business Clinic
Businesses wanting to find out how they can get a slice of the £2.5 billion dollars spent by the United Nations every year should come along to a UN Geneva Business Clinic being held on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th November at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, 75 Harborne Road, Birmingham, B15 3DH.

UK Printing Industry grows by 2.5%
An analysis of newly released data from the Office for National Statistics reveals that the total turnover of companies in the UK Printing Industry experienced growth of 2.5% in 2004.

One-stop-shop for Business Improvement

ViP and BPIF Business have joined forces to provide a ‘one stop’ shop for Business Improvement. ViP was established to raise productivity and competitiveness of the UK printing industry. Its own range of products and services is increasing rapidly, but cannot cover all aspects of business improvement.

Lack of confidence in Employment Tribunals costing businesses
The BPIF is warning that mandatory dispute resolution procedures introduced in October 2004 have compounded rather than lessened the problem of spurious tribunal claims.

Who cares for the customer – profitable printers do!
Two exciting and thought provoking reports are due to be launched in the next few weeks inspired by a common focus on the part of the BPIF, Print Yorkshire and Vision in Print on improving relationships between printing companies and their customers.

BPIF Midlands 'Alliance House' moves after 25 years

After 25 years at Alum Rock Road the BPIF has sold its Midland's head office for redevelopment and has moved to modern, more suitable 2,500 sq ft premises in Meriden, the official 'centre' of England.

PIPS holds first-ever pensions conference for printers
The Printing Industry Pension Scheme (PIPS) is to hold its first-ever Conference on 23 November. Pensions and the printing industry – new challenges and opportunities aims to enable those attending to understand, debate and plan for the significant challenges and opportunities pension schemes will be presented with in the months ahead.

BPIF wins Carbon Trust Award to cut industry’s CO2 emissions
The Carbon Trust has awarded the BPIF a grant of £17,000 to fund a series of workshops around the country to help printing companies reduce their carbon emissions.

Close to 200 BPIF members twin with PrintIT! schools
BPIF members make up over 80% of the 235 printing companies that have agreed to ‘twin’ up with local schools taking part in the PrintIT! project.

Excellence Awards to showcase the best of British business at IPEX 2006

After a break of over a year, the BPIF is inviting entries to the BPIF Excellence Awards, due to take place at the Hilton Metropole, Birmingham alongside IPEX 2006 on April 6 2006 (the first Thursday of the show).

BPIF contributes to Better Regulation
The BPIF has given its full support to the CBI’s work on the government’s Better Regulation Bill, which aims to simplify the process of reducing red tape. The BPIF and CBI asked that the Bill make the elimination or simplification of regulation as easy as possible, in order to deliver the targeted reduction of regulations recommended earlier this year by the Better Regulation Task Force.

UK Print Industry Report
The UK Print Industry Report compiled by RSM Robson Rhodes, with support from the BPIF, is now available free to BPIF members.

PFA cracks down on poor industry standards
The Periodical Publishers Association (PPA) has endorsed the Code of Practice of the BPIF’s Promotional Finishers Association (PFA), which seeks to raise the professionalism of finishing businesses serving the magazine sector.

Christmas Carol Service
We are pleased to invite all printers and their families to the annual Carols for Printers service, which will be held on Tuesday 13 December at St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street.

Birmingham office re-location
The Midland Region, Finance and Training and Administration are moving offices and will be closed all day on 21 October and re-opening on Monday 24th. Please ensure you have their new contact details.

Join the Crusade to stamp out Bad Debt
Don't forget, all BPIF members have an account with ICSM, provided by the BPIF as part of your membership.

Environmentally accredited printers
David Shorto, print-buyer for Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, is setting up a website aimed at environmentally concerned designers and print –buyers. He would like to make contact with environmentally accredited printers with a view to being featured on the site.

Directions’ signals another good summer for print
The summer period continues to surprise printers in its buoyancy, with July’s expectations for the state of trade actually being exceeded over the last three months. This follows two years of relatively buoyant summers for business and expectations remain high for the winter months although rising costs and stable prices continue to suppress margins.

UK Companies fear increase in litigation
In the past twelve months up to 66% of UK companies have been involved in litigation.

This was the surprising conclusion reached as a result of a survey of in-house lawyers in the UK conducted recently by a US legal firm. The survey also indicated that 48% of the companies involved in the survey expect an increase in litigation in 2006

Don’t miss BPIF Legal Clinic and XL Sales Solutions at DPW!
The largest collection of digital presses in the UK this year will be on display at next week’s Digital Print World at Earl’s Court 2. The BPIF will also be there with the BPIF Legal team hosting a Legal Clinic at Stand 240 and supporting associate member XL Recruitment’s launch of its new Sales Training programmes on stand 456.

Launch of Partnership Agreement and Joint Code of Practice
Pending a successful ballot of union members in support of the new Partnership Agreement and Joint Code of Practice for the printing industry, the BPIF and Amicus GPM Sector will be hosting a launch event on 16 November 2005 at the DTI Conference Centre, London at 9.30am

Print congress inspirational success!

Impressed delegates hailed the first industry Print Congress for a decade as a great success at its close on Tuesday 4 October. The two-day conference, which saw twenty-eight speakers address the issue of ‘Driving Industry Strategic Change’, was sponsored by Lombard and supported by the BPIF.

Warning of ink price hike
Moira McMillan, British Coatings Federation CEO, confirmed that the market was likely to see a further rise in printing ink prices as a result of the recent surge in the cost of crude oil. This difficult situation is being further exacerbated by reduction in refining capacity in USA, fears regarding supplies from Iran and increasing demand from China, which has resulted in the announcement of pending price increases in the USA.

Dermatitis in the Printing Industry - Open meeting
The Printing Industries Advisory Committee (PIAQ) are holding an open meeting on Dermatitis in the Printing Industry. The meeting will be held at the Goodyear Pavilion, Wolverhampton on 10 November 2005, starting at 10.15.

Changes to Small Firms Loan Guarantee criteria
The criteria for the Small Firms Loan Guarantee (SFLG) will be changing in December 2005. Members may be affected by the decision to restrict the availability of the SFLG to companies younger than five years. In order that loans to businesses that will not be eligible under this new criteria can be guaranteed before 1 December 2005, fully documented applications must be with lenders by close of business on 28 October 2005.

Amicus Members to vote on Partnership at Work agreement
Amicus GPM sector members will vote this month in a nationwide ballot on the draft Partnership at Work Agreement and Code of Practice, the joint initiative of the BPIF and Amicus, supported by the DTI.

Employment Equality Regulations 2005
The Employment Equality (Sex Discrimination) Regulations 2005 come into force on 1 October and although they do not constitute major changes to existing sex discrimination laws, their effect may be to make it easier for claims of sex discrimination or sexual harassment to succeed.

Educational Scholarships move into their third year
In 2006 the BPIF and the Printers’ Charitable Corporation (PCC) will be offering another 12 Printing Educational Scholarships to the value of £2500 each.

Employment Equality Regulations 2005
The BPIF issued a timely warning today to its members to dust off their Equal Opportunities and Anti-Harassment Policies.

PrintIT! signs up 173 printers in first fortnight
With a massive 542 schools across the country signed up to take part in the PrintIT! competition, BPIF members have already agreed to twin with 173 schools however that leaves another 369 schools still looking for partners to work with.

10-minute questionnaire for Pre-Budget report
If your company has experience with being on, tendering to join, or refusing to join a list of approved suppliers to a public body, please take ten minutes to fill in the attached questionnaire.

£45 million business opportunity for printers
New legislative requirements to provide printed products in formats that are accessible to blind and partially sighted people will create business opportunities for members of the printing industry.

Free places at Print Congress 2005 gala dinner
We would like to welcome Lombard as one of our sponsors and partners for Print Congress 2005. Thanks to their and the rest of our sponsor’s support we are able to offer the next 20 delegates complimentary places at the gala dinner when they book for the congress.

Parliament reception to focus on training
The annual All-Party Parliamentary Print Group reception, taking place at the House of Commons on 16 November 2005, will focus on the value of training in the industry. A prestigious event that enables printers to engage directly with MPs in a relaxed setting, the All-Party Group reception will be supported by Proskills, the newly launched Sector Skills Council for the industry.

BPIF Mediation Service aims to slash legal costs
Settlement of disputes just got easier thanks to BPIF Mediation, a new service available through the BPIF Legal Department. BPIF members can take advantage of professional mediation, which aims to help parties come to an amicable agreement before spending large amounts of cash on lawyers and in the Courts.

Newspaper Education Trust 10th anniversary
The Newspaper Education Trust (the NET) celebrated its 10th anniversary this week, at a reception attended by guests from all walks of journalism and print, including Andrew Brown representing BPIF.

HSE acknowledges key BPIF role in 'Backs' campaign
Less than 6% of printers and publishers inspected by both Employment Medical Advisory Services (EMAS) and HSE inspectors as part of the HSE 'Backs' campaign received improvement notices. One inspector found that a majority of the printers that they visited during the campaign had sent at least one of their staff on a BPIF organised seminar

Over 500 PrintIT! schools looking for printers:

The BPIF needs members to support the PrintIT! Project which has signed up over 500 schools that are keen to be twinned up with local companies that can offer support and advice for teachers and students participating in the PrintIT! competition.

Technology Warehouse Expands
Technology Warehouse has 11 additional sections. In each of these you will find sources for everything from spectrophotometry to hologram applicators, from ink to paper, and from prepress to digital print and offset.

Half a century in print
Last week, Barry Whittaker of PressCraft Litho Finishing, Ontario Canada celebrated 50 years of his career in print. PressCraft contacted the BPIF on behalf of Barry who had first trained as an Apprentice 50 years previously in his home country, England.

2004 Educational Scholarship update
Twenty-year-old Darren Ammar, a graphic design student at the University of Hertfordshire, and a £2500 bursary winner in the 2004 Educational Scholarship Awards run by the BPIF and the PCC has completed a very successful first year and has written in to say a big thank-you.

Tribunal decision “…makes a nonsense of Race laws”
A decision in the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) last month has highlighted a difficulty facing all employers when trying to deal with discrimination issues in their workplace.

Register for a .eu domain name
For a four-month 'sunrise' period, expected to start in October 2005, certain types of organisation will have exclusive rights to obtain their equivalent domain name in the new .eu domain set up by the European Commission.

Over 100 companies join the BPIF in 5 months doubling recruitment rates
In the five months since April 2005, 86 corporate members and 20 associate (supplier) members have joined the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF).

BPIF launches new service at Digital Print World’s first legal advice centre

The British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) is hosting the first BPIF Legal Clinic that will offer free 20 minute advice slots for visitors attending this year’s Digital Print World, taking place on October 18th – 20th at Earl’s Court 2.

BPIF is first trade association to prove 28 to1 payback to industry

The British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) is the first UK trade association to calculate its value added to its members and to its industry based upon a rigorous system developed by the CBI-supported Trade Association Forum (TAF).

Court of Appeal reduces exposure to unhappy competitors
A Court of Appeal decision this month appears to restrict even further a company’s ability to recover compensation from a competitor who entices away its key employees.

Book Awards 2005 – Shortlist announced
The BPIF, Oxford Brookes University and The Publishers Association are pleased to announce the shortlist of the 4th British Book Design and Production Awards.

£58k grant for BPIF member

BPIF member WEBMART has just won a £58,000 grant Knowledge Transfer Project (KTP) grant from the DTI to sponsor a graduate project to conduct detailed market research into WEBMART's market.

BPIF Legal department doubles capacity
In the last 2 months the BPIF Legal department has doubled its capacity and welcomed two new employees, Nicola Langley, a Commercial Solicitor with 15 years experience and Michelle Leney an Administrator with 20 years experience in construction and planning work.

BPIF Climate Change Levy Reduction Scheme saves printers £4.5m every year
The BPIF Climate Change Levy Reduction Scheme has saved printers over £4.5 million every year since 2001 and resulted in an 8% reduction in relative energy consumption. This has meant the 160 participants in the scheme have cut carbon dioxide emissions by over 52,000 tonnes.

Improve the R&D tax credit
The government is consulting on how to improve the Research and Development tax credit. The government would like to know if users of the tax credit have found that it fulfils its aims of simplicity, consistency and certainty, and if not, how this experience could be improved.

Industry leaders put energy costs on the boardroom agenda
The spiralling cost of energy was placed centre stage as leaders of the magazine printing industry attended a BPIF summit at the St Bride Foundation Institute on 3 August.

Amicus to brief chapel representatives on proposed partnership agreement and code of practice
Following formal approval of the proposed BPIF/Amicus GPM Sector Partnership at Work Agreement and Code of Practice by the BPIF’s National Council and the Amicus GPM Sector Committee, Amicus has now arranged a series of briefing meetings for chapel officials in BPIF member companies.

Royal Mail: Size-based pricing by April 2006
Royal Mail has declared its intention to move from weight-based to size-based pricing of post by April 2006. This decision follows a long lobbying campaign by various industry sectors to retain weight-based pricing.

Tribunal cases set to rise
Following a fall in the number of tribunal cases since the new employment dispute regulations came into force in October, the BPIF warns that the number of cases reaching tribunals will rise again in the coming months.

World Swim For Malaria, 3rd Dec 2005
Michael Johnson, BPIF CEO, personally urges the British Printing Industry to participate in a global initiative to help the fight against malaria, the world's single largest killer of children. He supports the organisers in their aim to have 5,000 people swimming and raising money from the wider British printing industry.

New VAT advice page on www.britishprint.com
The BPIF has added to the vast range of resources on the www.britishprint.com site with a new VAT advice page for members.

Don't let your fleet be caught out by HSE
"DRIVING AT WORK" LEGISLATION
The HSE has recently clarified the requirements of employers in relation to 'Managing at Work Road Safety'.
BPIF through our partner Active Risk Management can offer the definitive one-stop shop for all your fleet risk management requirements.

Corporate Manslaughter Legislation
The Draft Corporate Manslaughter Bill
Companies will face prosecution if they fail to ensure the safety of workers or the public. The Draft Bill will introduce a new offence of corporate manslaughter for cases when death takes place because of management failure. Current manslaughter law has faced criticism for making it difficult to bring companies to account.

BPIF secures funding for technology mapping
The BPIF has secured funding of £15K from the DTI to part-finance a technology mapping exercise covering the magazine and direct mail sectors. The balance of the cost (£15K) will be shared equally between Pira International and ourselves.

BPIF Member achieves 'Superbrand' status
BPIF member company Pindar has been named one of 83 'business superbrands', one of only three print companies to be granted such status.

New crop of industry leaders graduate

Fourteen delegates of the Loughborough University Management Development Centre, BPIF Professional Certificate in print Management course graduated on the 18 July 2005.

Your views sought on team leader training
BPIF and Vision in Print are working jointly on a project to look at team leader training in the sector. To give us the background data to ensure it is targeted at the right level and from an employer’s perspective we’d be grateful if you would complete the attached short questionnaire.

PrintWorks brings print to 3,500 more young people
Over 3,500 school children, students and teachers picked up materials from the PrintWorks stand at last week’s four-day Skill City event at London Docklands Excel.

Proskills – Skills initiative gears up for success
On Wednesday, 06 July, Proskills, the new Government backed skills and training organisation for the process and manufacturing industries, was recommended to receive a licence to operate from the Education and Skills Secretary, Ruth Kelly.

BRLA gets to grips with RFID

At a meeting hosted by press manufacturer Mark Andy Ltd on 21 June 2005 members of the British Roll Label Association (BRLA) were brought up to date with a half-day workshop on the important but still puzzling subject of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification).

Download the BPIF annual report 2005
Download the BPIF annual report for 2005 here.

“Noisy” new board announced at AGM
Dominic Walsh, Managing Director of M S O Cleland Ltd and new President of the BPIF, named his nominees to the BPIF Board at the AGM on Thursday 30 June. The BPIF’s National Council had earlier approved the appointment of Mike Taylor of Fulmar plc, Aston Colley of Arron Print Ltd and Ben Turner of Cantate Print Ltd.

BPIF aims to secure £15m for technology and training in the next 3 years
At yesterday’s Annual General Meeting, BPIF chief executive Michael Johnson outlined a series of commitments and priorities for the coming years.

New recruits reinvigorate BPIF Training
This summer BPIF Training will be taking on 3 new members of staff to support a reinvigorated department. Currently delivering 58% of the current market share of apprenticeships in the whole of the printing industry with 435 apprentices, BPIF Training has achieved its goal of increasing apprenticeships and has shifted the balance from apprentices making up 45% of those in training in March 2004 to 54% now.

Seven young printers awarded BPIF 2005 Educational Scholarships
Seven young people were presented with substantial cheques on June 30 when this year’s successful applicants for a BPIF Educational Scholarship were acknowledged at a short ceremony and buffet lunch at London’s Army & Navy Club in Pall Mall.

BPIF summer Directions shows barometer set to ‘low’
Contrary to the uncertainty of the same period in 2004, respondents to the latest BPIF Directions Quarterly Survey of Trends are suffering from a stagnating market with companies focusing on break-even before contemplating the lure of profits.

Free online reviews of today’s best technology for members
Digital Dots’ Laurel Brunner is providing in-depth industry information free of charge to Platinum members via BPIF Technology Warehouse in the form of the excellent Spindrift magazine, the digital newsletter for graphics industry professionals.

BPIF members rewarded for their commitment to the environment
At a ceremony in Lincoln Inns field in London on Tues 31st May 2005, Padstow based book printing company T.J.International was one of only 15
award winners in the annual prestigious `Business Commitment to the Environment Awards' supported by the UK government and private sponsors.

BPIF and Vision in Print form partnership to manage
The BPIF and Vision in Print (ViP) have agreed to establish a new partnership for the management and delivery of business improvement solutions to printing companies.

BPIF and Vision in Print form partnership to manage
The BPIF and Vision in Print (ViP) have agreed to establish a new partnership for the management and delivery of business improvement solutions to printing companies.

Need a London base?
Does your company need a representative in London? Space in the BPIF’s bright, modern, city-based offices is available for temporary or long-term hire.

Printdata puts BPIF Salary and Wage survey data online
Data from the BPIF Manpower and Salary Survey reports will now be available online at www.printdata.org.uk making it easier for printing companies to benchmark their compensation rates for new or existing employees.

Envirowise event: “Minimise Waste, Maximise Profit
Envirowise, the Government programme that has helped UK businesses save over £1bn with resource efficiency advice, is holding a speed surgery day at The Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, on Friday 24 June from 4.30pm to 7.00pm.

Address your environmental impact
The environment is becoming an increasingly important issue that affects a company’s competitiveness. Firstly, customers are keen to inspect your environmental credentials as part of their purchasing criteria; secondly, environmental legislation is tightening.

BPIF launches first European print conference for a decade

The BPIF is proud to be launching Print Congress 2005, the first major UK and European conference for the print industry to be held in Western Europe this decade, and pleased with the extremely high calibre of speakers and sponsors it has attracted.

Last chance to submit entries for new look Book Awards
The closing date for entries for the British Book Design and Production Awards is looming and the 30 June is the last possible date for submissions. The awards, which will take place on 8 November 2005, are in their 4th year.

IQA – Best Practice Guidelines for Digital Imaging
The IQA (Institute of Quality Assurance) has developed a set of Best Practice Guidelines for digital imaging that are now at final review stage. The BPIF has been involved in supporting the development of these guidelines and you are strongly urged to review the work to date and make any comments you feel would be of value.

Small Business Service red tape buster
The Small Business Service (SBS) have launched an online red tape busting observatory, through which businesses can highlight specific regulations that are overly burdensome to their business and suggest how they can be simplified.

UK paper merchants respond to Finnish 'lock out'
Reading about the ‘lockout’ in Finland’s paper mills, the BPIF contacted its paper merchant members to give their advice to printers.

Skills benchmarking project
The BPIF is working with the CBI to produce case studies of employer good practice in employee skills development, in order to develop a set of guidelines to help employers benchmark their own progress in training their staff. The final report, which is being funded by the Department for Education and Skills, will be launched in November as part of the government’s EU Presidency events.

BPIF response to the Queen’s speech
There were three items of particular interest to the printing industry in the jam-packed Queen’s speech on Tuesday 17 May; Company law reform, Regulatory reform and the extension of 'family friendly' employment legislation.

BPIF supports The Print Business

A new industry magazine should have landed on your desk in the last fortnight: The Print Business is a new bi-monthly title from First City Media, publishers of the successful Print Media Management magazine.

Future Role of Print and Media conference, Stockholm 2005
From 20-21 September 2005, the Future Role of Print and Media conference will be taking place in Stockholm organised by STFI-Packforsk in cooperation with the Swedish Graphic Companies’ Federation.

Stationers' Summer Forum: Are you thinking what they're thinking?
This year the Stationers' Summer Forum on 20 June is a 'question time' event with a distinguished panel of CEOs focusing on the strategic issues facing the media industry, chaired by Peter Day, Business Correspondent of the BBC. Tickets on a first come first served basis.

BPIF puts print on the Design Council radar
Last Friday Design Council Chair George Cox was treated by BPIF Chief Executive Michael Johnson and Strategic Partnerships Director Andrew Brown to examples of high-quality and innovative design produced by member companies.

Innovation in manufacturing; free breakfast event for SMES
The CBI and IBM are co-hosting a series of business breakfasts for SME manufacturers in London, Birmingham and Manchester in July and September. These complimentary events aim to give manufacturers some ideas about improving innovation in their business and how this can improve both productivity and profitability.

BPIF Finance tackles first 29 projects
The new BPIF finance initiative BPIF Finance has now been launched for several weeks and has been very well received by members who realise the business benefits it can offer.

Are you certified to National & International Standards?
BPIF Business continues to help companies improve their performance and views certification to international standards as a key element. We are conducting a survey aimed at determining the number of companies who are already certified.

BPIFBusiness and GRM to offer free environmental training
BPIFBusiness in conjunction with GRM is offering a free six-day training programme, over a four month period, supported by the European Social Fund, based on the framework of ISO 14001.

New to a supervisory role? Would you benefit from some training?
The BPIF’s Supervisor Role course will be running on the 7th June at our Birmingham Regional Business Centre. This one day introductory course will benefit all those who are about to become a supervisor, or who have had no previous training in the supervision of others in the workplace.

Does your company have examples of high quality design?
On 20 May, Chief Executive Michael Johnson and Strategic Partnerships Director Andrew Brown will meet with Design Council Chairman George Cox to discuss how the printing industry can contribute to the government-sponsored review of the role of creativity in driving the performance of SMEs in the UK.

Last call for views on the government’s extension of ‘Family Friendly Working’
The deadline for the government’s consultation on its proposals to alter maternity and paternity leave and to extend the right to request flexible working is approaching fast.

Disability Discrimination Act 2005 receives royal assent
Every employer is acquainted with the scenario of an employee who is under threat of disciplinary action going off sick and getting a GP’s note saying that they are suffering from stress and depression. This prolongs the procedure and makes it more difficult for the employer to deal with a legitimate workplace issue.

Positive feedback for new partnership agreement
Following our National Council's decision to strongly recommend the new partnership agreement and code of practice to member companies, the Amicus GPM Sector Committee (the equivalent of the former GPMU National Executive Council) has now approved the Partnership proposals as a basis for consultation and ballot of GPMS members.

Pay in the industry
reports have been published. Each survey analyses wage and salary data from around 250 companies. The Salary survey concentrates on managerial and non-production occupations, whilst the Manpower survey focuses on production roles.

Winning Mailshots Award
Royal Mail’s Winning Mailshots Award recognises the innovative and effective use of mailshots by small businesses. If you are producing or have recently produced mailshots that have been particularly effective or creative, this is your opportunity to put both your campaign and your business on display.

Sell-out Northprint 2005 breaks all records

The BPIF membership development team took in over 75 leads and signed up nine new members at last week's Northprint expo in Harrogate. The stand, which was shared with Print Yorkshire, also saw the launch of the new member website BPIF Technology Warehouse, and welcomed Murray Booker and new initiative BPIF Finance.

Long term sick and WTR holiday pay
Some of you will be aware of the strange anomaly brought about by the Employment Appeal Tribunal when it decided that employees on long term sick were still entitled to 20 days’ WorkingTime Regulations holiday pay so long as they notified you that they were taking holiday. Thus your employee with a bad back could suddenly decide he was going on a bungee-jumping holiday and receive his pay for so doing.

Simplifying your tax administration burden
The BPIF is contributing to the Government’s consultation on simplifying the administrative burdens of the tax system. The consultation has been undertaken to ensure that the merger of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise creates a simplified, rational tax system.

Pro Carton announce new senior level appointments at the U.K. AGM
As part of the commitment to co-operation and joint effort with BPIF Cartons (formerly BCA), the newly appointed BPIF Cartons President, John Monks, has also agreed to accept honorary membership of the Committee of Pro Carton U.K.

BPIF delivers technical expertise online
The BPIF has re-packaged its considerable technical knowledge of the industry into an online resource for members via Print Technology Warehouse.

BPIF Finance makes first public appearance at Northprint
Murray Booker will be attending Northprint on behalf of BPIF Finance, the BPIF’s recently launched financial management service, offering wide ranging financial advice and analysis from banking, invoice discounting, asset finance, mergers and acquisitions and insolvency.

HSE 2005 initiative targets print
Starting in June 2005, HSE inspectors will be visiting work places (including printing and publishing premises) to specifically inspect manual handling.

BPIF staff member in Lands End – John O’Groats charity bike ride

In May this year, veteran charity fund-raiser and BPIF Midlands staff member, Stephanie Smart, will be fulfilling a lifelong dream and cycling the 900 miles between Lands End and John O’Groats, on behalf of two charities – Volunteer Bureau and Motability.

Cash prizes for employers who train
New practical learning charity Edge has launched a nationwide search for employers who provide the very best practical training for young people. Edge will reward £460,000 in cash prizes to employers across the nation who can demonstrate how they offer excellent work-related learning opportunities for 14-25 year olds.

New employment legislation in force on 6 April 2005
A raft of new employment legislation came into force on 6 April 2005, including new provisions relating to pension protection, trade union recognition and statutory maternity pay.

BPIF Cartons
NEW BODY TO CHAMPION THE CAUSE OF CARTON PRINTERS


British Carton Association metamorphoses into BPIF Cartons

ALI confirms raising of BPIF Training standards
Following the last Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) inspection of BPIF Training in 2003, the department has implemented a series of improvements following a post-inspection development plan.

Directions - Industry continues to seek new avenues to profitability
Whilst printers remain less concerned about volumes, pressure on prices and increasing raw material costs are encouraging businesses to improve internal processes with more companies focussing on stricter controls on debtors and investment in increased efficiency.

Printed Electronics: A new business opportunity for printing?
The relatively recent discovery of organic, soluble materials capable of exhibiting electrical properties similar to those of silicon semiconductors has rapidly emerged from the laboratory and opened the door to an entirely new and proliferate industry: Printed Electronics.

John Monks takes over as BCA re-brands to BPIF Cartons
The British Carton Association (BCA) is being re-launched as BPIF Cartons, with a new management structure. BPIF Cartons will concentrate on providing leadership within the industry and business support services to carton makers.

BPIF Business seeks member feedback
BPIF Business wants to further identify the current principal business issues that members have and the part that BPIF can have in their resolution. Would you please assist in our project by completing the following questionnaire and return it to Graham Arundell by Friday 8 April 2005.

BPIF and Murray Booker launch value added finance initiative
This month the BPIF launches BPIF Finance, offering BPIF members an objective financial management service for undertaking capital investment and asset finance projects.

Securing EU funding and contracts: useful website
If you would like to find out more about securing EU funding and contracts within the EU, the BPIF and Forum for Private Business recommend the European Commission’s “Your Europe – Business” website as a useful starting point.

Host a government official for a week in business
Do you believe the Government doesn’t understand your business? Officials from various Government departments, including HM Treasury and the Small Business Service, will shortly be looking for host businesses with which to spend a week or part of a week.

US print sales expert Terry Nagi and BPIF to host solutions selling workshop
Experienced workshop presenter and published author of print sales related books, Terry Nagi, will be joining forces with the BPIF in an interactive two-day solutions selling workshop designed specifically to improve the techniques and success rates of print sales professionals.

More and more visitors register for Northprint 05
With only 3 weeks to go until Northprint 05, pre-registration is soaring, with over 3,500 visitors expected to attend including marketing professionals, brand managers, print buyers, designers, publishers and printers from all over the UK.

BPIF And XL Recruitment tackle print's sales skills problems
The BPIF and associate member XL Recruitment are launching a project that aims to improve the quality of sales people in the print industry.

Northprint free business advice sessions still available
Although Tuesday’s free advice slots at the BPIF Business advice centre at Northprint are pretty booked up there are still some 20 minutes slots available on Wednesday 20th April and Thursday 21st April.

BPIF and Amicus GPMS win £60k Health & Safety project in South West
The BPIF in partnership with Amicus GPMS has been awarded £58,800 to encourage and develop local health and safety partnerships between 40 regional print employers and their workforce in South West England and South Wales, and to improve health and safety standards as a result.

Getting the sale
The Getting the Sale course is a one-day course, which is designed for anyone who is either just moving into a selling career or for those who would perhaps benefit from a fresh look at the sales process.

BPIF drives initiative to improve print industry costing systems
BPIF Business is working with Leicester-based Ortega systems in order to both benchmark and provide best-practice guidance for costing in the UK printing industry.

BPIF and Amicus GPM Sector unveil new draft agreement and code of practice

The BPIF and the Amicus GPM Sector have reached a basis of agreement on a new Partnership Agreement and Joint Code of Practice for the industry.

Partnership proposals released for member consultation
BPIF President Ken Iddon is writing to all member companies today to confirm that the BPIF and Amicus GPM Sector (formerly GPMU) have reached a basis of agreement on a new Partnership Agreement and Joint Code of Practice for the industry.

Record numbers attend Eastern/South Eastern ‘adding value’ conference
Over 100 delegates met at Chelsea football club on Wednesday for the Eastern and South Eastern BPIF conference, to hear speakers discussing profitability and adding value.

Family Friendly working proposals
The BPIF is preparing a response to the Department of Trade and Industry’s proposals on Family Friendly working. The BPIF will work with the CBI and DTI to put forward the best solutions for the printing industry.

Industry economist David Ross gives his views on this week’s budget
Despite first impressions, the Chancellor will raise more money than he will spend next year (£265m).

Print on demand marketing innovations forum

Following hot on the heels of the successful Digital Print Pavilion at the IDMF, the BPIF is now supporting the PODi (the Digital Printing initiative) Marketing Innovations Forum at the London College of Communications on April 7th from 8.30am.

Your response vital to bring £4.5m to transform print industry skills
Proskills, the proposed Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the printing industry and 4 other process and manufacturing industries needs your support. With enough sector backing Proskills will gain its licence and over its first three years would bring £4.5m of Government investment into the industry for research and development and over time have access to even greater funding for the sector.

2004 BPIF Printing for Profit shows increase in profit before tax
Five out of the eight profit ratios in the 2004 BPIF Printing for Profit Survey have showed modest increases however all three which have declined relate to operating profit showing that the industry must still seek to improve both productivity of both £ of wages and operating assets.

New award added as Book Awards moves into the Millennium
The British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF), Oxford Brookes University and The Publishers Association are pleased to announce the launch of the 4th British Book Design and Production Awards on 8 November 2005.

Get your name on TV as BPIF’s Dale Wallis runs the London marathon
The BPIF’s very own hard working Health, Safety and Environmental Manager, Dale Wallis has been in heavy training for the 2005 Flora London Marathon on 17th April. Dale will be endeavouring to raise £1500 for the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service, by selling advertising space on his body!

Northprint almost sold out
With Northprint 05 (19-21 April, Harrogate) only 6 weeks away, the show is almost sold out and has attracted many first time exhibitors such as Canon,
Kern and Konica Minolta.

Introduction to Print Technology Course
We are going to be running the next 3-day Introduction to Print Technology Course at our head office in London on the 12th, 13th, & 14th April. This 3-day course is for those new to the printing industry and/or those requiring a more in-depth appreciation of the processes and materials involved.

BPIF Healthcare Scheme
Mlp have now joined forces with the Private Health Care partnership to offer even better value to BPIF members. In combining the two companies members will see no difference in the excellent service they already receive, but will benefit from the experience of two established companies in the health care field.

Merseyside print firms to get £1m skills boost
The print and reprographics industry on Merseyside is to get a £1 million skills boost and a new state of the art computer-based learning centre.

Don't miss out on legal representation
It has come to the attention of the BPIF that a previous member, who refused our advice, has an ongoing Employment Tribunal case in which their exposure is over £100,000. So just a reminder that free legal advice and representation at the Employment Tribunal is available to all Platinum members under the terms of their subscription.

BPIF Business associate to advise at flexo 2005

Flexo 2005 will be taking place from 15 - 17 March 2005 at Birmingham NEC.

HSE Targeted Enforcement Initiative
Manual Handling represents the number one cause of reported accidents in printing and publishing, however enforcement in this area has traditionally been less than 3% of all enforcement notices issued.