As guest of honour at the The Printing Charity’s 186th Annual Luncheon last week, The Duke of York said in his speech: “Young people are our future. The UK’s prosperity depends on having the right skills for the future, increasing young people’s aspirations and encouraging businesses to take on apprentices…The Printing Charity has a long tradition of consistent work and its current efforts to encourage young people into the printing industry are commendable.”
Jon Wright, chairman of The Printing Charity, welcomed over 180 guests to the event, saying that 2013 was a fantastic year for the charity, with a 14% increase in the number of people helped throughout the UK, and a record number of applicants and winners for the Print Futures Awards. He stressed the fact that the charity helps people of all ages, individuals and their families.
At the lunch, Lord Black of Brentwood, executive director of the Telegraph Media Group, formally accepted The Printing Charity’s invitation to serve a second term as its president.
MC (Bill) Offer was also made a President Emeritus of The Printing Charity for his exceptional work on the charity’s behalf as a Trustee for 15 years and three terms as its Chairman. He is a well-known figure to many in the printing industry, having lectured and held the post of Deputy Dean of the London College of Communication for over 30 years and was an examiner and moderator for Edexcel for 26 years.