Supporters for second year of PrintIT!

Manufacturers, suppliers and printers have been quick to step forward to provide support for the second year of PrintIT! following the huge success of the campaign last year.

Several companies have already committed funds and assistance including Formara, Friedheim International, Graphic Arts Equipment, IIR Exhibitions, KBA (UK), Howard Smith Paper Group, Marlowe Graphic Services, PDQ Digital Media, Polestar, Russell-Webb and Tech-ni-Fold.

Tailored sponsorship 'packages' are still available for companies to support the scheme at various levels for companies of all sizes.

"It is only because of the generous support from the industry that PrintIT! was able to take off at all and we're delighted that so many companies have pledged help for the second year of PrintIT!," says Martyn Elmy, chairman of PrintIT! "Everyone had great hopes for the first year but I think the huge success took people by surprise".

"The results set a benchmark and created a momentum going forward".

"We are confident that year two will be even more successful in raising the profile of print amongst today's youngsters, who are the potential workforce of the industry." Last year's lead PrintIT! partner - the Stationers' Company Educational Charity - has been joined in the second year by key partners the Robert Horne Group, the BPIF, the Fairtrade Foundation and the Specialists Schools and Academies Trust.

The PrintIT! campaign initiated by Picon the association of manufacturers and suppliers to the UK printing industry, aims to raise awareness amongst schoolchildren and teachers of the unique and exciting career opportunities available within the graphic arts industry.

Even though it is the fifth largest industry in the UK, printing is rarely promoted as an option when pupils are considering careers.

However, in its first year nearly 23,000 schoolchildren from 545 schools took part in the PrintIT! campaign, which was curriculum-mapped to their GCSE Graphic Products Course.

There were a range of individual and school related prizes, which were awarded during Ipex 2006.

As in year one, the Fairtrade Foundation will provide the theme of the competition in which participating schools must create a comprehensive 'print-centric' campaign to support the promotion of Fairtrade fruit.

This year the competition has been extended to include Year 10 students (aged 15 - 16) in both the first year of their Product Design GCSE as well as for GCSE Graphic Products.

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