With the launch last week of the updated FuturePrint website www.futureprint.org.au the industry program to help develop both businesses and people is officially ‘open for business’.
The website, which actively promotes the opportunities available in the graphic communications sector, features a ‘Jobs Board’ which businesses can use to list vacancies and recruit suitable applicants, and an ‘Apprenticeship Matching Service’ designed to help prospective trainees match their skills to opportunities in the industry.
Some 60 businesses had already signed onto the program by the end of January, pledging to employ or upskill nearly 200 workers. More than a dozen apprentices have already commenced training.
As additional apprentices come online daily, and, with about 500 expressions of interest received by Printing Industries Association of Australia (Printing Industries)in response to ads placed on employment website SEE, last year, the project is on track to achieve its targeted intake of 120+ apprentices by mid-year.
These are the first real ‘on the ground’ results for the FuturePrint project, a joint initiative between Printing Industries and the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU).
Joan Grace, Printing Industries General Manager for Innovation, Training and Employment heads up the FuturePrint program and is delighted with the outcomes to date.
“Now that the program is really starting to gain momentum, it’s a great time to remind businesses across the whole graphic communications sector that the aims of FuturePrint are very simple and very exciting – to give businesses practical tools and support as they plan and equip for the future, and to find the right people with the right skills to help them get there," she said.
Ms Grace joined Printing Industries in 2012 after heading up both Print NZ, Printing Industries’ counterpart in New Zealand, and the Communications and Media Industry Training Organisation for NZ.
“Working with industry, unions, governments and RTOs (Registared Training Organisations) is a long and complex process, but the really important work starts when all that is in place – and it's delivering real benefits to the business down the road, or the employee who needs to upskill or reskill, or the young person who sees that they can have a rewarding career in our industry using new technologies," she said.
“Now, with our ‘Precincts’ around the country well established and our team of advisors on the ground to support the program, we’re seeing this starting to play out in real businesses and with real people – and that’s exciting."
Ms Grace acknowledges that there is still much to be done, however she says the project has already started to demonstrate its worth to participants.
"The FuturePrint team is looking forward to welcoming plenty more businesses and apprentices over the coming months," she said.
“The structure is in place, the website is operational, the training is already happening – now we just want more businesses to benefit.
"There’s no deadline and no obligation, so I encourage anyone thinking about their business future to contact us and start the conversation.”
FuturePrint
www.futureprint.org.au
