Piecing together the true picture of people in print

The Printing Charity research explores the professional and personal experiences of people working across the print industry.

The Printing Charity has released the findings of new research commissioned to build a clearer picture of the professional and personal experiences of people working across print, paper, packaging, graphics, publishing and the allied trades.

Published to coincide with World Mental Health Day on 10 October, the research aims to ensure that the voices of people across the industry are heard and understood. By gaining insight into their real-life experiences, The Printing Charity can continue to develop its services and support to address the challenges facing the workforce and deliver meaningful change.

This year's World Mental Health Day theme, ‘Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change’, reflects the importance of listening to employees and understanding their experiences to improve wellbeing across the sector.

Key findings highlight a passionate and positive workforce

The research reveals that people working in print are proud of their industry and value the contribution they make.

Key findings include:

• Meaningful work: Four in five respondents feel that their work is important to their organisation.

  
  

• Pride in print: Three-quarters feel they play a role in keeping print alive and relevant.

  
  

• Job satisfaction: Three-quarters report feeling satisfied with their work.

  
  

• Feeling appreciated: Seven in ten feel valued for their efforts at work.

  
  

• Supportive workplaces: Nearly eight in ten would feel comfortable telling their manager or senior leader if they were experiencing stress at work, while seven in ten feel supported by their manager.

Alongside these positive findings, the research highlights wider wellbeing challenges affecting people across the industry. These include poor sleep, financial worries, the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, low energy and mental wellbeing concerns.

It also identifies pressures associated with working in the sector, including work-related stress, work-life balance, concerns about the future, the impact of AI and automation, and uncertainty around career prospects.

Supporting people across the industry

Neil Lovell, CEO of The Printing Charity, said: “The time around this year's World Mental Health Day is the perfect point to unveil the findings from our industry research. Our goal for the research was to find out what the biggest challenges are for people working in our sectors.

“With this knowledge we can not only respond through the services and support we offer directly to them, but also help to equip businesses in our sector with practical ways to create the best staff wellbeing possible.”

He added that businesses across the sector work hard to create positive working environments where people can thrive, with The Printing Charity acting as a wellbeing partner for the industry and supporting businesses to meet the particular needs of their employees.

The findings demonstrate the importance of recognising both the positive aspects of working in print and the challenges that can affect people's wellbeing. While many employees feel valued, supported and satisfied in their roles, there is still a need to address pressures that affect their personal lives, working environments and future careers.

By listening to the workforce and understanding its experiences, The Printing Charity aims to ensure its support remains relevant and accessible to people across the sector.

For more information about The Printing Charity and the support available to people working across the industry, visit www.theprintingcharity.org.uk.