Product Reviews

Two minute take-away on workplace design

• There is a relationship between improved office design and business performance, with direct correlation between better design and profitability
• On average, firms with well designed offices generate 5% more profit than companies with poorly designed offices
• Make sure layouts and office designs have a contemporary feel, showing they have been adapted to suit changing office behaviours
• Green buildings are often more productive and better value for money
• Create more common space. Collaborative and shared space is common in high performing organisation

• Patience is vital when recruitng new sales person. Good sales staff are like gold and it is very difficult to find individuals who will enjoy working with you and prosper
• Make sure you can explain why a high-performance salesperson should join your firm. What is in it for them?
• Define what you want and expect them to acheive in the first six months on a month-by-month basis
• Research potential candidates
• Identify where and what you want them to sell. If possible ask candidates to do a presentation
• It they are not from the print business, have a plan in place to train them

• Sometimes, willing apprentices can be found in other areas of the firm, which brings benefits as they will have a broader understanding of your business
• Speak to at least two colleges and training providers that support print apprenticeships and weigh up the benefits of what they are offering.
• It's best to appoint an apprentice for a three-month probationary period before the training programme starts. This will help apprentice in understanding the work in much effecitve way
• Regular reviews will monitor the apprentice's potential
• Provide your apprentice with a broad and stimulating business experience

• The age of average print worker is either late forties or early fifties. The industry is failing to attract young blood
• The bindery in particular has problems recruiting young people because of its image as heavy, boring work
• The bindery doesn't have the appeal of pre-press or the press, but it needs new young recruits just as much as other departments
• The bindery is significantly the most important place in a print factory, and bored, unmotivated workers can do a lot of damage
• Foresighted companies should give their bindery staff a sense of their contribution to the company and the value of their work, backed up with training and team building