“The print industry is adapting technically and commercially both to compete with and complement other media. For the industry to thrive it is vital to attract fresh talent with the energy, passion and creativity to sustain the relevance of print as a powerful, cost-effective communication medium and industrial manufacturing process,” says Mark Alexander, Director of Marketing, Xaar. “We are pleased to support the PrintIT! programme to help inspire and attract young people to consider a career in print with all its diversity.”
As the largest “Schools into Industry” programme in the UK, adoption of the curriculum-based PrintIT! course continues to grow since the programme’s launch in 2005. Commenting on the standard of this year’s entries Richard Moore, Programme Director for Proskills, the standards-setting body behind PrintIT!, said: “The entries this year were of a really high standard and all of the finalists were worthy of the overall prize so the judges thought long and hard before reaching their decision.”
“PrintIT! is a self-funded initiative that only exists thanks to the backing of partners, and sponsors such as Xaar,” continues Mark. “Our continued support of programmes such as PrintIT! is part of Xaar’s long-term investment in attracting the next generation of print industry professionals.”
About Xaar
Xaar is the world’s leading independent supplier of industrial inkjet printheads, inks and systems components to commercial printing and industrial manufacturing markets. Xaar’s innovative technology offers OEM customers and licensees commercial advantage through product differentiation, productivity, and faster time-to-market. Additional information about Xaar is available at www.xaar.com
About PrintIT!
Launched in 2005, PrintIT! is an industry-wide educational initiative which aims to encourage young people to consider a career in print. As part of the curriculum-based PrintIT! course, students are challenged to create a print-based campaign. Aiming to promote the many varied and stimulating career paths available within the print industry, the PrintIT! competition was extended in 2008 to include Year 9 students (aged 13-14) as well as Year 10 students (aged 14-15) studying for their GCSEs in Product Design and Graphic Products.
PrintIT! is also relevant to the Diplomas in Creative and Media and Manufacturing and Product Design. PrintIT! is led by Proskills UK, the sector skills council representing the print and paper industries.www.printit.org.uk
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Contacts:
Xaar: Charlotte Baile T: +44 1223 437273 E: charlotte.baile@xaar.com
Ruth Clark, Splash!PR T: +44 1580 241177 E: ruth@splashpr.co.uk
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