UK Printing Scholarships Foundation For Success

Five young people from the UK graphic arts industries, winners of bursaries in the the 2006 BPIF Educational Scholarships scheme received cheques of GBP2,500 each at a ceremony in Sheffield.

Five young people from the UK graphic arts industries, winners of bursaries in the the 2006 BPIF Educational Scholarships scheme received cheques of GBP2,500 each at a ceremony held alongside the BPIF annual meeting in Sheffield.

Sponsored jointly by the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) and the Printers' Charitable Corporation, the scholarships seek to assist young people obtain education and training for a career in the UK printing and graphic arts industries.

Before BPIF president Dominic Walsh presented the cheques, chief executive Michael Johnson told his audience: "I applaud these five ambitious young people - here is where the future of our industry lies.

PCC deputy chairman, Paul Rudd, added his congratulations to the five winners and said: "We at the PCC are committed to helping printers towards the end of their lives and now, in partnership with the BPIF we are delighted to be helping young people with the start of their careers.

We are now in the third year of the scholarships and although entries have increased year on year we would like to see many more applying.

Please let people know about this wonderful opportunity.

From this year's entries the five chosen, after appearing before a judging panel in London, included Christopher Gannon, a 24-year-old Heidelberg operator with Pindar, Preston who will use his award to fund an on-line foundation degree in printing and publishing from the London College of Communication.

Sabrina Sharma (28), currently studying an HND in digital media at Glasgow Metropolitan College will now be able to fund accommodation and travel for the third year of her degree on campus at Ayr.

At the same time, James Phillips (28), a pre-press operative and colour specialist at C and R Printing Services in Leicester now plans to complete a five-year part-time BSc in print, packaging and graphics from Leeds University.

Vanessa Norwood, a 26-year-old wife and mother living in Burnley has just completed her first year of a BA honours graphic design course at East Lancs Institute of Higher Education at Blackburn.

She will now be able to pay for full time nursery costs, travel and materials to complete her degree.

Michael Hibbert, (23), followed his father in to printing after four years in the British Army's Scots Guards, and now is the number two printer on a Heidelberg 102 five-colour press at carton printer Compack.

Hibbert said he is keen to progress and will use his award to support an HND in print management from Glasgow Metropolitan College, having completed his apprenticeship in machine printing.

BPIF deputy chief executive, Cicely Brown, commenting on the high standard of the 2006 scholarship entries, said: "Candidates came from all parts of the sector and all showed a real drive to succeed.

Every scholarship is increasing the talent in our sector, which will make a positive contribution to its success.

This year is the third year of the BPIF educational scholarships and annual winners have come from a range of printing sectors.

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, said the BPIF.

John Toppon, a BA honours student in print media management at the London College of Communication and a 2005 scholarship winner, said: " I want to say a sincere thank you for the opportunities that have opened up for me after receiving a 2005 BPIF educational scholarship.

Joel Trinder, a PhD student at the University of Wales in Cardiff used his award to purchase a laptop computer, attend an important digital print conference in Finland and to acquire a number of books and academic papers.

He said: "The scholarship has enhanced my research in to digital printing by giving me the resources and experiences needed to achieve the depth of understanding required to obtain my PhD.

Daniel Barlow, who works for his family firm in Mansfield, is deep in to his Open University certificate in professional management whilst, Ross McGill, an apprentice pressroom operator at Newsquest Glasgow, has used his award to fund HND studies at the Glasgow College of Printing where he won the 2005 gold medal apprentices prize.

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