IPIA reflects on a year of industry support

Each year, the Independent Print Industries Association (IPIA) rounds off the year with its Recognising Excellence Expo and Networking Lunch, followed by its evening Gala and Awards with the event now a firm favourite in the calendar of many.

The event provides IPIA members and the wider industry with a space to come together, network, collaborate, catch up with old and new friends, and the opportunity to reflect back on the year just gone.

This year, the event took place in the new venue of the Leonardo Hotel and Conference Centre in Leicester and was very well attended, despite what continues to be a difficult economic time. 

Kicking off the day was the Expo and Networking Lunch which saw over 20 sponsors exhibiting their services, materials, technologies, creative ideas, and more. 

This lineup comprised of Antalis, Canon, World Land Trust, Compass Business Finance, Duplo, Epson, ePS, Four Pees, Fujifilm, Imprint MIS, Konica Minolta, Morgana, Optimus, Premier Paper Group, PrintIQ, Ricoh, Route1Print, Transeo Media, Vivid, Xerox, XMPIE, and Xaikio.  

Having all these names in one room enabled IPIA members and the wider industry to make new partnerships, exchange ideas, and explore ways to expand and diversity their businesses. 

Inspiring the Industry 

At 1.30pm, the room gathered to hear IPIA Chair Charles Roger’s Address which spoke of the turbulent time facing the industry at present, but also offered an inspiring and motivating reminder of the importance of working together to remain successful and buoyant.

Rogers began his speech by thanking attendees for taking valuable time out of their businesses to take part in the event and the event sponsors for making the day possible. 

Rogers also thanked Brendan Perring, general manager of IPIA and Natalie Evans, membership manager of IPIA; and the IPIA council, particularly the Events team which is chaired by Matthew Ruff, for putting the event together.

Following this, Rogers went on to reflect on the passion and grit of the industry as well as emphasising the IPIA’s plans to continue to support and advocate for the industry in 2024.

“Inspiration is, I feel, an embedded part of our industry as all hardware, software manufacturers, and printers as the end-users strive continuously to improve products and performances in everything that they do,” Rogers says.

As we prepare to enter a new year, the IPIA plans to continue to work hard to inspire print buying markets through its magazine, social media activities, events, and initiatives created by its various sub-committees.

The Association also hosts a range of events throughout the year in order to support and bring together members. These include the IPIA Big Breakfast online networking session, its Networking Spring Lunch, annual Golf Days, the Autumn Conference, and the popular Recognising Excellence Expo, Gala, and Awards. 

Advocating for Print and Paper 

A particular highlight of the IPIA’s 2023 efforts for the industry saw Chair Charles Rogers make three trips to No 10 Downing Street to discuss sustainability and innovation for both print and paper. “Although we were very limited in the number of people we could attend with, we spoke for all IPIA members and in fact the entire industry on these matters,” Rogers says. 

“I appreciate the entire industry did not get the opportunity to express an opinion but the thrust and direction of our comments gave Government a real sense of passion and pride we take in our print and paper industries. Some of you will know that the UK print sector is the sixth-largest print economy in the world and should be encouraged and supported by central government.”

Another trend noticed by the IPIA this year and highlighted by Rogers is SMEs evolving their businesses to become creative consultants to their customers by utilising the services of a network of trained printers to expand their own services. 

“Additionally, those who embrace e-commerce can allow customers to specify, order, and pay for products online, meaning each SME business has within its reach a wider client base to trade with,” Rogers continues. 

This is particularly poignant as Rogers emphasises the real risk of standalone printers of any size to be marginalised, possibly to extinction, at some point in the future and so Rogers highlighted how inspiring it is to see so many broadening their services now.

“A traditional printer may regard some of these activities to be outside of their general comfort zone, but now is a great time to begin that process. Any printer can begin to tap into a wider procurement community for all manner of services and actively use innovative technology to expand their business.”

Offering a word of advice on how printers can continue to expand and collaborate to remain successful, Rogers rounded up his address by adding: “It’s been a great year for me, and I know greater things are possible in 2024 for the IPIA and all of us if we do one simple thing – network. 

“The biggest asset of our association is you. Talk to people with an open mind, learn from them, and exchange ideas.” 

Recognising Excellence

The day wrapped up, attendees donned their glad rags for an evening of celebration of the achievements of IPIA members with the Gala Dinner and Awards.

After enjoying the three-course meal, attendees could treat themselves to a minty table favour courtesy of Nutshell Trade Services’ 'Mint Ideas' campaign. Also distributed at the Digital Printer Awards, the campaign saw 560 boxes printed by Dayfold containing 5,040 polos produced.

Each year, the awards celebrate a range of categories from IPIA Champion and Manufacturer of the Year, to Sustainability Advocate and Young Leader. This year saw more ties than ever before with the calibre of nominees proving to be high.

The winners of the 2023 Recognising Excellence Awards are:

IPIA Champion

Winners: Charles Rogers, Portland Media and Lance Hill, Eight Days A Week Print Solutions 

Highly Commended: Kath Doran, Spectrum Innovations 

Innovation Masterclass Award

Winner: Vivid

Highly Commended: DecTek and Spectrum Innovations 

Manufacturer of the Year

Winner: Eight Days A Week Print Solutions

Highly Commended: DecTek 

Sustainability Advocate

Winner: Tradeprint 

Highly Commended: PMG and Visual Print and Design 

Young Leader

Winner: Gabby Solarek, Eight Days A Week Print Solutions

Highly Commended: Jess Wallace, Citipost

Certificates of Commendation: Amelia Hodgson, Vivid and Cherrelle Wright, Citipost 

Innovation Masterclass

Winner: Vivid

Highly Commended: DecTek and Spectrum Innovations 

Community Champion 

Winner: Nutshell Creative 

Highly Commended: CDP 

The IPIA was formed in 1990 as a not-for-profit trade association focused on helping its members to grow and evolve their businesses.

If you have any news, please email carys@linkpublishing.co.uk or join in with the conversation on Twitter and LinkedIn.