It seems to me that the COP27 outcome is two steps forward and one step back, but that’s just my take - what’s yours?
Editor's Blog
Life on a budget
So, today’s the day Chancellor Jeremy Hunt gets to present his Autumn Statement. Ahead of any announcements, rumour has it he’s going to overhaul R+D Tax Credits for SMEs - something we’ve been encouraging the print sector to take more advantage of. Will this impact you – and what are your hopes and fears?
Feeling the chill?
You feeling the print industry’s traditional Q4 uplift, or as the BPIF’s latest Printing Outlook identified, one of those feeling little pre-Christmas cheer given current circumstances? Talking to an array of print chiefs operating in the large-format sector I’d say ‘cautious optimism’ seems to be about the measure of it.
Moving days
Heck, new HQs seem to be springing up all over the place. What’s your take – is it all about expansion? I think we’ll see a lot more business relocations over the coming months - more to do with efficiency drives than anything else. Will your business be one of those making a move?
Preaching to the converted?
So, Cop27 kicks off today, hopefully focussing the world’s attention on the need to act to reduce climate change. With all that’s going on in the UK currently it’s easy to overlook what seems like a less immediate threat. We know we can’t do that - so here’s to putting the issue front and centre despite having to wrestle with all the other issues impacting business.
Remember, remember
There are going to be fireworks. With bonfire night do’s back on many a town’s agenda, and Christmas fairs springing up all over the place, it seems public events really are back to pre-Covid levels. Wondering if the level of large-format print for the wider events market is too?
What spooks you?
Given it’s Halloween I thought I’d ask ‘what scares you?’ I expect energy prices and supply chain difficulties to come top of the list - but am I wrong?
A helping robotic hand
Epson will showcase its GX4 and GX8 Scara robots at the Robotics and Automation show in Coventry next month to highlight “simple and affordable solutions that help operations enjoy reduced production costs, improved product quality, increased workflow, and enhanced business capabilities”. Sounds great! They’re aimed at the medical, electronics and consumer electronics industries though. I’m back to wondering to what extent this industry, and the wide-format sector in particular, is likely to see wider robotic automation adopted. Feel free to enlighten me…
Quick poll
At the time of writing, it looks like former chancellor Rishi Sunak is going to be our next prime minister. Are you confident he - or indeed Penny Mordaunt, if she gets the job - will improve your lot?
Viva Las Vegas
Are you even remotely in Las Vegas? See what I did there - I’m talking about you being at Printing United Expo 2022, even virtually. Worry not if you can’t make it - we’ll bring you up to speed with any crucial developments - see some of the news herewith. If you are there and are particularly impressed by anything wide-format related, let me know!
Defining your meaning
“What is sustainability?” tops the list as the world’s most Googled question about sustainability, according to a study by the company Drinking-Straw.com. According to its research there are on average 58,000 searches a month asking the question. The Cambridge Dictionary provides a simple answer - ‘the quality of being able to continue over a period of time’. But even it has added in an environmental definition - ‘the quality of causing little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue for a long time’. What’s your definition of running a sustainable company?
A packaging problem to ponder
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?
On a learning curve
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?
Getting people into print
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?