中文The British Printing Industries Federation has celebrated 125 years of existence and used the milestone to reaffirm — and reframe — its plans for the future, with ambitions to grow a membership base that already represents a sizeable slice of UK printing.
At its AGM and Members’ Day in July, CEO Charles Jarrold described 2026 as “a milestone year” for the Fed, which also sold its BPIF Training business in May. That disposal lets the federation focus on core member services, including the support firms need in an increasingly complex regulatory environment, and has helped tackle a legacy defined-benefit pension deficit.
Jarrold framed the anniversary as a testament to an industry that “has adapted, that’s innovative, and endured through extraordinary change” — wars, recessions, technological upheaval, pandemics, Brexit and Covid among them. “Print has not just survived, but it changes, it adapts and it finds a way to thrive,” he told members, expressing confidence the same spirit will carry the sector into its next century.
Today the BPIF supports around 800 printing-related organisations. Its membership represents roughly half the UK industry by turnover and headcount, and 90% of carton printers — yet only about 10% by number of companies. Closing that gap is the priority. Board member Ian Conetta, group managing director at The Meliora Group, argued the federation should hold at least half the industry and must figure out why the other 90% stay away.
Jarrold is keen that “cost is not a barrier” to joining and suspects many smaller firms simply do not know what the BPIF offers. The federation’s value proposition is substantial. In the past year its Business Services team spent 3,582 hours advising members, handled more than 6,400 HR interactions — including 31 site visits and 870 phone calls — and logged 2,636 health-and-safety interactions. Its in-house Legal Services team, a rarity among trade bodies with more than 30 years’ presence, dealt with 385 member activities and 10 employment tribunal cases.
Government advocacy remains central, as does compliance tooling such as the Safety Compliance Planner. BPIF economist Kyle Jardine has flagged four key trends for 2025-2030 — technology, regulatory change, sustainability and creativity — and the federation’s quarterly Printing Outlook report tracks the trade’s mood. As the 2026 landmark passed, new members including Newsquest, Barcode Data and Printology were announced, a small but symbolic start to the next 125 years.
What makes the BPIF’s story notable is the breadth of support it now provides. In the year under review its Business Services team logged 3,582 hours of expert advice, more than 6,400 HR interactions — including 31 site visits and 870 phone calls — and 2,636 health-and-safety interactions. Its in-house Legal Services team, a rarity among trade bodies, handled 385 member activities and 10 employment tribunal cases, often resolving disputes before they reached court.
Yet membership coverage tells a more complicated story. The federation represents around 50% of the UK industry by turnover and headcount, and 90% of carton printers, but only about 10% by number of companies. That gap — the hundreds or thousands of smaller firms outside the tent — is precisely what Jarrold wants to close. As board member Ian Conetta put it, the federation should hold at least half the industry and must understand why the other 90% have stayed away.
The path forward mixes affordability with awareness. Jarrold is adamant that “cost is not a barrier” to joining, and suspects many firms simply do not know what the BPIF offers. With government advocacy, compliance tooling and legal firepower already in place, the federation’s 125th anniversary may prove less a victory lap than a relaunch — one aimed at making the case that, in an era of AI, robotics and squeezed margins, printers need a collective voice more than ever.
What makes the BPIF’s story notable is the breadth of support it now provides. In the year under review its Business Services team logged 3,582 hours of expert advice, more than 6,400 HR interactions – including 31 site visits and 870 phone calls – and 2,636 health-and-safety interactions. Its in-house Legal Services team, a rarity among trade bodies, handled 385 member activities and 10 employment tribunal cases, often resolving disputes before they reached court.
Yet membership coverage tells a more complicated story. The federation represents around 50% of the UK industry by turnover and headcount, and 90% of carton printers, but only about 10% by number of companies. That gap – the hundreds or thousands of smaller firms outside the tent – is precisely what Jarrold wants to close. As board member Ian Conetta put it, the federation should hold at least half the industry and must understand why the other 90% have stayed away.
The path forward mixes affordability with awareness. Jarrold is adamant that cost is not a barrier to joining, and suspects many firms simply do not know what the BPIF offers. With government advocacy, compliance tooling and legal firepower already in place, the federation’s 125th anniversary may prove less a victory lap than a relaunch – one aimed at making the case that, in an era of AI, robotics and squeezed margins, printers need a collective voice more than ever.
The anniversary also arrives at a moment of genuine uncertainty for UK print. Energy costs, skills shortages and the slow unwinding of post-pandemic demand have squeezed margins across the sector. A federation that can demonstrably save members money on compliance and legal exposure – while lobbying on the issues that matter – has a compelling offer. Whether it can convert the 90% who have opted out remains the defining challenge of its next 125 years.
Source: https://www.printweek.com/content/briefing/bpif-hits-125-years-looks-to-future
