It was standing room only for the very first Future Print Summit this week with broad representation from the industry and a high level of engagement providing feedback that is sure to impact positively on future apprentice training.
CEOs and business owners from some of the industry’s leading companies were joined at Sydney Airport by supervisors and operational staff, representatives from the AMWU and RTOs, Printing Industries staff and Future Print Advisors and, of course, apprentices themselves.
Officially opening the day, the Hon. Bob Baldwin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, spoke of how an apprenticeship had provided the foundation for his own career and changed his life for the better, saying the Federal Government’s support for vocational education was about ‘the future of our children’.
Print and related areas, he said, were strong, with completion rates for apprenticeships above the national average, and the Federal Government was committed to ensuring industries had access to training in the areas needed, by cutting red tape and simplifying processes to help link employers with appropriately trained staff and connect skilled workers with jobs.
The Summit was addressed by music industry representative John O’Neill who brought a perspective on transformation and training, derived from his experience in an industry which, like print, has radically transformed over the past 15 years.
“In recent years, music has moved from a physical business, with the sale of records, tapes and CDs, to a largely digital market serviced by downloads and streaming,” he explained, “and, while digital will never completely replace the physical product, we have had to dramatically change our business models and approach.
While physical products remain popular, with a resurgence of interest in vinyl records and tapes, both of which now retail in a much higher margin price bracket, O’Neill says it is the digital sector where the growth is happening because it has made his product so much cheaper and easier to access.
“When the game changes, you have no choice but to find a new set of rules by which you can play and win,” he said. “That will take ideas, bravery, passion and a willingness to execute your plans and see them through – and this is where young people are invaluable.
Joan Grace, General Manager for Innovation, Training and Employment for Printing Industries said the Future Print team were delighted with the willingness of participants to provide their assessment, opinions and ideas to the Summit.
“Having business owners, CEOs and operational management sit together with those involved in planning training models, those who design and deliver the courses and some of the people who are currently undertaking training has been enormously valuable and made for animated and passionate discussions in the workgroup sessions,” she said.
In thanking those who had participated, Grace remarked that she could not remember a similar occasion which had a 100% attendance rate. “It really demonstrates that the people involved in our industry are passionate about creating a successful and sustainable future, and that the issues Future Print is addressing will be critical to ensuring that success.
“Evaluation of the information gathered will take a little while, but I can say that it has been an enormously successful exercise which has given us very positive feedback and strong direction which we will be working very hard to implement in the Future Print Program moving forward.
For more information on Future Print go to www.futureprint.org.au