One of the highlights at the recent Northprint exhibition was the awards ceremony for the PrintIT! 2010/11 Competition, the sixth annual PrintIT! awards, which this year resulted in more than 16,700 students from 350 schools registering to take part. The event recognised the determination and hard work of the thousands of participating students and attracted a wide range of industry figures, sponsors and supporters of PrintIT! as well as the finalist students, their parents and teachers. Nur Nurmahomed, a student at Beauchamp College in Leicestershire, took top honours, beating off an extremely high level of competition entries to be declared the overall winner of PrintIT! 2011. Nur was presented with an Apple iPad 2, as well as an expenses paid trip to Germany courtesy of manroland, to visit its Print Technology Centre and manufacturing facility in Offenbach, where the manroland Sheetfed presses are built.
Representatives from PrintIT!’s seven gold sponsors, including Canon UK, Duplo UK, Fujifilm, HP, Pantone, Ricoh and Xaar were on hand to announce the winners of each of the seven categories, and joined the winning students on stage to present their awards.
Commenting on the ceremony, Tom Bowtell, Deputy CEO at Proskills says, “We are once again indebted to all the industry sponsors and supporters of PrintIT! who have not only committed considerable time and energy into this year’s initiative, but have also contributed towards a total sponsorship pot valued in excess of £100,000. Without their ongoing generosity and backing of this altruistic industry cause, PrintIT! could not survive.”
All of the winners were chosen by a panel of print, media and graphic arts experts who examined carefully each of the entries and judged them against a set of criteria that has been refined over the six years of the competition. Three shortlisted finalists were selected from the seven competition categories, and these students were invited along with their teachers and parents to attend Northprint 2011. Each winning student received a digital Camera with a 2GB memory card, a Pantone Huey PRO Monitor calibrator, an ‘Industrial Inkjet for Dummies’ book, as well as a printer, together with a print-related prize donated by industry sponsors for their schools.
Wayne Barlow, Professional Print Channel Director, Canon UK and the outgoing Chairman of PrintIT! says, “The awards recognise the tremendous effort that has been put in by students and schools throughout the country. PrintIT! is unique in the printing industry and, I suspect, many other industries could learn a great deal from how the concept inspires young people to examine a specific market sector in new and exciting ways.”
“Many of these very bright and talented students will also hopefully consider print as an option for them in their future careers. As in previous years, the standard of entries has been extremely high and Nur Nurmahomed had to fight off some stiff competition to, deservedly, win the overall prize. Choosing one winner from amongst the others has been particularly difficult but Nur’s entry really over-delivered throughout, combining an innovative approach, great care and attention to detail and an excellent understanding of the printing processes.”
Best Industry Twinner was awarded to Leachprint, based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, who twinned with St. Birinus School. Leachprint received a glowing commendation from school teacher Mrs Wilson at St Birinus School , who praised the effort and dedication that the company showed towards her PrintIT! students. “Chris Williams, the Sales Director, conducted several guided tours, gave us product samples and even visited us in school to judge our school-based competition. He was so helpful, he even asked pupils in our 6th Form to apply for printing apprenticeships.”
Tom Bowtell adds, ‘From its concept, PrintIT! has maintained close links with The Fairtrade Foundation, and these values of social responsibility, combined with the understanding of print technologies have played a crucial part in every aspect of the competition. As well as gaining a greater understanding of Fairtrade and its social responsibilities, students have been faced with real life projects that combine their knowledge of the printing industry with the sorts of issues and tackling the type of challenges that they will face later in life.”
He continues, “Northprint has provided the perfect backdrop for the finalist students and their teachers to see just how varied and exciting the printing industry is. It’s always encouraging to see just how amazed and excited their reactions are while touring the stands and seeing the technologies and live demonstrations. Of course, the end game for PrintIT! is to encourage as many talented youngsters as possible to consider a future career in print, and on behalf of all our sponsors, we’re delighted that interest in the initiative remains high.”
The winners of the PrintIT! 2010/11 Competition are:
Overall Winner – PrintIT! 2011
- Nur Nurmahomed from Beauchamp College, Leicestershire
Best Wall Poster (in association with The Print Business, Print Business Media)
- Sarah Hasell, Bethany Harverson & Douglas McCardle, St John’s School, Cyprus (MoD school)
Best Free Design (in association with Image Reports, St John Patrick)
- Madeleine Beyer, Wycombe High School for Girls, Buckinghamshire
Most Innovative & Creative Concept (in association with PrintWeek, Haymarket Publishing)
- Precious Salazar, Kirkbie Kendall School, Cumbria
Best Understanding of Printing Techniques (in association with PJ, Cullum Publishing)
- Jennifer Nash, Steyning Grammar, West Sussex
Best Use of Materials (in association with Screen Process & Digital Imaging, Datateam Business Media)
- Cledwyn Landon, Dene Magna Community School, Gloucestershire
Best understanding of Environmental Concerns (in association with Print & Paper Monthly, Whitmar Publishing)
- Chloe Spencer, Shuttleworth College, Lancashire
Best Overall Presentation of Student Workbook (in association with Copy Shop News, Colourfast Group Ltd)
- Nur Nurmahomed, Beauchamp College, Leicestershire
Best Industry Twinner
- Leachprint, Oxfordshire
