News

Unite are to attend the largest English-speaking global technology

event for print, publishing and media at The NEC, Birmingham, this

year: Ipex 2010, taking place from 18th – 25th May. Unite intends to

showcase the work it has done, and continues to do, towards supporting

the up-skilling of Graphical, Print, Packaging, Publishing and Media

workers.



As well as being signatories to the industry wide agreement on training

and skills, Unite also takes an active role in the Sector Skills

Council - Proskills. The union works with print and packaging companies

of all sizes across the UK to promote learning and the increasing of

workplace skills. Progressive companies welcome the support that Unite

can give in conjunction with learning providers and government

organisations to grow their companies’ skill base.



At Ipex dedicated Unite Learning Organisers will be sharing best

practice with the industry over the course of eight days. They will be

running workshops in the Knowledge Centre, and will also be on the

Unite stand at The NEC (11F-230/B) to demonstrate examples of

partnerships with companies such as Smurfit Kappa, Polestar among many

others.



Unite the Union’s Assistant General Secretary, Tony Burke, said,

“Showcasing Unite’s involvement in raising the skills of workers and

apprentices in the industry is an easy decision to make. The more

companies come to see the benefit of working with us on this, the

quicker they reap the benefits of a high skill workforce; and the

quicker our members and the country benefit from a more profitable

industry, with more job security.”



Designed to heighten the visitor experience and maximise time at the

event, the Knowledge Centre provides an easily accessible information

hub at the heart of Ipex where visitors can seek advice from

not-for-profit organisations about memberships, pensions, industry

accreditation, best industry practice, print buying as well as

educational matters. www.ipex.org/knowledge



Comments Nick Craig Waller, Ipex 2010 Marketing Director: “The

Knowledge Centre will act as a magnet for printers wanting to find out

more about furthering their skills and education so we’re delighted

that Unite is part of the event. Ipex is all about working smarter and

providing relevant learning opportunities, helping printers to pick up

ideas about new skills that can be implemented straight away.”