Print champion IPIA fuels economy

As reported by Print Week, the IPIA, led by Charles Rogers, advocates for print industry support at No 10 Downing Street, engaging with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt on crucial manufacturing initiatives

The event, which took place on 20 December, was the second Business Leaders Reception attended by the IPIA, in addition to two formal meetings with special advisors to the prime minister – all held at No 10.

This event aimed to bring together influential representatives from key sectors of the UK economy and foster collaboration between them.

Rogers met the chancellor following his address to the reception. They discussed the projected impact of the policies announced in his recent Autumn Statement, while Rogers emphasised to him the critical importance for print to be included in manufacturing support initiatives, such as the Energy-Intensive Industries Scheme.

Rogers said: “To be invited as the chair of the IPIA to a reception hosted by the chancellor of the exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, is recognition of how important the print and paper industries is to the health of the UK economy.

“During our conversation, he was receptive to the points being put across in regard to the need for further print and paper industry support and welcomed further representations.

“In fact, in a broader sense, it’s not the IPIA being invited, but the entire print and paper industries. Sectors such as finance, IT, life sciences, hospitality, healthcare, and fast-growing entrepreneurial start-ups – to name a few – were all in attendance. This is so that government can either learn from them or impress upon them, strategy or policy to improve the economy.”

He added: “The reception provided a fascinating insight into how other sectors view ours. It also provided a valuable platform to raise the profile of our industry and highlight how critical it is to the functioning of so many other parts of the economy.”

Attendees were able to network with national associations, financial institutions, and representatives from global brands.

“I was immensely proud to represent our industry and the IPIA. Our repeated invitations to No 10 reflect how far we have come over the last few years, and it is very rewarding to see the hard work and perseverance of our association making an impact,” said Rogers.

“We will continue to advocate for policies that will address the issues reported by IPIA members, industry businesses and allied associations, which are hindering our industry’s growth and long-term stability. Our work will continue in 2024 and we welcome, and would encourage, engagement from the industry to represent its interests.”