Something worth shouting about

Written by Colin Gillman | 17 August 2011

One of the key events in the annual printing industry calendar is the British Association of Print and Communication (BAPC) Conference. The conference is open to all and not just BAPC members and this year will be held on Thurs 20th - Fri 21st October at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Elstree Hertfordshire.

Without wishing to blow too much smoke up BAPC chairman Sidney Bobb’s pipe, this event really is worth shouting about because the BAPC has an enviable reputation for organising business conferences which inform, educate, motivate and entertain, and this year promises to be no exception. But why should anyone attend the BAPC’s event or indeed any other conference?

In the first instance, conferences provide opportunities to expand your knowledge and improve upon personal skills. Secondly, they provide you with the opportunity to network with others in your field and discover what your peers might be up to in the market. Conferences such as the BAPC event also provide a fabulous opportunity to socialise and network with people you wouldn’t usually find yourself sitting next to and this in turn is a fabulous way to discover new trends and find out how others are running their businesses.

In my opinion it’s all about reviving the passion for your work. As printers (and after 35 years in the trade and a three year apprenticeship I firmly remain a printer at heart) we take enormous pride in the work we produce, and we love the feeling from producing something that perhaps only we could achieve because we used our skills and our expertise to craft that particular job, and my heart still skips a beat whenever I walk into a busy print production department. This passion for printing can be infectious and I have talked with many printers at BAPC Conferences over the years who tell me they have picked up tips and tricks that they have subsequently used in their own businesses, and this knowledge has helped to make their company more effective and ultimately more profitable.

Attending a conference is one of the most exciting, accessible opportunities for breathing new life into a business, particularly when there is the beginning of a feeling that things are mundane and dull. There is no doubt that everyone who takes part in the BAPC Conference has fun and goes away with a feeling of increased energy and passion. I know I did. Have a look at my column following last year’s BAPC Conference and watch the video below to get a feel for what I am talking about.

The conference schedule is still in the process of completion but Sid is promising  there will be leading business guru who will reveal the secrets of real success, along with specialists from the print sector covering a wide variety of pertinent subjects. Once the full programme is finalised you can be assured that GDW will bring you the details just as soon as they become available. However, I can reveal that the delegate rate will be £150.00 per person which includes the Thursday evening gala dinner and awards ceremony along with food and refreshments during conference. The BAPC will also provide a special delegate room rate of approximately £86.00 for a double room so there’s every reason to bring your partner and play a round or two of golf, swim, use the gym and relax in a terrific learning atmosphere surrounded by all good industry people.

Sign me up!

Colin Gillman
colin@graphicdisplayworld.com