New large-format awards and conference announced

Vism is working in partnership with Fespa UK to launch the UK Graphic Awards to celebrate the wide-format graphics printing and installation industry. They have also announced a Thrive in Print conference for wide-format printing business managers and owners. The back-to-back events will take place on 8-9 September 2020.

Dan Tyler, Founder of Vism - producer of project management software for the sign and graphics installation sector - said: “We felt there was a real need in the UK to have an event that is entirely focused on celebrating all that is good in the wide-format graphics industry. We want to formally recognise the innovation, creativity and talent that people and businesses in this industry are delivering every day and help promote these achievements as widely as possible.” Fespa UK’s Managing Director, Carol Swift, added: “Fespa UK has always been focused on running successful industry-specific events that deliver quantifiable benefits to the companies involved. We are delighted to be working with Vism to make this happen, and launch a fantastic competition that will deliver hugely prestigious awards for the very best people, companies, projects and achievements in the industry.” The UK Graphic Awards will comprise 12 competition categories (TBC) and include awards for internal and external retail installations, events and exhibition graphics, creativity and large-scale project rollouts. There will also be overall best in show awards and several others. The awards ceremony - the venue for which will be announced shortly - will consist of a drinks reception, gala dinner, live music and the awards presentations, and will take place on the evening of Tuesday 8 September 2020. The Thrive in Print conference on the following day will provide a platform for discussion and aims to help owners and senior managers of wide-format print and graphics providers improve bottom-line profitability by exploiting increased business, technical and marketing opportunities. Tyler added: “With the endorsement of Fespa UK, these will be hugely prestigious awards that will add real value to the winners’ business propositions. They will be free to enter and each category will be judged to a very high standard and with complete impartiality. Judges will be selected from a broad cross-section of the industry and will all be highly qualified and independent. Applications will be reviewed in detail and a shortlist will be selected and presented at the ceremony.” Details of the awards categories are expected to be released soon.