As a leading electoral printing specialist and trusted supplier to no fewer than 80 local authorities across the UK, Print Image Network has to protect its company assets, IP and customer data, against common cyber threats.
Having held ISO 27001, the international standard for Information Security, for 5 years, information security processes are common practice at the North West based business. However, to further secure its systems, Print Image Network went through the Cyber Essentials application in April 2017 and is pleased to announce that it has passed.
What is Cyber Essentials?
Cyber Essentials is a government-backed cyber security certification scheme that sets out a good baseline of cyber security suitable for all organisations spanning all sectors. The scheme addresses five key controls that, when implemented correctly, can prevent around 80% of cyber-attacks.
Print Image Network implemented these five Cyber Essentials Controls to help it stay secure: -
Why Cyber Essentials?
Working with local authorities to print election stationery including postal votes, ballot papers and poll cards, means handling confidential data and information. For Print Image Network it is therefore crucial to eliminate risk wherever possible, as cyber attacks can cause expense and disruption, something the company will go to extreme lengths to avoid.
Managing Director, John Foster, says of the certification “The reason we applied for Cyber Essentials was to add an additional layer of security to our already robust security set-up. Knowing that, as a business, we are protected from the vast majority of common cyber attacks allows us to concentrate on our customers’ needs with confidence.”
Print Image Services Director and Customer Service Excellence ambassador, Stephen Power, added “Achieving the Cyber Essentials certification will help to further enhance customer trust and confidence in our organisation and our service. As a team we work extremely hard to put the customer first; the customer experience and security has to be at the heart of everything we do.”
Included in the assessment was an external penetration test, which Print Image Network passed. The assessment was completed by IT Governance, the full scope included firewalls, routers, end user devices and hosted systems at the company’s headquarters.
For more information please contact the Print Image Network team on: -
Following another successful annual audit visit from the Customer Service Excellence Assessor, Print Image Network has achieved its third consecutive Compliance Plus award.
Awarded for excellence in Customer Insight, the print management and electoral printing specialist demonstrated, yet again, a greater understanding of its customers’ needs and preferences, through customer liaison and contract management.
After another successful visit and Compliance Plus merit, CSE Lead Assessor, Michael Lynch, asked to work with Print Image Network to develop a case study to demonstrate how the CSE framework can be used effectively in terms of self-reflection, reviews of service and ensuring continuous improvement.
On 22nd March 2017, the Print Image Network case study was released on the Centre for Assessment’s home page as the featured case study to showcase how the Customer Service Excellence Standard is used successfully, to achieve high customer satisfaction.
The full case study can be read here >>
Following the assessment visit Michael Lynch BA (Hons) Cert.Ed. MIC CMC FIC, CSE Lead Assessor said “This has been an excellent surveillance visit for Print Image Network and the pre-assessment documentation which was sent to the Assessor was exemplar. Print Image Network use the CSE framework effectively and have seen the impact in terms of self-reflection, reviews of service and ensuring continuous improvement. The Assessor looks forward to next year in order to carry out their three year review.”
To find out how our Customer Service Excellence Standard is applied to the service we provide to our customers, contact us today: -
Recently, Print Image Network achieved Compliance Plus for the third time since receiving Customer Service Excellence Standard status. Awarded for excellence in Customer Insight, the company demonstrated greater understanding of its customers’ needs and preferences, through customer liaison and contract management. The Compliance Plus merit was awarded after another fantastic year for the company, where it achieved a customer satisfaction award of 98%, following its annual customer survey.
The Customer Service Excellence Standard tests in great depth, areas that research has shown to be a priority for customers. Its main areas of focus include delivery, timeliness, information, professionalism and staff attitude. Emphasis is also placed on developing customer insight, understanding the user’s experience and implementing robust measurement of service satisfaction.
Following the assessment visit, Michael Lynch BA (Hons) Cert.Ed. MIC CMC FIC, CSE Lead Assessor said “This has been an excellent surveillance visit for Print Image Network and the pre-assessment documentation which was sent to the Assessor was exemplar. Print Image Network use the CSE framework effectively and has seen the impact in terms of self-reflection, reviews of service and ensuring continuous improvement. The Assessor looks forward to next year in order to carry out its three year review.”
As part of the surveillance visits the Customer Service Excellence assessor randomly contacted Print Image Network customers. There were many positive statements, including: -
‘The best I have ever used.’
‘We have a good working relationship which ultimately helps the end customer.’
‘I have used several people before, but they have been excellent.’
‘They are very helpful and sort things quickly.’
‘We have a single point of contact which is great.’
To read our award news you can click the download here>>
Print Image Network Ltd, one of the leading electoral printing specialists in the UK, will be attending the 2017 AEA Conference as sponsor, exhibitor and delegate, at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Brighton from Sunday 5th February to Wednesday 8th February 2017.
In its 30th year the AEA will hold its annual conference ahead of another busy year of electoral activity. As usual the content will include helpful information and tools to support electoral administrators. Key electoral service suppliers, including Print Image Network, will be available in the exhibition area to help delegates find practical solutions to electoral issues; ensuring efficient and transparent processes.
Conference, as always, presents an ideal opportunity to share challenges and ideas. Print Image Network will be exhibiting at Stand 12, showcasing our electoral print and mail solutions for local elections, registration, Community Governance Reviews and Referenda and much more.
As always we will be on hand to discuss how your preparations are going for 2017 elections and registration, offering advice to both experienced and new electoral administrators alike. Furthermore, we are happy to support the event by sponsoring the delegate notebooks and pens for another year, especially in such prestigious year for the AEA - its 30th Anniversary.
We are looking forward to seeing all our council partners and non-partners at the 2017 AEA Conference. If you haven't experienced an election year or registration with Print Image Network, please come and visits us at Stand 12 and see why we have a customer satisfaction rating of 98%.
Read our customer satisfaction survey results here >>
With so much speculation about the date of the EU Referendum, it’s little wonder that local authorities are confused about when to schedule their printing requirements for ballot papers, postal votes and poll cards.
Although talks with the European Council President failed to secure an early deal, reports suggest that further talks will prove crucial ahead of the EU Summit on 18-19 February 2016. Therefore, the EU Referendum could still happen as early as 23 June.
Despite the speculation, the date for the referendum remains unknown, with debate surrounding every possible option. News articles continue to present conflicting views. One report has suggested that the EU Referendum is not at the top of the agenda for EU leaders, eluding to the fact that a deal may not be reached later this month.
However, the Government’s recent motion, which sets out some of the rules of the referendum i.e. the length of the campaign, funding and the timing of the count, plus on going discussions with the European Council President, strengthens reports that Thursday 23 June is still the favourite contender.
Whatever the outcome of the EU Summit during 18 -19 February, Print Image Network is advising local authorities to plan for the soonest possible eventuality. If you’d like to discuss electoral printing for the EU Referendum please contact us today on 0161 209 4800 or email sales@printimagenetwork.com
Alternatively, we will be at Stand 3 at the AEA Conference, 28 February – 2 March 2016, where our team will be happy to discuss the EU Referendum.
Following the Electoral Commission's request for input on the proposed direction and guidance for the forthcoming EU Referendum, Print Image Network has formulated a response in support of various clients. Our response refers to the timetable for poll cards, postal votes and ballot papers amongst other things.
To view our response in full, please click the link below: -
EU Referendum EC Consultation Response Document
Print Image Network Ltd, election services and printing specialist, has retained the ISO 9001 certification and has been accredited against the new ISO 27001:2013 standard, demonstrating its commitment to quality and information security.
The company, which celebrated its 15th anniversary this year, is based in the North West and has a loyal customer base of local authorities which spans the length and breadth of the country.
Having held the standard since 2012, the company faced its first three-year re-assessment in August and is pleased to announce that it passed without a single ‘non-conformance’ – an achievement that only a small percentage companies assessed against the new standard actually achieve.
ISO 9001 is a Quality Management Standard which helps to create a more disciplined work environment and improve a company’s overall performance, ensuring quality is truly embedded in its culture and operations. ISO 27001:2013 for Information Security Management certification is awarded to organisations that want to assess risk and prevent information security incidents, which is crucial to suppliers that work with local government contracts. Updated in 2013, Print Image Network had to make the transition from the old ISO27001:2005 standard to new ISO27001:2013 standard.
John Foster, Managing Director of Print Image Network, said: “Achieving the re-assessment of both ISO Standards is a fantastic achievement but we are particularly proud that we did so with no non-conformances. The team at Print Image Network works extremely hard to ensure we are conforming to the policies and procedures defined by ISO 9001:2008 & ISO 27001:2013 and we are particularly impressed with Print Image Network Supervisor, Craig Poyser, who worked extremely hard to prepare for the re-assessment and ensured the transition from the old to new 27001 Certification was implemented within our business.”
The re-assessment marks the second celebration for the company, who earlier this year passed its three year re-assessment for the Customer Service Excellence Standard. Services Director, Stephen Power commented on the company’s achievements in 2015. “Print Image Network has always tried to achieve the highest standards possible, whether that’s quality-related, security-related or customer-related. We understand that in order to work with us our customers want to be confident that we operate in a way which makes them secure about our abilities as a supplier. We are really happy to have been recognised for all our hard work, most of all we want our customers to continue to see the benefits that achieving these certifications and accreditations brings.”
As part of its commitment to its Customer Service Excellence standard, Print Image Network Ltd carried out a customer satisfaction survey following the May 2015 General and local elections.
Customers who had experienced Print Image Network’s service during this period were invited to take part in an online satisfaction survey. The survey asked customers to rate key areas of service including: - overall satisfaction, sales and account management, products and service, and comparison to other electoral printing suppliers and recommendation.
Customers were keen to provide feedback in relation to their experiences, in fact 23% more customers completed the 2015 survey in comparison to customer responses following the 2010 General Election.
Key highlights were: -
Print Image Network also welcomed new customers during May and is happy to say that the responses from new customers were extremely positive.
“The products and service were extremely good as they were. I can’t think of any improvements”
Bath & North East Somerset Council
Election services provider, Print Image Network would like to thank customers for their continued service and support and will issue a full set of survey results very soon.
Fifteen years ago, Print Image Network co-founders John Foster and Stephen Power, combined their knowledge of the print industry and the world of elections to create the election printing specialist it is today. Print Image Network is a company focused on helping to solve the election complexities facing modern local authorities and organisations. As you can imagine, this has been no mean feat.
The challenges presented by the new Individual Electoral Registration system, which was introduced in 2014, plus the recent General election and local elections, have not been without certain challenges. Such significant changes in the electoral landscape have left suppliers of local authorities needing to react to the challenges with the same agility as councils themselves.
After three General elections the company is still going strong. It has seen many changes over the years; mostly legislative, although in more recent times other external factors have influenced the way elections are managed. Budget spending cuts, the decline of voter turnout and technological advancements (or rather restrictions thereof), have all led to challenges for councils and suppliers alike. So, as electoral staff throughout the UK took a short rest following 7th May, all are back to tackle this year’s canvass.
A testament to the way Print Image Network has handled the elections this year is the encouraging results of its recent customer satisfaction surveys. To ensure continued commitment to its Customer Service Excellent standard, Print Image Network developed two customer surveys – one to collect customer opinions relating to IER and one to determine how we serviced customers during the May 2015 elections. The combined satisfaction level from respondents came to 94%.
Over the years Print Image Network has extended its range of services and markets. It also provides print services for any type of business and, with the introduction of PIPI, Print Image Promotions and Incentives, has been providing branded promotion products since 2009.
One of the biggest events in the Print Image timeline was in 2009, when a new brand was born – UK Engage. Taking its experience from within the elections arena, Print Image Network launched UK Engage, the company’s brand to service the election needs of other types of organisations, both in the private and public sector. UK Engage, became more than an elections printer it became an elections services provider. As new staff members were employed and the company grew, so did its skill set and expertise it was able to offer.
Today, UK Engage offers organisations much more than a printing service – it is now able to offer a comprehensive service which includes consulting and advising organisations on their election processes, offering a range of services to improve engagement amongst members. The introduction of electronic voting and other ‘online’ solutions have equipped UK Engage to become a major contender in this field. Today, the brand runs internal elections, AGMs, training sessions and workshops for NHS foundation trusts, social housing providers, professional bodies, cooperatives, charities and Business Improvement Districts, amongst others.
John Foster and Stephen Power have built a company that has, over the past 15 years, gone from strength to strength. Co-founder Stephen Power had this to say about the anniversary. “Print Image Network has always been a forward thinking company, both brands are evolving and adapting to the market sectors in which they operate. We are well-prepared to meet the expectations our customers have for us in the future; we’re delighted to celebrate 15 years in business and we are looking forward to the next 15!”
John Foster added, “2015 has been quite a year. No one would deny that, at times, it’s been challenging for all involved but at the same time we have overcome challenges for all our customers to ultimately deliver successful elections. This year we have also retained our Customer Service Excellence standard, which means that we have been recognised as achieving excellent customer service. No other electoral services provider holds this standard and we are extremely proud that we’ve been able to maintain such high standards and pass our three-year assessment with flying colours.”
Since the early days the company has substantially increased its workforce, increased its product and service portfolio to encompass all modern needs and its customer base is growing each month.
With the General Election less than two months away, local councils across the country are busy working with electoral suppliers such as Print Image Network and the like to produce the millions of postal votes, poll cards and ballot papers, which will flood homes and polling stations in the weeks to come.
We’re working hard to deliver these core products to our customers, however our electoral print goes beyond these items. So, if your council needs grass skirts, summary sheets and security wristbands for your count - or queue cards for your polling stations, then Print Image Network can help you in the coming weeks.
To find out more about these products visit our electoral printing page. If you are using grass skirts to count your votes you may be interested in our FREE training video here. Plus, we have developed summary sheets which correspond to our small and large grass skirts.
If your council needs to order grass skirts and summary sheets, wristbands or queue cards then contact us today: -
Tel: 0161 209 4800
Email: sales@printimagenetwork.com
