We did it! The team here at Print Image is delighted to announce that we have achieved the Investors in People Gold accreditation.
Following a virtual, but no less rigorous assessment due to Covid-19 and social distancing, we are proud to take our place among the 17% of IIP accredited organisations that have achieved the We invest in people, gold accreditation.
Investors in People defines what it takes to lead, train, support and manage people effectively and to achieve sustainable results. Gold accreditation essentially means that the business has got excellent people management policies in place but more than that, it means everyone – from CEO to apprentice takes ownership for making them come to life.
Paul Devoy, CEO of Investors in People, said: “We’d like to congratulate Print Image Network. Gold accreditation in We invest in people is a fantastic effort for any organisation, and places Print Image Network in fine company with a host of organisations that understand the value of people.”
Assessment Highlights:
Commenting on the award, Stephen Power, Services Director said “We are ecstatic to have achieved IIP Gold! Having held the accreditation since 2011, the team has strived for continuous improvement at each three-year assessment. Our last full assessment in 2017 was conducted under the completely new 6th generation standard and we went straight in with silver status – a great result but one that we could improve on!”
“We believe that the success of Print Image Network begins and ends with our people and each member of staff subscribes to the IIP framework, which is designed to help organisations and their people to realise their full potential. We would like to thank the team for their commitment and hard work to achieve the Gold standard” Steve continued.
John Foster, Managing Director at Print Image Network added: “It is an absolute privilege to gain the gold standard accreditation. We work very hard to deliver true value and excellence for our customers. The employee survey, which saw 100% staff complete it, is a testament to how engaged and committed the team is. As a company, we are consistently striving for excellence.”
In these uncertain times we have had a number of enquiries asking if we are still open for business. Since the beginning of March, we have tested and implemented our Business Continuity Plan. As such we are still very much open for business and here to help our existing customers and other companies that are having problems with their regular supply chains.
Safety of our staff and customers is paramount to Print Image Network and in line with guidance from the World Health Organisation and .Gov website, we have implemented all necessary measures and precautions required to control the spread of infection to the highest level possible within our business and workforce.
Our office staff is fully equipped to work remotely and our print production facilities are also operating, in line with appropriate safety precautions. This means that we can still service our customer base to the highest possible standards.
We will, of course, keep you updated of any operational changes but should you have any specific questions or concerns regarding business continuity or urgent requests, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0161 209 4800 or email sales@printimagenetwork.co.uk
We hope that this message reaches you in good health and look forward to hearing from you. The Print Image Network Team
Print Image Network’s Commercial Manager, Simon Milnes, explains why publishing and commercial companies are choosing to use a paper magazine wrap solution to deliver magazines and supplements.
For many years polywrap has been the material of choice for wrapping magazines, catalogues and direct mail. Lightweight, strong and weather-resistant it is extremely effective for keeping different mail pieces together in one combined pack. However, more and more organisations are seeking options which are eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives, such as paper.
“With a current backlash against single-use plastics and the problems surrounding recycling, we’re seeing an increased number of organisations approaching us to discuss alternatives, such as paper magazine wrap.” Says Simon Milnes, Commercial Manager at Print Image Network.
“As a responsible print management company, it’s our business to offer clients more sustainable ways to wrap magazines.”
Print Image Network has one of the largest printing networks in the country and prints everything from electoral stationery to direct mail. “As printing experts, we know that paper magazine wrap isn’t a new solution, however, it is being more widely used because of the resistance to use plastic of any kind. There are multiple benefits for organisations,” says Simon.
Benefits of paper magazine wrap:
1. Sustainable product: eco-friendly and recyclable (supports ISO14001)
The paper used for our paper magazine wrap solution is FSC and PEFC certified. Unlike polywrap, paper wrap packaging is easily recycled after use. Therefore, its sustainable lifecycle will support any environmental commitments associated with CSR policies or ISO14001 efforts.
2. Endless design and promotional opportunities on the outer wrap
Paper magazine wrap can accommodate any design a client desires, as long as the areas for postal addresses and the postal indicia adhere to Royal Mail’s postage requirements. From plain block colours to intricate designs and photos, the possibilities are endless.
3. Combined mailing savings (separate mailings in one pack)
Wrapping multiple communications means that postage is only paid once rather multiple times. Polywrap and/or envelope savings can be made as they won’t be required.
4. Can accommodate different size communications (such as A4 and A5)
Typical wraps are A4 and A5, however, our solution can wrap the largest insert if it a bespoke size, enclosing all other inserts neatly into the pack.
5. Machines can accommodate up to 9 different inserts per pack
Paper magazine wrap can fill your pack with up to 9 different inserts.
6. Individual inserts can be personalised
With paper wrap all nine inserts can be personalised, if required.
7. Packs are eligible for Royal Mail’s (cost-effective) Mailmark® service
Paper wrap packs are easier to process by Royal Mails machines (polywrap and eco-alternatives are not) and therefore is subject to the cheaper Mailsort options, which reduce postal costs.
Simon concluded, “It’s no surprise that organisations that have a strong conservation ethos are looking at paper wrap as an alternative solution to polywrap. However, we are getting enquiries from all types of organisations who are exploring the switch in a response to reader feedback, readers who don’t want to see plastic used at all.”
If you are interested in switching to a paper magazine wrap solution, please contact the team at Print Image Network.
Electoral stationery provider achieves ‘Compliance-Plus’ in 13 separate areas of the business.
Electoral stationery provider, Print Image Network, has held the Customer Service Excellence Standard since 2012. Each year the business gets assessed to see if it still meets the criteria set out by the standard.
Following our recent visit, we are pleased to announce that we passed the assessment with an incredible 13 Compliance-Plus awards.
Customer Service Excellence is a government backed industry standard that assesses whether services are efficient, effective, excellent, equitable and empowering, using 57 different criteria. It ensures organisations always put their customers at the heart of their operations. Print Image Network is the only electoral stationery provider in the UK to hold the standard.
Compliance-Plus relates to areas where we surpass the standard required. These are areas where we show innovation, or where we are considered sector leaders. In the past we have successfully gained Compliance Plus in areas such as customer insight and Corporate Social Responsibility. However, with so many significant customer-facing projects being undertaken by the business, we wanted to highlight many different areas of progress.
We have surpassed the customer service standard for our electoral services in the following areas: –
In 2018 a company-wide project began to articulate what we believed our core company values were After a six-month project, the staff at UK Engage defined five core values – commitment, efficiency, knowledge, professionalism and trust. The CSE assessor was delighted to learn that we had implemented this project and is keen to see how it has developed in 12-months time.
“This has been an excellent surveillance 1 visit for electoral stationery provider, Print Image Network (13 Compliance Plus awards) and I would like to thank the organisation its staff, customers, partners and stakeholders for their time during this assessment. I look forward to completing surveillance 2 in January 2020.”
Mick Lynch – CSE Assessor
Print Image Network looks at how councils can benefit from appointing ISO-certified suppliers, in the provision of electoral print and mail.
Selecting the right electoral print and mail partner is of critical importance to UK local authorities. Increasingly, electoral print and mail suppliers are being invited to respond to tenders to explain the credentials they have for carrying out specialist and niche print requirements.
The majority of tenders to which we respond, ask for evidence of any particular accreditations, standards and awards, as by having these helps to provide certain reassurances and reduces business risk.
Working with an ISO-certified electoral print and mail specialist means that its products and services are certified and conform to the minimum standards set internationally, which is important when considering an electoral print and mail provider for Government elections.
The vast majority of responses require ISO 9001 as it demonstrates that our business has the correct quality structures in place to be considered. Likewise, in an age where data security is paramount, holding ISO 27001, is equally important.
The ISO 9001 certification is internationally recognised as the most established quality framework, focussed on increasing efficiencies, preventing errors and improving customer service. In the provision of electoral print and mail services, this translates to the assurance that the production of all election stationary, be it postal vote applications, postal votes, ballot papers, poll cards, HEFs, ITRs, confirmation letters and absent voter personal identifiers, is to the highest standard, undertaken by experienced staff, under robust security measures. Tenders will often be awarded to organisations which hold this standard.
Another key ISO certification that is important in the provision of electoral print and mail is ISO 27001. Organisations that have this certification can demonstrate to local authorities that they have a framework for securing and protecting confidential, personal and sensitive data, through effective technology, which is a crucial requirement, especially in the compliance of GDPR.
Print Image Network is ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 27001:2013 certified
In Summer 2018, we had our re-certification assessment and we are pleased to say that a successful transition was made to ISO9001: 2015. We maintained our management system in line with the requirements of the standard and demonstrated that we have the ability to systematically achieve the requirements for products and or services, within the scope of our activities and in accordance with our policy and objectives.
Being certified to ISO 9001 & ISO 27001 highlights our ongoing commitment to quality and integrity in the provision of electoral print and mail to local authorities. To discuss how our accreditations can benefit your business, please contact us on 0161 209 4800 or email us at sales@printimagenetwork.com
To supplement these accreditations, we also hold Investors in People (Silver), The Cabinet Office’s Customer Service Excellence Standard and Cyber Essentials.
Following our third full ‘Customer Service Excellence’ assessment, it’s a pass for Print Image Network
For electoral print and mail provider, Print Image Network, 2017 was a great year for customer service-related accreditations and recognition. We’re pleased to report that we have continued this success into 2018.
Following our third ‘full’ assessment, we have maintained our Customer Service Excellence Standard for demonstrating evidence of exceptional customer service. The full assessment, which happens every three years, comprises a comprehensive submission to the assessor, followed by an onsite assessment, where staff are interviewed in relation to five key areas:
Our recent pass follows our Investor’s in People re-assessment in 2017, which saw us achieve the Silver Standard, exceeding the industry average in all nine of the performance indicators. The renewal of the Customer Service Excellence Standard further highlights our commitment to our customer-centric ethos.
Steve Power, Services Director and Print Image Network’s Customer Service Excellence Ambassador, said of the assessment news “We are delighted that we have passed our third full assessment. Maintaining the Standard since 2012 is the result of hard work and commitment from the team. Our council customers trust us to help them through stressful and sometimes complex election periods, our latest pass confirms the procedures and systems we have in place allow us to provide trusted support and excellent service when customers most need it.”
Customer Service Excellence Assessor, Michael Lynch, gave the following statement, “I have assessed Print Image Network Ltd for Customer Service Excellence several times and on my last visit I continued to be very impressed by their attention to detail and customer-centric focus. The team works very well together and as a result well-coordinated customer service is achieved.”
He continued “I spoke to several customers during the visit and they were effervescent in their praise in relation to the service that they received from Print Image Network Ltd.”
Print Image Network has many exciting initiatives planned for 2018 to further enhance the customer experience.
If you want to find out more about our Customer Service Excellence Standard or our Investors in People accreditation, please download our document ‘Working Together’ Investors in People and Customer Service Excellence: Our customer service journey >>
