A consortium of eight UK print and graphic arts trade associations has come together to launch a new umbrella group to represent the joint interests of the industry as a whole. The Graphics, Print & Media Alliance (GPMA) will aim to provide the sector with a single authoritative voice.
Founding members of GPMA are: British Association for Print & Communication (BAPC), British Coatings Federation (BCF), British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF), FESPA UK, Independent Print Industries Association (IPIA), Picon, the Process & Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA), and the Rubicon Network
Peter Morris, chairman of GPMA and chairman of Picon, says: "The industry is highly disparate and, while individual associations play an important role in representing their members' interests, it is very clear we need to speak with one strong collective voice if we want to achieve change. We are now in the process of shaping the GPMA to bring the influence of the joint membership to bear in a variety of areas, including industry-wide collaboration, planning, enhanced influence and managing change."
Preliminary research by the GPMA has highlighted several issues that the sector needs to tackle including: the threat from electronic media; a shortage of investment; declining margins, an ageing workforce profile; and a lack of training.
