Page 54 - Print21 Magazine March April 2021

Associations
Not just here in the bad times
PrintNZ CEO Ruth Cobb sets out the key benefits of the association for Kiwi print business
ast year saw a completely different set of priorities come into force for industry associations as the role
that are available to members. The single biggest service provided is access to advice,
assistance and information to help manage staff. PrintNZ works daily with members, both small and large, to guide them through the ever-changing minefield of employment relations, steering them through redundancies, restructuring, disciplinary issues and providing employment agreements, policies and procedures. As this area becomes more complex
and more expensive to get wrong, getting some free advice can save more than the cost of membership.
Benchmarking data including wages, charge out rates, and
fi ancialreturnsarealsosought after, and PrintNZ provides the only industry-related access to this valuable information.
Health & Safety compliance requirements have increased significantly since the new Act was introduced fi e years ago, andfi eshaverisensubstantially, meaning you cannot afford to ignore your responsibilities. Again, PrintNZ is able to
provide guidance and on-site assistance with establishing and maintaining a robust system.
Promoting the
Industry
PrintNZ has a key role to play in promoting the print industry. This as also a key pillar of
our work during 2020, as it became apparent that many government departments had
a limited knowledge of the important role that print plays in the economy, both as part of the infrastructure and as a vital communication tool.
For the last fi e years, PrintNZ has been a partner
in the Value of Paper and Print (VOPP) and Two Sides programmes. VOPP promotes the effectiveness of print,
and Two Sides promotes sustainability – and debunks the myths that circulate about print. In 2020, the Open Up To Mail Campaign was also introduced to the market.
PrintNZ will continue to collaborate with these campaigns, and provide collateral to the industry, as we have a role to educate the buyers of print and the community in general. Our industry knows how powerful print is and we need to ensure that message is heard by the retailers, marketers and brand owners.
Lobbying
While highlighted during
the pandemic, lobbying is a fundamental function of every industry association. A close
eye is kept on proposed changes to government policy that may impact businesses in the print industry. New issues are always appearing on the horizon, requiring a well-prepared resource to address them, and we work with feedback from industry members to prepare submissions and propose solutions based on what is best for our industry.
This ear will see
further progress with the transformationofindustry training, and we continue
to fight to ensure that print industry training will not be diluted in the new structure.
Training
Which leads into our fourth pillar. There has never been
a better or cheaper time to
train than now. Having skilled staff is im ortant in every business, and with the current low unemployment figures
and the almost complete halt
to immigration, fi ding those staff ill be difficult for the
next few years. It is our job to make sure that training remains available and that it matches what industry needs. As the technology in our industry evolves, so too must the training.
Support your industry association
Our industry is agile and so is your industry association. We are here for the good times and the bad times so please support us, and in turn, let us support you. 21
oL
wners.
they were required to play pushed them into the front line and
they sought to assist members
to navigate pathways never
before travelled, and to lobby government on issues well outside the scope of business as usual.
It has been an opportunity to showcase why associations are an integral part of an industry, providing a collective voice and a vital two-way communication channel. But they don’t exist just to step up in difficult times – they are there working hard on behalf of the industry when times are good as well.
TheroleofPrintNZis
to support our members’ businesses, and ensure that print remains a strong, vibrant and evolving industry. This ision is what shapes the work that we
do every day and encompasses
a broad range of projects that
we get involved in, much of it carried out in the background.
Our industry is made up of businesses that range from the small owner/operator through to large multinationals. They all produce a variety of fantastic work and it is rewarding to be able to work with and for these amazing companies.
For 2021, I remind you of what PrintNZ provides its members during the more business as usual times, which are just as important as the services provided during a crisis.
Services
PrintNZ offers a broad range
of member services and works directly with members to help them with matters particular to their own businesses. As well as the more general services, such as group discounts, there are some specific areas of expertise
Evolving industry: Ruth Cobb, CEO, PrintNZ
“We work with feedback from industry members to prepare submissions and propose solutions based on what is best for our industry.”
54 Print21 MARCH/APRIL 2021