IPIA rallies for print at No 10
IPIA Chair Charles Rogers has met with special advisors at No 10 Downing Street to advocate for print
Tuesday, 02 May 2023 10:19 GMT
Charles Rogers, Chair of IPIA visited No 10 Downing Street to advocate for the UK print and paper industries
Charles Rogers, Chair of the Independent Print Industries Association (IPIA) has met with special advisors to the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at No 10 Downing Street.
The purpose of Roger’s visit was to advocate for the UK print and paper industry. Speaking with special business and political advisors, he provided a detailed overview of the place of the UK as top-6 global print producer and its responsibility for almost 8% of total UK manufacturing output.
Rogers also highlighted the critical social, cultural, and economic part the print industry plays in the UK. As well as this, the IPIA outlined the challenges affecting the growth of the UK print and paper industry and presented a package of structural and strategic support requests.
During the meeting, Rogers also put a case forward for the print, paper, and allied sectors to be recognised as an ‘industry of strategic value’ which recognises industries as playing a fundamental role in the nation’s economic health.
Included in the structural support requests were the inclusion of print businesses in the Energy Intensive Industries Exemption Scheme; expansion of existing capital allowances schemes on plant and machinery investment; and implementation of post-Brexit policies prohibiting imports of paper products that are below UK environmental standards.
Strategic support requests included engagement with print industry associations in line with the Government’s levelling up agenda and apprenticeships schemes, and a national government-led campaign driving awareness of the role of the print industry.
The IPIA is gathering representations from trade associations belonging to the Graphic and Print Media Alliance (GPMA) including the BPIF and PICON to further strengthen the advocacy efforts.
Puneet Gupta, owner of PG Paper Company facilitated the meeting with special advisors to the PM
Puneet Gupta, owner of PG Paper Company facilitated the meeting. He says: “In today’s fast-paced digital world, the paper and print industry faces a range of challenges that require innovation, collaboration, and adaptability to overcome – it’s important to have open and honest conversations about navigating these.
“By bringing together stakeholders from various sectors of the industry we look to develop strategies to overcome the challenges and support growth.”
According to the IPIA, the special advisors welcomed the information with the meeting providing a chance to learn key facts about the print industry and how it can be supported by the Government.
Rogers adds: “The opportunity to participate in this meeting presented itself at short notice and I was honoured to represent the IPIA on behalf of print and paper at No 10 Downing Street. Meeting with special advisors who report to the PM, was a critical and rare opportunity to push our agenda for all those involved with print and paper in the UK.”
The information and proposals fed to the advisors by Rogers was garnered from ongoing feedback from IPIA members, the IPIA Council, and the wider industry. The trade association is asking readers to provide their own feedback on trading conditions and ideas for industry support via info@ipia.org.uk.
If you have any news, please email carys@linkpublishing.co.uk or join in with the conversation on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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