LT Print: Being a Dedicated and Adaptable Print Business

In 1981, Bob McWilliams bought a Wirral-based print company and later added the in-plant print department of a Unilever subsidiary called Liver Transport, which specialised in shipping and export documentation. Liver Transport was later shortened to LT, and in March 1999, LT Print Group was formed.

Following the successful acquisitions of other print companies such as Stephenson Print and Ashley Printers in 2003, as well as the MBO of the company by previous finance director, Andrew Whyte, the company now operates with 26 members of staff, at a 2,900sq m facility in Wallasey in Wirral.

So, what has led LT Print to successfully navigate over 40 years of experience and become the company it is today? We speak to Andrew Whyte, managing director of the company, to find out more.

Customer-Focused

At the end of 2024, Whyte acquired LT Print Group from the former owner Bob McWilliams, who stepped down as chairman ahead of the acquisition. At the time of the acquisition, Whyte said: “Bob had a wonderful career spanning over 64 years in the print and paper industries. Having established the origins of LT Print Group in 1981, he was proud that the business had grown in strength and expertise over the years due to the loyalty of our customers and staff. My task now is to maintain this legacy and ensure we continue to provide the very best service to our customers for many years to come.”

When it comes to the company’s evolution, Whyte says the company has grown significantly since its inception, and has evolved from a “small, family-run operation” to an “established print provider” serving the education, hospitality, and brewery sectors. Whyte adds: “We’ve expanded our capabilities by investing in our people, our technology, and enhancing our design and finishing services to meet the needs of modern brands.”

When it comes to the company’s values, LT Print is proud to be a small, close-knit team, which Whyte says can help to respond to clients’ needs by providing excellent customer service, design support, and the print quality required to help businesses to help achieve their goals.

“We enjoy helping clients not familiar with print or the print process to achieve the outcome they desire,” says Whyte, who adds: “We like to think we take the environment seriously, having held the internationally recognised standard for environmental management systems, ISO 14001, since 2009. We continue to work on reducing our impact each year, reducing energy use, and waste with more recycling.
“Importantly, we take ownership and pride in our work, so when it’s not right we will correct it and reproduce it at our cost.”

As a company LT Print offers a number of services for its clients, ranging from in-house graphic design to lithographic and digital printing solutions. Alongside this LT Print offers large-format printing capabilities including poster printing, pull-up banners, exhibition backdrops, small signage, and superwide-format printing projects via local print partners.

Recently the business celebrated its six-year business relationship with international culinary festival – Obsession. Curated by executive chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen and the team at Northcote, a luxury hotel and Michelin Star restaurant in Lancashire. The festival has a supposed waiting list in the thousands and is seen as one of the significant gourmet events in Europe.

Speaking of the Northcote’s work with LT Print, Kaye Matthew, sales and marketing director at Northcote, says: “Obsession, now in its 25th year, is the highlight of the Northcote calendar and recognised as the top gastronomic festival in the UK. For that reason, we have to ensure we have the most professional partners supporting us – LT Print has been our print partner since 2019.

“The team offers a brilliant service in design and print, often working with us to tight deadlines, always delivering on time, and dealing with last minute requests to ensure we deliver a successful event every year.”

Obsession ran a special 25th anniversary edition earlier this year, which led to LT Print producing a range of products for attendees to experience from the moment they arrived. Speaking of the project, Whyte says: “Our approach for this year's milestone event was rooted in collaboration. We worked closely with the Northcote team to design and deliver print solutions that reflect the elegance and prestige of Obsession25. It has been a rewarding experience, showcasing the best of what print can offer and we look forward to continuing our partnership as the event continues to grow.”

Quality and Collaboration

Whyte says a typical day at LT Print is a “buzz of activity” as the team collaborates closely with clients, refining artwork, managing print runs, and ensuring timely delivery of orders. “Whether it’s creating bespoke keg collars for breweries, prospectuses for schools, or high-end collateral for hotels, our focus is always on delivering top-quality results,” says Whyte.

Recently the company collaborated with global contemporary British artists The Singh Twins, to reproduce intricate artwork for their recent book, ensuring all the details were captured with precision. Whyte comments: “Our ability to meet the needs of such varied clients demonstrates our expertise and adaptability.”

We enjoy helping clients not familiar with print or the print process to achieve the outcome they desire

When asked what is his favourite thing about the company is and what he is most proud of, Whyte says it’s the team’s dedication and adaptability. “Everyone is committed to exceeding client expectations, especially as the company’s collaborative environment makes it an exciting place to work.

“I’m proud of how LT Print Group has maintained its core values of quality and customer service, while embracing technological advancements,” adds Whyte. “Our ability to keep on improving and delivering for our customers in an evolving industry, while maintaining strong relationships with long-standing clients, is something I’m particularly pleased with.”

When it comes to the challenges the business has faced, the shift from traditional print to digital stands out for Whyte, especially as the company wanted to maintain its high standards. “Adapting to changing customer needs and ensuring we offer innovative solutions that align with sustainability goals has required careful strategy and investment”.

Future plans for LT Print include continued innovation and a focus on sustainability with investment in new technologies and expanded digital print offerings.

Whyte concludes: “At LT Print, we’re passionate about combining craftsmanship with innovation to deliver exceptional results for our clients.

“As we move forward, we’re committed to sustainable growth, embracing new technologies, and continuing to provide tailored print solutions that help our clients stand out. Whether it’s collaborating on intricate artwork, producing event collateral, or delivering high-end branding materials, we take pride in being a trusted partner across a diverse range of industries.”

Statistics

1999 – LT Print Group was officially formed in March 1999
2,900sq m – The company operates from a 2,900sq m site
26 – Currently LT Print employs 26 members of staff
£2m – LT Print’s annual turnover is over £2m