Editor's Blog

Pre-pack insolvencies - what’s to be done about the situation? Over the years we’ve run many a story on the damage they do, but all we can do is report. Can we do more as an industry? FaberExposize UK and Northern Flags MD Iain Clasper-Cotte - while still celebrating fab wins at the UK Graphic Awards - is up in arms about the situation, as are many others. He recently pointed out on a LinkedIn post that: “Over the past few years we have lost lots of monies when clients have gone into receivership. The first we know of it is when mysteriously another company has bought them and wants to trade with us. They have not taken on the historic debt as the receiver neatly packages all the good bits (i.e not the money owed to us) and sells it for way less than, to my eyes, the assets are worth. It’s interesting to see a number of printers/directors have done this a couple of times over the years - effectively getting a major competitive advantage over the rest of us who have paid full price for our printers, inventory and tax.” With the post of small business minister having been scrapped by the new PM, it would seem likely the problem isn’t going to get looked at very seriously anytime soon. Ideas?

Teesside University is inviting businesses in the area to take part in a ‘Skills Bootcamp in Strategies for a Sustainable and Circular Economy’ starting on 18 October and running until 26 January. It’s aimed at those wanting to reduce/eliminate company waste, include sustainable and circular economy strategies into their business plans, and develop skills and industry connections to that end. Have any of you been on any similar course and, if so, what did you think about its usefulness?

With the IPIA having released data on the number of youngsters it has helped into print since becoming a gateway for its members to benefit from the Government’s Kickstart scheme last year I thought it apt to ask what more you think the industry - and the large-format sector more specifically - can do about making it a more attractive option? I’ve asked the question before, and I I’ll ask it again - do we need something of a rebrand? If so, how on Earth do we go about doing that?

Flint Group has just warned that ink price hikes are coming on 1 January to cover inflationary costs associated with raw materials, labour, shipping, packaging and energy increases. A) Should we assume ink costs are likely to go up across the board? B) Have you any chance of clawing those costs back from your customers?

I’ll be on holiday as you read this (yay!), which means I’ll miss the Net Zero Roundtable on Thursday, so please email me if you have anything to say on the topic, which will also be covered at our very own Widthwise Roundtables in October. Come to that, let me know of any other burning questions or issues you would like to see discussed. Right, I’m off - back next week!

So, energy bills for UK businesses will be cut by around half their expected level this winter under the new government support package, and it’s understood that the scheme - which will fix wholesale gas and electricity prices for firms for six months from 1 October - will be reviewed after three months. It’s expected there’ll be an option to extend support for vulnerable businesses - should print companies be categorised thus?  

I’ve noted a trickle of print companies and suppliers to the print sector announcing that they will honour the bank holiday - and more to the point, her late majesty Queen Elizabeth II - by remaining closed this coming Monday. Are you doing likewise, and if so, are you working longer hours in advance to get due orders out of the door?

No doubt many of us are in reflective mood given the passing of Her Majesty The Queen. We can all learn something I’m sure from the late monarch’s dedication, resilience and work ethic. RIP ma’am.

On Monday (12 September) the BPIF and sustainability consultancy Inenco are running an emergency energy roundtable online at 11am. Ahead of that they want input from printers on how you’re being it by the energy cost crisis and have opened a short survey at: https://bit.ly/3KMOTGR It makes sense to get involved if you can afford the time - they promise it should only take five minutes.

Does it matter to you - and your business - who is named the UK’s new prime minister today? That’s it - that’s my question for today! I’d love to get your answers.

Did you know that it’s 21 years ago today since an EU-wide ban on the manufacturing and importing of 60W incandescent clear light bulbs, in favour of energy-saving fluorescent and halogen bulbs and LED lights, came into force? That little fact popped up on my calendar earlier and of course got me thinking about how far we’ve come since then in terms of being energy efficient. Have you consciously made your workplace more so over the last few years, and/or are you currently taking actions to do so?

What technical developments do you want to see? When we asked that question in the 2022 Widthwise poll of PSPs earlier this year the overriding message was ‘none really - we’re pretty much OK thanks’. With Roland having just made available free software updates to improve the output of its UV flatbed printers I have to ask if perhaps this sector is settling for less than it should? Just asking…..

What shortlists have you made this year? With the first finalists of the UK Graphic Awards having now been made public, it’s great to see so many of those in the running for a gong shouting about it via social media etc. To my mind, positivity is infectious - and positive people make for a happier workplace, right? So, I’m wondering if it’s part of your gameplan to put your business in a position where little wins can lift the general mood of those working for/with you?

Speaking with the MD of CIM Signs and Graphics about how a grant from the LEP's Growing Business Fund is helping the company do just that, prompts me to ask how many of you have applied for money to help you develop your operations? If you haven’t, perhaps you should?