Strength in numbers
In a crowded industry like print, it can sometimes be tricky for companies to have their voice heard. Showcasing your services and products or drawing awareness to your business may prove a difficult process when taking into account the amount of competition around.
This is where trade associations play a critical role. These bodies work with print businesses of all shapes and sizes to help promote them to the wider industry and shine a light on their company, in turn bringing in new business and helping them grow.
Print Monthly spoke with some of the trade associations in the UK print industry to find out exactly what these organisations can do to drive print businesses to succeed.
Sense of community
First up, FESPA UK is a branch of the global FESPA organisation, working with companies in the UK across wide-format, signage, screen print, corrugated, textile, industrial, 3D object printing, and point-of-sale. Suzi Ward is managing director of FESPA UK and is one member of a three-person team tasked with overseeing operations at the body.
As a global association FESPA can support companies wherever they are operating
“FESPA UK brings together the talents of wide-format digital, textile, industrial, and specialist printers across the UK,” Ward says, adding: “Our events promote a safe space where competitors become colleagues. There is no hard sell, only the sharing of learning that everyone can take away to improve their business.
“In addition to forging proactive links between our members, we offer benefits like technical know-how, market information and expert print-focused guidance when claiming back R&D (research and development) tax, which has proven to be incredibly beneficial to our members.
“Our community offers education and networking with likeminded individuals who want to share and learn from each other. As an association we are committed to making a difference to the industry with lasting initiatives on waste management, education, and encouraging young people into print. Our members benefit from being involved with our events and initiatives not only for their businesses, but they help to make a difference for the industry.”
The focus on community is a running theme throughout FESPA UK, with Ward encouraging print companies to consider joining the organisation and networking with other members, rather than face tough times alone.
FESPA UK also benefits from being part of the wider FESPA group; a network that includes 36 other associations around the world which FESPA UK can call on for support when its members are working within countries outside the UK. This, Ward says, can be invaluable especially following Brexit when export and import is such an issue.
Ward goes on to say that FESPA UK constantly has its finger on the pulse of the industry and is always working with members and partners to ensure it is addressing the most important trends and patterns in the market.
“We are working hard on a joint project with Reconomy to take as much print-related waste out of landfill as possible,” Ward says, adding: “We have been working on this project for just over a year and so far, we have been responsible for removing over 150 tonnes of waste from landfill. This is a five-year plan, and our end goal is to manage every single aspect of a printer’s waste.”
“We are a small but proactive association whose focus is to make a difference for the industry. We are committed to creating lasting initiatives that truly make a difference to the industry.”
Constantly evolving
Next up, the Independent Print Industries Association (IPIA) has been supporting printers in the UK since its foundation in 1990. Known as the British Business Forms Association in its early days, the IPIA is a not-for-profit trade association focused on helping its members grow and develop their businesses.
The IPIA Village has been a popular attraction at The Print Show for a number of years
“Constantly evolving and adapting to contemporary market demands, it delivers ongoing value, support, and counsel to members through a comprehensive range of benefits, services, events, and publications,” IPIA chairman Graeme Smith says, adding: “In particular, the IPIA assumes a crucial role as an industry ambassador championing print, both at Government level and also to major print buying sectors such as marketing.
The IPIA assumes a crucial role as an industry ambassador championing print, both at Government level and also to major print buying sectors ”
“We are deeply committed to supporting our members and our industry. We pursue this commitment by helping businesses expand their horizons, grow using targeted member collaboration, adapt to ever evolving market forces, and thrive through mutual support.
“The value proposition of the IPIA is that its Executive and Council work hard to make sure every member is pushed to take advantage of all relevant core member benefits and then presented with the specific suite of opportunities to aid business growth appropriate to them they can pick and choose as it suits them.”
O Factoid: The IPIA was founded over three decades ago in 1990 O
One example of this is the IPIA’s upcoming Recognising Excellence event, which is due to take place at the Crowne Plaza in Stratford-upon-Avon in December. Here, attendees will be able to make new business connections, develop new customers, learn about the latest print technology and media during the daytime expo, before kicking back for an evening full of fun, laughter and live entertainment at the Gala Dinner and Awards night.
“We are deeply committed to supporting our members and the UK print industry,” Smith says, adding: “We pursue this commitment by helping businesses expand their horizons, grow using targeted collaboration, adapt to ever-evolving market forces, and thrive through mutual support. This is the key driving force behind the Recognising Excellence event.”
“This is also a chance to just unwind, have fun and connect with friends old and new. Situated close to the beautiful and historic town of Shakespearean legend, why not take an extra day out to explore its delights?”
Working together
The sense and feel of community that runs throughout trade associations is also shared between each of these groups, and this will be critical as print businesses are faced with major challenges over the coming months as the energy crisis shows no immediate sign of ending.
The recent announcements from (at the time) Prime Minister Liz Truss and (also at the time of writing, but perhaps not after the magazine has been printed, it’s hard to keep up!) Chancellor Jeremy Hunt have thrown long-term plans into disarray, with a high level of uncertainty as to how much support businesses, and indeed citizens, can expect as we move into 2023.
In September, the Graphics and Print Media Alliance (GPMA) joined forces with the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) to call on the government to take more action to help protect business throughout the crisis. In a statement on the issue, the GPMA called for a cap on industrial energy costs, saying that without proper action, viable businesses are at risk of being overwhelmed by unsustainable price rises and a breakdown of supply chain integrity.
The work done by trade associations can influence decisions in Westminster
Since the statement was issued, a price cap has been introduced and amended, with the cap now subject to review in April next year. With Westminster currently embroiled in a state of chaos, it is difficult to forecast how the crisis will play out, with a change of both leadership and policies almost certain.
However, despite this, the Association assures its members that it will continue to lobby for more support to ensure print business can continue to operate as normal. The GPMA also says that it will continue to work with the government to form a solution that will help print businesses continue to deliver high quality print to customers without being overwhelmed by energy costs.
In a joint statement, GPMA chair and chief executive of the BPIF, Charles Jarrold and Printing Industry Confederation (PICON) chief executive Bettine Pellant, say: “The government’s primary concern is of course helping households most at risk. Yet an unavoidable consequence of unchecked cost increases for businesses will be ever-spiralling cost increases for consumers, potentially cancelling out the impact of government support for individuals.
“It was hoped that 2022 would be the year that graphics and print media businesses could move forward and build back stronger: it is now clear that this will be impossible without urgent government action to cap industrial energy costs. An unprecedented crisis demands unprecedented intervention.”
Looking at the GPMA’s wider work, the organisation features a range of trade associations that represent some 3,471 companies, the majority of which are SMEs (small-to-medium sized enterprises), which, combined, in the UK have an annual turnover of £15bn and employ 106,000 people.
The GPMA says that its core objective is to represent the interests of companies operating in the printing industry supply chain.
“We aim to do this by providing a forum for member associations to discuss issues of common interest and to formulate agreed positions, sharing the expertise and knowledge of the member associations, streamlining and co-ordinating advocacy activities, and liaising with other industry associations and organisations,” the Association says.
“Trade associations have a crucial role to play in promoting best practice, helping companies become more competitive and formulating effective public policy and delivery. They have tremendous potential to act as the co-ordinated voice of business when talking to government, and great value in terms of quickly disseminating messages about government policy to their members.
“Productive engagement between associations and government is very important for the policy making process.”
People power
It is not just the energy crisis that the GPMA has assisted on, with the organisation having also played a major role in the revocation of the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) (England, Wales and Scotland) Regulations 2021 earlier this year. The reclassification of the use of GBL and BDO chemicals threatened to severely impact the print and sign industries due to the use of these substances in the production of some inks.
Had the reclassification gone ahead as planned, manufacturers and businesses would have had to obtain a licence to import, export, produce, supply, possess, and dispose of the chemicals, while the GPMA estimated up to £1bn worth of print would be affected.
However, lobbying from the GPMA and other industry groups led to a U-turn – something the government has become quite accustomed to in recent months – and meant the rule change would not apply.
The U-turn from government came after weeks of lobbying by industry associations to raise awareness of the impact and to urge decision-makers to reconsider the regulations. It was also confirmed that there would be no immediate replacement for the legislation, with the government to undergo further consultation with businesses to assess the best way to move forward with minimum impact.
“We were particularly encouraged by, and appreciative of, the support that the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy gave us in this process, and the level of engagement from the Home Office,” Jarrold says.
“Not only did we coordinate through the GPMA across the entire print supply chain, but we worked closely with the wider chemicals supply chain throughout this process.”
Tom Bowtell, chair of the Alliance of Chemical Associations and chief executive of the British Coatings Federation (BCF), who was also involved in the lobbying, adds: “We welcome that the government has listened to the concerns of the industry and agreed to redraft the required regulations.
“This creates space for proper consultation with businesses as new legislation is drafted over the coming months. We hope these discussions will lead to a more proportionate and effective law, one which delivers on the government’s aims, but which does not unduly penalise legitimate users of these substances across the chemical supply chain, nor in the manufacturing or other sectors.”
Going by this, the role trade association have to play in safeguarding the future of the print industry and its members cannot be overstated. Joining one of these organisations can be invaluable for a print business to ensure it has the support it needs to succeed and grow.
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