Is Your Print Irish Brand License Up-to-Date?

The Print and Packaging Forum are currently in the process of reviewing licensing of our Print Irish members.
The license attracts an annual fee, which is used to for various Forum activities including the promotion of the sector and our constant push to maintain Irish jobs.
A new license agreement has been issued to existing members by e-mail and this includes a code of ethics. Members that have lapsed payments, will no longer have the permission of the Forum to use the Print Irish brand.
All of our Print Irish members will be promoted on our new website. This has been approved and will go-live shortly. Association of firms with the new site will increase their own search engine optimisation ( SEO), and the Forum has been advised by our web developer, that the cost to a firm, improving this alone is more expensive than our Print Irish total subscription.
If you wish to be part of Print Irish please contact us.

Print Media Apprenticeship Survey – Now Closed

The Print and Packaging Forum wish to thank all those who completed our recent survey on Print Media Apprenticeship. The survey is now closed and outcomes will be published over the next few weeks. The results of this survey are statistically significant,  and will assist us in our review of apprenticeship, and alignment of skill and employer requirements. We would like to extend our congratulations to Comdt. David O’Neill, Office in Charge of the Defence Forces Printing Press on the winning of our Apple iPod.

Print and Packaging Forum Director States Disparity Between NI and ROI Printers

Our current Director, Dr. Kevin Byrne today represented our sector during Joe Duffy’s ‘Liveline’ Programme on RTE radio. A listener had presented the case of a 66% differential in prices received for a simple 5,000 A5 leaflet printing job on quotes received in Northern Ireland and the Republic. During the show, Dr. Byrne commented on the grant aided firms and cheaper material costs, as well as VAT,  labour rates and general commercial cost that are lower in the North of Ireland.

Commenting on this, Dr. Byrne acknowledged that the Forum have raised this as a matter recently with Minister John Perry, TD, Minister for Small Business.

Last Chance to Take Our Survey on Print Media Apprenticeship

The Print and Packaging Forum will close-off it’s primary research survey on apprenticeship education this week. The Forum are requesting that employers and key industry personnel, with responsibility for apprenticeship, at firms should complete the survey found at the link below. One lucky participant will win an Apple iPod. The information from this survey will assist us develop appropriate training programmes for the industry. To take the survey click on or paste this in to your web browser. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WHX8NHRPrintMediaApprenticeshipSurvey2012

Public Tenders and Consortia Event

Following what was again a successful event on Friday 30th March 2012 at Enterprise Ireland. The Print and Packaging Forum congratulate Maria Gavin and her team for their efforts to encourage SME participation in the public tendering process.
Some recent tenders posted include

http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/Search_View.aspx?id=APR326556

http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/Search_View.aspx?id=MAR325256

http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/Search_View.aspx?id=MAR324955

The Print and Packaging Forum take this opportunity to wish all of our members and supporters a Happy Easter.

Print Media Apprenticeship Review – Survey 2012

The Print and Packaging Forum have almost completed it’s primary research on apprenticeship education. The survey developed as part of this will close off in the next week. The Forum are requesting that employers and key industry personnel, with responsibility for apprenticeship, at firms should complete the survey found at the link below. One lucky participant will win an Apple iPod. The information from this survey will assist us develop appropriate training programmes for the industry. To take the survey  click on or paste this in to your web browser. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WHX8NHRPrintMediaApprenticeshipSurvey2012

Enterprise Ireland, Tenders and Consortia

The Print and Packaging Forum, again congratulates Enterprise Ireland on the work that they are now undertaking with their client and non-client firms in relation to tenders and consortia initiatives.

We encourage non-EI sponsored firms to consider  participation at this Fridays event in East Point. We also advise that firms register on tenders.ie. This will allow the opportunity for all to be notified of any appropriate tenders that are posted to tenders.ie.

The HSE’s current tender may be viewed at http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/Search_View.aspx?id=MAR323036

Apprenticeship Survey – Preliminary Feedback Very Positive

The Print and Packaging Industry Forum survey released last week, is giving very positive early indicators in relation to the future need and uptake for Print Media Apprenticeship. A full report will be posted in the forthcoming weeks. The survey is still open and can be taken at the link below. We encourage you to participate.

This is an important review as it will allow us ensure that craft training for the sector meets precisely with the sectors requirements.

All completing the survey will be entered in to a draw to win an Apple iPod.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WHX8NHRPrintMediaApprenticeshipSurvey2012

Enterprise Ireland to Host ‘Changing Business Models, Consortia Opportunities & Real Life Tendering’ Event

The Print and Packaging Forum are delighted to announce that Enterprise Ireland will host an event for the Industry. The event will explore ‘Changing Business Models, Consortia Opportunities & Real Life Tendering’
It will be held on Friday March 30th – 9.20am-12noon at Enterprise Ireland offices at The Plaza, East Point Business Park, Dublin 3.

For Event registration and to confirm your attendance please  email Maria Gavin with your contact details at maria.gavin@enterprise-ireland.com 01 727 2887 or Fionn Lacey fionn.lacey@enterprise-ireland.com 01 727 2193
Event registration will close on Tuesday March 27th 2012
For agenda please see more

Print Forum Commences Review Process of Apprenticeship

The Print and Packaging Industry Forum have commenced a review of the apprenticeship system it advocated and developed in 2006. If you are an employer or are in a role in the Republic of Ireland which takes responsibility for training and development in your organisation please take five minutes to complete the survey below.

This is an important review as it will allow us ensure that craft training for the sector meets precisely with the sectors requirements.

All completing the survey will be entered in to a draw to win an Apple iPod.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WHX8NHRPrintMediaApprenticeshipSurvey2012