ICON Digital Printing Papers is the new sponsor of the top training award in the print industry: Apprentice of the Year.

Spokesperson, Lisa Hegh, says: “We think there is a nice cross over between our developing brand and these budding, talented people who have completed their qualifications.

“ICON is a fairly new brand that is all about digital paper in the newer area of digital printing – an industry that is moving ahead in leaps and bounds.”

PrintNZ Training chief executive, Joan Grace, says: “We are delighted to have ICON Digital Printing Papers on board as sponsor of the Apprentice of the Year Award.

“This award is something that apprentices across the industry aspire to throughout their training. It recognises the up-coming leaders of our industry and we look forward to this year’s event.”

Every apprentice that completed training during 2011 is in the running for the Apprentice of the Year Award, sponsored by ICON Digital Printing Papers. The award will be presented at the NZ Pride In Print Awards on 29 June in Auckland.

Exciting developments for Apprentice Awards

Following an internal review a number of changes have been made to the Apprentice Awards programme. The new developments will help PrintNZ Training to further promote training in the industry and help address issues such as fluctuating completion numbers in different sectors.

In 2012 we will move away from selecting the top apprentices in each sector, to selecting the top five apprentices from all that completed training in 2011. The overall Apprentice of the Year will be selected following the usual process of interviews and using information from employers.

Three new awards will also be introduced to recognise the importance of companies getting in behind their apprentices and industry training. The new awards are:

• Company Training Award – To recognise a company that promotes a training culture within their workplace.

• Workplace Trainer Award – to recognise an individual who has made a difference in terms of promoting and supporting workplace training.

• Top Management Trainee Award – to recognise the achievements of the top trainee that completed the Diploma in Print Management qualification during 2011.

Are you keen to put your company and/or workplace trainer forward for the new awards? Visit the PrintNZ Training Apprentice Awards page to download the application forms. Information is currently being sent out to companies who are training in our industry.

The PrintNZ Training Apprentice Awards will take place on 28 June 2012 in Auckland as a high profile part of the PrintNZ Conference Dinner. The Apprentice of the Year Award, sponsored by ICON Digital Printing Papers, will be presented at the NZ Pride In Print Awards on 29 June 2012.

Funding for the Apprentice Awards will also continue from key organisations who have been involved in the past, including Blue Print Imaging.