Business

For those of you thinking of extending your workspace Phil Thompson, head of BPIF Business, gives you a down to earth take on the key considerations.  

Due to the challenging nature of the last four or five years, there will be very few companies that have got through them unaffected. Some will have adapted smoothly while others will have had to change business models and practices. As a result, the way that work flows through the production process and how this fits into the space available to the business may no longer be appropriate. So are you one of those looking to change your factory layout, extend your space, or even considering a complete move? 

Are you set-up to deal with more requests for flexible working now that the law has been amended? Jo Eccles from the Forum of Private Business advises on how to progress in the light of recent legal changes. 

Apprenticeships, short courses, tailor-made training - Learn2print offers the lot. Here’s how it’s attracting and training people for a career in print.

Daily phone calls, constant emails and late night text messages are a constant reminder to the staff at Learn2print that, thankfully, education in print still matters and is sought by those seeking a career path in the industry themselves, or by those wanting to improve the skill sets and credentials of those they employ and/or want to attract into their businesses.

Can you improve your financial management? Colin Thompson from Cavendish provides insight into areas that can help you achieve the greatest possible return on investment in your company.

The GPMA, which stands for the Graphics, Print and Media Alliance, was officially launched a year ago at Fespa 2013.

It was established by 7 UK print trade associations (Fespa UK, BAPC, British Coatings Federation, Independent Print Industries Association, Picon, the Process and Packaging Machinery Association, and the Rubicon Network), to provide the sector with one strong voice.  

Why Amari Plastics is searching for talent from outside the print sector, and seeking graduates in particular.

You have to be something of a sleuth to find the Amari HQ in Weybridge, Surrey. CEO Andy Carroll is rather proud that the building - Holmes House in Baker Street - is low key. The entrance is sandwiched between shops and easy to miss, but as Carroll points out, “We don’t believe in big HQs and bureaucracy; it all ends up being just a huge cost. What attracted me into this job was Amari’s healthy business model. Although it has around 400 people in total the HQ is really a service centre supporting 28 profit centres.” And now Carroll, who joined Amari less than two years ago, is hoping the company will attract other new talent as it continues with a fairly large-scale recruitment plan.

If only spending it was funny, but it’s a serious business, which is why Phil Thompson, head of BPIF Business, offers this investment business model.

With areas of the economy showing improvement, one area that still seems to be lagging behind is business investment. This has led those who study the markets to speculate that this is one of the reasons behind the lack of improved productivity and high employment levels. What is clear is that companies that get investment right will inevitably capture the most profitable opportunities, clients and markets. Companies that don’t will be left to compete on unfavourable terms and smaller returns.

With colour accuracy and consistency a key issue, Paul Sherfield of the Missing Horse Consultancy looks at how a colour-managed workflow can help you save money, assure quality and retain clients.

With Fespa Digital now just a couple of weeks away, Lesley Simpson thought it timely to catch up with Fespa CEO Neil Felton and still relatively new divisional director Roz McGuinness. 

Inspiring youngsters to reach their full potential is what Learn to Dream does with its eyes wide open. Here’s how and why.

Seymour Reeves has a dream, and along with his fellow directors at Learn to Dream – better known as Ltd Ltd – he’s making it a reality. The dream: To inspire youngsters. If that sounds altruistic, to a large extent it is. But of course, by bringing young people into the company’s east London print business as part of various educational schemes, they are effectively showcasing the possibilities of print.

You cannot ignore the opportunities provided by social media marketing for connecting with prospects and customers. If done well it will not only help you reach these people, but help them reach you. With the average age of print buyers getting younger, engaging these digital natives via social media is as important for your business as it is completely instinctive for them.

How do printers need to talk to marketers and creatives to build better business opportunities? That's the question I put to Charlotte Graham-Cumming, director of Ice Blue Sky, a fast-growing B2B marketing communications agency. In her own words, the company “acts as a conduit between the printer and their customers”, so she’s well placed to share some valuable insights.

Phil Thompson, head of BPIF Business, says insurance companies are looking for more rigorous risk management plans following the winter floods. Here’s his business continuity health check.

We have seen how unpredictable the weather can be and some print companies have been affected enormously. However, it is not only those that suffered from the floods that are having to face up to the consequences; insurance companies are now increasingly looking for more rigorous business management plans to ensure that if a company is impacted by either natural disaster or human error, they could manage the situation effectively and quickly.