A new industry initiative has been launched to help broaden access to careers across the UK’s print, communications and visual media sectors, with a focus on attracting a wider range of talent into the industry.
Print Tomorrow, a Community Interest Company (CIC), aims to bring together businesses, educators and industry professionals to strengthen the talent pipeline by raising awareness of the variety of careers available in modern print.
The organisation says the industry has evolved significantly in recent years, encompassing areas such as data, automation, digital communications, creative services, packaging, sustainability and emerging technologies. However, it believes public awareness of these opportunities has not kept pace, contributing to recruitment challenges across the sector.
According to Print Tomorrow, the average age of the print workforce is now over 45, with many businesses expecting to lose up to 40% of their skilled employees within the next decade. It also cites figures suggesting that two-thirds of print businesses are struggling to fill skilled positions, particularly in digital, technical and hybrid creative-technical roles.
Rather than focusing solely on school leavers and young people entering the workforce, Print Tomorrow has been established to complement existing industry initiatives by targeting a broader audience. The organisation hopes to encourage career changers, returners to work and people from underrepresented backgrounds to consider opportunities within the sector.
Its activities will include promoting careers in print and communications, supporting outreach in education and local communities, facilitating mentoring and networking opportunities, and helping businesses showcase career pathways.
Elizabeth Bowerman, founder of Print Tomorrow, said: “The print industry offers exciting, rewarding and future-focused careers, but too many people simply don’t know the opportunities exist. Print Tomorrow has been created to change that.
“We’re not trying to replicate the excellent work already being done across the industry. Print Tomorrow exists to complement those efforts by reaching audiences who may never have considered print as a career option, whether they’re 18, 28 or 38.
“By bringing together businesses, educators and industry professionals, we can help open the door to a wider and more diverse talent pool. This isn’t just about attracting more people into print; it’s about ensuring the industry reflects the communities and customers it serves while securing the skills it needs for the future.”
Print Tomorrow is inviting organisations and individuals to support the initiative through mentoring, outreach, work experience placements, apprenticeships and collaboration, with the aim of creating a more diverse and sustainable workforce for the future.
