Forms Plus is excited to announce that it is now a member of the BPIF, the leading business support organisation representing the UK print, printed packaging, and graphic communications industries. The BPIF is a trade association that assists print businesses with Health & Safety, Environmental, and Quality issues. It also helps implement HR requirements, assists with technical and legal issues, and gives advice on marketing, sales, and finance. With 1300 members consisting of printing companies of all shapes and sizes, the BPIF is both a voice for the printing industry and an active participant. We are confident that the BPIF’s expertise will be invaluable to Forms Plus and greatly assist its future development.
Some of the BPIF membership benefits will also have a tremendously positive impact for our employees, including discounts on RAC breakdown cover, group pension scheme, and private health insurance. Forms Plus will also benefit from the provision of various training and development courses, which will enable us to help staff members reach their true potential. The association currently has more than 500 learners involved in its training programmes, with a completion rate of 78% – consistently ahead of the national average.
A driving force in lobbying on behalf of the printing industry, the BPIF plays a vital role in making sure the concerns of companies such as Forms Plus reach the ears of decision-makers in parliament and it is regularly consulted by the government regarding the formulation of public policy. As the fifth largest producer of printed products in the world, the UK is heavily dependent on the printing industry – in 2016 printing generated £5.8bn in Gross Value Added for the UK economy, more than any other manufacturing industry apart from pharmaceuticals. In total, the UK printing industry employs more than 116,000 people. The BPIF has identified several important areas in which the government can help support the printing industry, including single standard apprenticeships to assist recruitment efforts, tax relief on plant and machinery requirements and R&D, and continued ease of UK-EU trade in a post-Brexit world.
Forms Plus looks forward to participating in future BPIF events, which include skills workshops, team leader training sessions, Health & Safety forums, and networking opportunities all over the country.
Forms Plus Managing Director Victoria Andrews said, “We are pleased we have recently joined the BPIF. It was great meeting Dawn Reid and Mandy Woodcock, who explained the benefits of the membership and the services available to us. We look forward to becoming an active member and meeting other BPIF members through the various events.”