7 July 2023: The Printing Charity’s 2023 Rising Star Awards reception, hosted by Printing Charity  President Emeritus Lord Black of Brentwood, was held at the House of Lords on 6th July 2023.  Members of the print, packaging, paper, publishing and graphics industries joined the charity at the event to celebrate the achievements of this year’s Award winners, who each received grants  of up to £1500 for training and development to help them shine in their careers.

This year, Rising Star grants were awarded to 34 people aged between 18-30 from across the  industry.

There has been an increase in role diversity amongst winners. This year’s winners work in a range of roles spanning administration, client management, communications, design, editorial, finance, human resources, management, marketing, sustainability and technical expertise, plus those who have founded their own businesses. This shows the great potential for building a career in any discipline within the print sector and allied trades.

Many applicants will use their grant to fund a portfolio of complementary courses designed to build a range of skills and boost their capability, personal growth and career potential. This year, one in five courses chosen focuses on personal development. This is indicative of how important it is to build these crucial transferable skills to make it easier to adapt and continue to thrive in a rapidly-evolving, progressive industry.

Printing Charity CEO Neil Lovell said: “The 2023 award winners joining our constellation of Rising Stars once again show the wealth of emerging talent in the print, paper, packaging, publishing and graphics sectors.

“Particularly key this year is that our winners are drawn from a broad range of job roles, covering a full spectrum from traditional disciplines to new technology. This, and the diversity of training options being funded by the awards this year, shows the enthusiasm of young people to grow their career within our industry, and the range of different opportunities within it. There truly is a role to fit every skillset; an important message that we think needs to be better understood by young people looking to forge their careers in dynamic and vibrant organisations.

“Print is a vibrant, rapidly evolving industry in which to build a career, and the awards have underlined this. I’m looking forward to watching our winners’ careers progress.”

Visit The Printing Charity website to learn more about this year’s winners: Aaron Toombs, Aleksandra Polasik, Ally Boldan, Annis Livock, Darryl Worbey, Emma McLarnon, Erika Budreviciute, Gabriela Solarek, Gemma McCarthy, Giulia Maggiori, Hannah Parry, Iva Dobreva, Jack Pearson, Jake Ross, James Whitestone, Jamie Butterworth, Jana Craddock, Jessica Readett, Joel Sharp, Kevin Worrall, Lauren Raftery, Luke Drysdale, Macauley Hardeman, Marta Catalano, Matthew Stevenson, Mychael Bottomley, Patricia Chido, Rachael Wass, Robyn Benham, Rory Codd, Sophie Ward, Stephen McAulay, Taylor Lock and Tia Ralhan.

This year’s event was generously supported by Unite the Union, the Publishing Training Centre, Dynamic Print, Fedrigoni and McLays.

For more information please contact Liz Ross Martyn, Head of Marketing & Engagement, on
07842 200071 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About The Printing Charity: The UK is the sixth largest print market in the world, with the UK print industry employing some 105,000 people within 7,400 companies. The Printing Charity has been there for people working in print and the allied trades since 1827, through practical, emotional and financial support, and is proud of its heritage.

The organisation’s charitable aims include promoting independence, protecting dignity and furthering education. Today the charity fulfils these aims and meets the needs of those it helps through a free 24/7 helpline, financial assistance, signposting to specialist services, two sheltered home schemes for people who have retired from the sector, and initiatives supporting sector-specific training, with a focus on young people starting out in print.

Please see www.theprintingcharity.org.uk for more information and follow @printingcharity