In this 4 part special feature, we talked to some of the employers of this year’s Printing Charity’s Rising Stars winners about the realities of employing the next generation
It’s a regular cry, not just from the print industry but from many sectors: “We need to encourage more young people to work for us!” But how do you reach them? And what are the practicalities of employing those with no previous experience?
As the dust settles on the Printing Charity Rising Stars event and the hard work begins for the winners embarking on new training opportunities, we asked some of their employers about their experiences of employing young people.
Talent spotting
There are many avenues down which the next generation can enter the print industry, each with a range of benefits and challenges.
Simon Wheeler, MD of Stylo in Watford, has cast a broad net and taken different approaches to attract young talent. “To ensure we are at the front of the queue for new younger people, we work with local schools attending work fairs. I am also working with our local college to ensure Watford remains the print town it has always been.”
At Tradeprint in Dundee, Anthony Rowell has taken a similar approach. “We’re also working closely with local schools, colleges, and employment schemes to provide pathways into print – we are considering internships and apprenticeships to full-time careers.”
For many businesses, apprenticeships are an appealing option as there is a structured programme for the employer and employee to follow, frequently with links to a local college and the possibility of government support.
Lawrence Green, MD of Greens the Signmakers, has found that collaboration with the local college has stemmed from roots closer to home. “The Printing Charity has been a great support for the business in general, but I have to mention the Hull City Council’s Hull training and adult education apprenticeship courses. Mike Gooch is their vocational Teacher for Signmaking and has been a great support. Having previously worked at Greens the Signmakers for many years before leaving to oversee the apprenticeships, he has fantastic knowledge of what is needed in the industry. He works so hard to ensure we get decent candidates and then continues that support throughout their studies. I prefer to take on an apprentice if I know there is going to be a place for them once they qualify, and I’m pleased that plan usually works. In fact, our whole print department is made up of apprentices that come through the scheme.”
Whilst modern apprenticeships can be hugely mutually beneficial, government-backed youth employment schemes have presented some major challenges, as Simon Wheeler describes.
“We had a bit of an epiphany when we realised all the young people we had started with were now, like us, getting older. So we made a conscious decision to look at how we introduced youth into our headcount. Aside from reaching out via local recruitment agencies, in 2019, we signed up to a government initiative called ‘Kickstart’. Under the scheme, we were able to offer young people on Universal Credit state-subsidised work placements for six months. Our first cohort of 10 bright, inquisitive young people were selected at an organised speed interview session and offered various positions in the business. Day one was the first realisation of what we had done and was typical of some of the challenges we were going to face. One person did not turn up, two turned up late, and one arrived inappropriately dressed. There were a couple who were obviously going through the motions and adopted a moody teenager persona to ensure we knew this.”
That experience might put off some employers, but, like Greens, Stylo continued to support youth employment and has also looked close to home for new talent.
“We are also finding that many of our staff now have children who are coming up to employment age. I recently interviewed a young man for a position as content creator, who is the son of our Creative Director “
While the senior management can be keen to take on young people and apprentices, it must be backed up with support from the whole staff. Simon Ward is the print manager at Greens and has overseen the growth of that department from the original 1.6m wide printer to now having multiple wide format machines.
“I think we need to show that becoming an apprentice within the print industry can lead to a successful career. We use some amazing pieces of kit and industry-standard software, so there are many career paths that can be taken. Within Greens, it’s been proven on numerous occasions that entering the print industry can lead to a fulfilling career.”