The Printweek Awards are a prestigious event in the printing industry, recognising outstanding achievements across various categories. This year, Print Image Network and UK Engage had the honour of being nominated for awards: Customer Service Team of the Year – SME, and Innovation of the Year, respectively. The awards dinner was held in March and was a night of celebration and networking, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and visionaries. The evening celebration was attended by Simon, Craig, and Andy, who were there to represent both brands and award nominations amongst our industry colleagues.
Innovation of the Year: Print Image Network
Print Image Network was recognised for our innovations in the local authority printing industry. Our commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology and creativity has led to the development of cutting-edge solutions, which meet the evolving needs of legislation and of our clients. Our nomination and placement as runner-up in this category are testament to the Print Image Network vision statement, which is to set new standards of excellence, innovation, and inclusiveness in communication processes. We envision a future where our cutting-edge technology and unwavering commitment to service, transparency and security empower our customers and our team to achieve the highest possible standards.
Simon Milnes Associate Director confirmed “We will continue to push the boundaries of what's possible and drive positive change in the industry."
Customer Service Team of the - SME: UK Engage
UK Engage, known for our expertise in providing election and engagement services, was recognised for our exceptional customer service team, based on client feedback as part of our Customer Service Excellence (CSE) accreditation. Our dedication to understanding our client needs, delivering personalised solutions, and ensuring seamless experiences stands out, which is why we were nominated for the shortlist and proud to be runner up to the category winners. With a team that is passionate, knowledgeable, and always ready to go the extra mile, UK Engage sets a benchmark for excellence in customer service within the printing and democracy industry.
"At UK Engage, we believe that excellent customer service is not just about meeting expectations but exceeding them and we are incredibly proud of our team for their hard work and dedication; this recognition is a testament to our commitment to delivering exceptional service and building strong relationships with our clients," said Andy Tye, Associate Director at UK Engage.
Here are some images and great memories from the night in question…
For more information about our growing electoral administration print and mail service, please contact us, call on 0161 209 4800 or email sales@printimagenetwork.com.
Print Image Network like to support and help the wider community and every year, we select three charities to be supported by our team. This is also integral to our current social and value policy and supports our Corporate Social Responsibility Policy.
Our chosen charities for 2023 were Andy’s Man Club, Francis House Children’s Hospice and Mind, for which we raised over £400 from our Customer Service Excellence survey responses alone; not to mention the charity fundraisers that we took part in throughout the year.
Continuing to Make a Charitable Difference for 2024
In a bid to make a tangible impact on society for 2024, Print Image Network has proudly announced its newest selection of charities for the year. As we run nomination and election processes for third party organisations, we utilised our pioneering technology to allow our team to determine the three most popular charities out of those preferred charities that were nominated by the team. The chosen beneficiaries for this year’s charitable initiatives are Cancer Research, The Trussell Trust, and Mind. With a commitment to supporting vital causes, Print Image Network aims to raise awareness and funds to aid these organisations.
Empowering Communities: Cancer Research
Cancer Research stands at the forefront of the battle against one of the most formidable adversaries of our time. With groundbreaking research, innovative treatments, and unwavering support for patients and their families, Cancer Research strives to make advancements in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Print Image Network’s partnership with Cancer Research underscores its dedication to empowering communities and driving progress in healthcare.
Fighting Hunger: The Trussell Trust
Amidst the challenges of food poverty, The Trussell Trust emerges as a beacon of hope for vulnerable individuals and families across the UK. Through a network of food banks, advocacy, and community engagement, The Trussell Trust provides vital support to those in need, offering not just sustenance but also dignity and support during times of crisis. By aligning with The Trussell Trust, Print Image Network reaffirms its commitment to combating hunger and addressing the root causes of food insecurity.
Supporting Mental Health: Mind
In an era where mental health awareness is paramount, Mind plays a pivotal role in promoting mental well-being and supporting those facing mental health challenges. With a range of services including counselling, advocacy, and community outreach, Mind endeavours to break the stigma surrounding mental illness and ensure that everyone has access to the support they need. By partnering with Mind, Print Image Network demonstrates its dedication to fostering a society where mental health is prioritized and supported.
For more information about our growing electoral administration print and mail service, please contact us, call on 0161 209 4800 or email sales@printimagenetwork.com.
We are thrilled to announce that Print Image Network has been shortlisted for the prestigious PrintWeek Award in the category of Innovation of the Year. This recognition highlights our commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation and delivering cutting-edge solutions to our clients.
As a leading UK electoral print provider, we aim to remain at the forefront of innovation, this was particularly exercised in response to legislative changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022. With photo identification becoming compulsory for in-person voting in Great Britain, the traditional A5 Poll Card design was no longer sufficient. Print Image Network therefore developed the 'Flexi Poll Card,' a reel-fed white paper one-piece mailer that maintains the appearance of a traditional A5 card. Through a meticulous R&D process, the company ensured compliance with legislation, engaged voters, and saved costs.
Consulting with industry experts, obtaining approval from the Electoral Commission and Royal Mail, Print Image Network successfully produced over 2 million 'Flexi Poll Cards' for 35% of our customers during the 2023 combined elections, achieving a 100% delivery rate and aiding in the transition to the new electoral administration.
Being shortlisted for the PrintWeek Award for Innovation of the Year is not just a recognition of our achievements; it's a glimpse into the future of Print Image Network. Print Image Network is committed to continuing our pursuit of customer service excellence, pushing the boundaries of innovation, and shaping the future of the electoral print industry.
Sustainability in Print:
In addition to technological advancements, we are proud to express our commitment to sustainability. We understand the environmental impact of the print industry and have implemented eco-friendly practices in our operations and suppliers in delivering exceptional print solutions.
For more information about our growing electoral administration print and mail service, please contact us, call on 0161 209 4800 or email sales@printimagenetwork.com.
Print Image Network are once again proud to have been a part of the annual Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA) conference earlier this week. The 3 day event took place Sunday 14th January to Tuesday 16th January; we attended as an exhibitor and as one of the sponsors.
It was a delight to see the various stands busy with attendees and a fantastic opportunity for our team to have face to face catchups with many of our loyal customers, as well as speaking with many of the other delegates who took the time to come and say hello whilst visiting our stand, keeping us busy with questions about our sample packs and ancillary items. We aimed to ensure nobody walked away empty handed as we offered goody bags containing some fab freebies, which always prove very popular. Our Print Image Network letter openers always go down a treat, so if there is anybody who didn’t manage to get hold of one on the day, or you were unable to attend, you can request one using the contact form here, or using the details below, and we will send it to you in the post.
Our prize draw offering an afternoon tea hamper was very popular with conference delegates too. The lucky winner was Kimberley Edwards from Conwy County Borough Council, who collected her prize on Tuesday. We hope you enjoy your afternoon treats Kimberley!
Thank you to the AEA team for hosting and thank you to all the attendees for making our time at the conference so enjoyable!
For more information about our growing electoral administration print and mail service, please contact us, call on 0161 209 4800 or email sales@printimagenetwork.com.
In line with our dedication to both information security and quality management, we are delighted to declare the successful completion of our annual audit for ISO 27001:2013 and ISO 9001:2015, with a record of zero non-conformities.
The ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management Standard is a framework that ensures a common set of policies, procedures, and controls are in place to effectively mitigate information security risks. This framework empowers us to manage these risks diligently and consider legal and regulatory obligations.
Likewise, the ISO 9001:2015 certification is internationally recognised as the most established quality framework, based on a number of quality management principles including strong customer focus, continual improvement and increasing efficiencies.
Print Image Network places the utmost importance on both information security and quality management. We are committed to going above and beyond the requirements of these policies, ensuring that our customers and their data is in safe hands, as we continue to provide unrivalled services to the elections and ballots market; this includes some of the country’s leading membership organisations which have stringent internal procedures in relation to their supply chains. So, retaining both accreditations is pivotal for Print Image Network.
For more information about our growing electoral administration print and mail service, please contact us, call on 0161 209 4800 or email sales@printimagenetwork.com.
For many years, it has been practice for Print Image Network and UK Engage to support three charities throughout the year, chosen by our team. This is something that we have always liked to do as a business to support and help the wider community, and it supports our well established Corporate Social Responsibility Policy as well as being integral to our current Social Value Policy.
Our previous three charities were Dementia UK, Derian House Children’s Hospice and The Teenage Cancer Trust, who received £1,739.30 in total during 2021 and 2022. Charitable donations are generated in several ways and our customers are often involved. For example, we ask our customers to vote for a charity in lieu of receiving a Christmas Card and all customer satisfaction surveys issued for PIN and UKE include a donation option as an incentive to complete the questionnaire. So, thank you to all our customers who have contributed to those values.
In March this year, we ran another democratic process to select our next three company charities; As we run nomination and election processes for third party organisations, we utilise our pioneering technology to allow our team to determine the three most popular charities out of those preferred charities that were nominated.
The charities who came out top this time were:
For more information about our growing electoral administration print and mail service, please contact us, call on 0161 209 4800 or email sales@printimagenetwork.com.
The Print Image Network team have landed back in the office, after attending the AEA conference 29th to 31st January, which was the first face to face conference for two years. The annual AEA conference provides an opportunity for delegates within the electoral sector to learn of the latest developments though a schedule of workshops, which are complimented by an exhibition of electoral product suppliers. Understandably, after a two-year break, this year’s conference proved to be extremely popular.
For Print Image Network, this was a good opportunity for us to catch up with our clients and contacts and we would like to thank all delegates who spent time at our stand. It’s always great to see so many familiar faces and meet new ones too!
Whilst delegates visited the exhibition area at breaktime, the hot topic this year was Poll Cards and Voter ID, and trepidation about the forthcoming changes in Postal Vote eligibility. And we were very flattered to be told by several stand visitors, that we have a fantastic reputation within the industry, and our people are held in very high esteem.
Competition Winner
We held our usual prize draw, this time offering a Thornton’s chocolate hamper. Congratulations to the lucky winner (we hope you enjoyed them)! Thanks to everyone who entered our prize draw.
We hope you all had a safe journey home. See you again next time.
For more information about our growing electoral administration print and mail service, please contact us, call on 0161 209 4800 or email sales@printimagenetwork.com.
Important legislative changes were introduced by The Elections Act 2022, with the introduction of several measures to cut down on the potential for voter fraud. With this, there is a new requirement for voters to show photographic identification at the polling station in Great Britain. This will apply for the first time in England at local elections Thursday 4th May 2023.
In addition to commonly used photographic identifications being accepted at polling stations, an electoral identity document will be available for electors to apply for, which is known as the Voter ID Card. This is to assist those groups of voters who will likely experience barriers in obtaining access to photo ID.
The Electoral Commission Voter ID public awareness campaign officially launched Monday 9th January, which includes a support pack, which has been issued to organisations working directly with voters, including local authorities and charities, can play an important role in supporting voters to ensure they have photo ID ahead of the elections. The pack contains various guides and resources, that can be printed and distributed or placed at sites and offices, including:
Print Image Network have resources and availability to print the printable resources contained in Voter ID partner packs, and we have artwork designs and multiple mailing options available for producing Voter ID cards. We have an expert team of account managers and print specialists to offer extra assistance if your election department is not fully staffed. Our production sites are primed and ready to print your important mailings, ahead of the 2023 elections.
For more information about our growing electoral administration print and mail service, please contact us, call on 0161 209 4800 or email sales@printimagenetwork.com.
Investors in People has announced a month-long celebration of their 30th birthday and have invited Print Image Network to celebrate it with them!
The 30th birthday celebrations started on the 1st of November and will go through to the 30th.
It’s an opportunity for everyone connected to the community interest company (CIC) to promote their purpose over profit statement – make work better.
Founded in 1991, their prestigious accreditations have been awarded to over 55,000 businesses in 66 countries in the past 30 years – with plenty more to come.
Print Image Network has held the Investor in People accreditation for 10 years and is currently working to the Gold Standard.
Print Image Network’s 10th year of Investing in People
As an SME, teamwork has always been very important to us, and our people are what has made our business a success. Established in 2000, we have held the Investors in People accreditation for half the time we have been in business and have used it to make work better for our employees.
Stephen Power, Services Director and Investors in People champion said:
“We have used Investors in People to lead, support and develop our workforce. This has had a positive impact on the service we provide to our customers. More recently, we have invested in the wellbeing of our staff, recognising that stress, depression, and anxiety (especially during the pandemic) is affecting millions of employees. For Print Image Network, it is an ethical priority to have a healthy workforce.”
Over the last 10 years, Print Image Network has adopted many initiatives to help make work better for its staff. Training, engagement and communication, professional and personal development, promotion of work/life balance, and rewards and recognition are some of the ways it is doing this.
“As a leading provider of electoral print and mail, working with 25% of the country’s local authorities, Print Image Network depends on the teamwork and shared experience of its staff to ensure millions of poll cards, postal votes, ballot papers, and canvass and registration forms are printed and mailed each year. This could not be done if the team did not work as one.” Said John Foster, Managing Director.
Print Image Network will join other IiP accredited organisations throughout the month of November to celebrate the 30th birthday of Investors in People.
Our values journey:
In 2018, Print Image Network embarked on a project to confirm our core values. We believed that our values were best determined by those who embody them – our employees. Therefore, all employees were asked to participate in determining the company’s five core values; values that we consider to be part of our DNA.
Through a series of surveys, our employees were invited to consider a list of principles they believed best represented our company and what we stand for. Following this exercise, we organised a number of collaborative workshops where employees were brought together to openly discuss the initial findings. From these exercises, our values were revealed.
Our five core values:
Throughout the exercises, there was consistency among employees as to what they believed we stood for, which were commitment, efficiency, professionalism, knowledge and trust.
With our five core values defined, we are now embarking on the journey to live and breathe them throughout the organisation. This includes having the visible throughout our offices, on our screen savers and acknowledging values-related behaviour and results with the introduction of our values awards.
"Our ambition is to create a company-wide common and shared understanding around our five core values, translating them into professional behaviours and entrenching them in the way we work with each other, customers, suppliers, partners, and stakeholders,” says Stephen Power, Services Director and values ambassador.
Values, people and service
Of course, the ultimate satisfaction that comes with finally defining our values is how they benefit employees and customers. As a proud owner of the Investors in People (Silver) accreditation and the Cabinet Office’s Customer Service Excellence standard, our people and our customers are what make our business. Through our investment in our employees, we aim to help them to feel valued, engaged and rewarded, which can only be beneficial to our customers.
“Each year, following our annual customer satisfaction survey, we are always humbled by the kind comments our customers provide. It is interesting to see the correlation between the feedback we receive from our customers and the values our employees believe to be true. It really shows that we are living our values and have been doing so for many years,” says John Foster, Managing Director.
Print Image Network launched our core values to our local authority customers at the annual AEA Conference, 3rd-6th February 2019.
