Canon UK has confirmed its support in the second year of the PrintIT! initiative, which is raising the profile of the graphic arts industry in schools across the UK. As in the first year Canon is donating cash prizes and equipment, as Ben Milford, head of professional marketing, explains.
Canon fully supports the idea behind PrintIT! and the aim of getting young people, while they are still at school, to consider the graphic arts industry for a potential career, says Mr Milford. As a key supplier to the market, Canon appreciates as much as anyone the need to attract bright young people to take the industry forward.
Its fair to say that prior to the huge efforts behind PrintIT! very few young people at school considered printing as a sector they might work in and those that did probably had images of an old and rather dirty industry. Explaining what a modern graphic arts industry is all about, which incorporates the latest in IT developments, has been one of the goals of PrintIT!.
I dont think there is anyone in the industry who does not believe PrintIT! is a great idea and would not wish it success. Were delighted at Canon to be involved once more in supporting this initiative and have committed to providing the same level of funding as we did in the first year, including the provision of two of our latest imagePROGRAF A1 Large Format Printing devices, which will enable the winning schools to experience the latest in graphic arts technology.
Martyn Elmy, director of sales and marketing at Russell-Webb and chairman of PrintIT!, says: Without the support of leading suppliers such as Canon, the PrintIT! initiative would have been no more than an idea. I am certain that the first year of the initiative started to create awareness amongst students of the opportunities available in the printing industry. There is a long way to go, but with the continued enthusiastic support from so many different players in the market we are confident that PrintIT! will make a significant difference to the intake of bright and talented young people into the industry.
Canon Australia Pty Ltd
www.canon.com.au
