[C]umbria’s largest printer H&H Reeds Printers, is widely recognised for its approach to staff recruitment and management, and two recent staff promotions only strengthen the company’s position in this highly competitive industry.
H&H Reeds Printers has a long history of offering apprenticeships and values this route in to the business to train individuals in the technical skills required to succeed in this very specialist field.
Two former Apprentices of H&H Reeds Printers Gareth Rylands and Jamie Blenkinsopp have recently been appointed to key roles within the company.
Joining as an Apprentice Printer, in October 1995, Gareth has been promoted to Print and Production Manager and former Apprentice Print Finisher, Jamie, who joined H&H Reeds Printers in March 2014 has been promoted to Bindery Co-ordinator.
Having worked for the company for over 25 years, Gareth has seen many changes. He started his official role at Reeds Printers aged 16 as an apprentice printer under the guidance of current Managing Director Andy Jackson.
Explaining his first experience with H&H Reeds Printers, Gareth said, “I had already been working for Reeds Printers for three years prior to starting my apprenticeship as a delivery boy at our stationery shop on King Street in town.”
Gareth has quite literally worked his way up the ladder, initially as a part-time job when still at school he was responsible for delivering parcels, invoices and doing the post each night after school.
“It was being around the print factory on Rowcliffe Lane, and then later at the current site on Southend Road, that I thought I quite fancied the idea of becoming a printer,” he said. So, after leaving school aged 16, he started a six-year apprenticeship starting on the Heidelberg two colour M.O. press, the biggest press at the time.
Towards the end of the two-colour M.O.’s life, we started to venture into four-colour process printing which meant two passes through the machine. Full colour printing then became the trend which resulted in us acquiring a four colour B3 press which we soon upgraded to a B2 press as the customer demand grew.
“We now have a fully automated B2 press, which is a huge technological leap from when first the trade. Setting up a job takes as little as a couple of minutes as opposed to the hours it used to take ten years ago. I have been printing less and less over the past five years as my role has changed and I am now more involved in the planning and production side of print and overseeing the work in the factory. However, when the opportunity arises I do like to be hands on and run a machine.”
Gareth works closely with Jamie Blenkinsopp, who has recently been appointed to Bindery Coordinator. Twenty-five-year-old Jamie, originally from Appleby, chose an apprenticeship in the print industry as he found print finishing to be an interesting option and he enjoyed the buzz within the factory.
Since he joined four years ago he has thrived in the role and completed NVQ (level 3) in Print Finishing. He has also seen further growth in the finishing department, including the installation of the new stitching line which binds brochures and booklets.
Jamie has a meeting with Gareth at 7am each morning where they discuss the schedule of production for the bindery department for the coming day.
His advice for anyone considering an apprenticeship: “They are definitely worth doing, however from the outset, you must see the bigger picture as an apprenticeship definitely has the potential to lead onto a definite career, so do not get caught up in the initial starting wage.”
As a company, H&H Reeds Printers have always said: “The younger generation are our future” and whenever an apprentice joins the company they always hope that they will have a long-term future within the business. These latest promotions demonstrate perfectly that they have achieved this.
Phil Gowling, Production Director said: “It is a great advantage to us that Gareth and Jamie know this business from the bottom up. Gareth, who has been here for over 20 years, has an in-depth knowledge of the printing process, which is only gained from long-term training and experience. That is incredibly valuable to us as a company, and I feel is obvious to our customers as Gareth knows the ins and outs of every stage of the process.”
“Jamie joined us more recently and has applied himself fully. He asked the right questions and more importantly, listened to the answers. His ability to pick up new skills has been great, and his attitude has been exemplary. He has filled a skills gap that was lacking in our company and helped to ensure growth and continuity within the bindery. He has had a very positive impact on H&H Reeds Printers.”
“These latest promotions demonstrate that we offer genuine training opportunities and are keen that our apprentices are very ambitious and want to get on. We are in a fast-changing industry, with a new focus on the environment and it is vital we stay ahead of our competitors. Our commitment and investment in our staff, leads to staff retainment and a workforce that is experienced and has expert knowledge, which gives us a stronger business. We strive to be a progressive and sustainable business and our employees work with us in partnership to achieve this.”
“Our company’s strategy includes a determination to employ younger staff, provide them with training and opportunities, and ultimately, promotion. H&H Reeds believes that this company policy demonstrates a confidence in the future.”
H&H Reeds Printers itself prides itself on innovation and the use of green technology and has offices in Milnthorpe and Penrith.
For more information and details please contact H&H Reeds Printers on T: 01768 864214 or visit www.hhreedsprinters.co.uk