The number of organisations known by their acronym can make it difficult to remember which represents

Alongside the print houses and signage companies peppered along supply chains, numerous associations permeate the print industry, all with distinctive aims and approaches for implementing their objectives. Despite the differences in their remits, the end goal for most associations is the same: to garner and provide support for businesses within the industry.

Over the years, print houses have transformed into multi-faceted entities delivering varied services, beyond simply pressing ink to paper, to a slew of diverse clients. Today, a typical printing association will need to be just as pervasive in order to meet the demands of its contemporary membership.

BAPC

The British Association for Print and Communication was formed in 1978 to bridge the gap between the print and communications sectors. It has evolved into a community of slightly fewer than 2,000 members across the print, design and creative sectors. Available to members are services including arbitration, business advice, environmental guidance, equipment assessment, health, safety and employment guides, marketing support and strategic development – the kind of assistance they would struggle to find elsewhere, according to the BAPC's chairman.

"Most companies operating within the sector do not have the financial leverage or human resources to access the level of support and expertise available to blue chip organisations," submits Sidney Bobb. "That's where the BAPC comes in. [We] enable ideas and resources to be pooled and shared, resulting in everyone obtaining access to smarter ways of working."

The association also hosts networking events, seminars and an annual BAPC conference, which is open all to all. Joining the organisation costs ?50.

BPIF

The British Printing Industries Federation unites more than a thousand print and design organisations and suppliers, offering research and lobbying support, networking opportunities and a variety of facilities such as legal, human resources, health and safety and insurance. Last year the association acquired ?1 million in funding, which it is using to provide a two-year degree level qualification for some 250 managers within the industry.

Kathy Woodward, who held the role of chief executive at the BPIF until she passed away recently, told Output that the association gives members 'the opportunity to access best practice, which they can then translate into their own operating practices'. The BPIF additionally supports its members through a wide range of training initiatives, including the Institute of Leadership and Management （ILM） level five programme, which is aimed at key decision makers in management and operational monitoring roles.

"We operate networking events throughout the country, such as the recent creative and digital industries event held at the Rose Bowl at Leeds University, which consisted of academic presentations from leaders in retail marketing research and overseas speakers on the future of the industry," said Woodward.

BSGA

The British Sign and Graphics Association started life as the Master Sign Makers' Association （MSMA） before evolving into the British Sign Association, which saw the organisation open up to smaller sign-making businesses. Now known as BSGA, the association accommodates talents extending from sign writers, architectural and illuminated signs manufacturers, vinyl and digital signage providers to vehicle specialists, installers, designers and wayfinding consultants. Amongst these, it includes the businesses that produce or distribute materials and equipment used by these operations on a daily basis.

The organisation currently caters to more than 250 members and claims to have retained its four primary objectives since its inception 70 years ago: it aims to represent and support its members in the UK and overseas; to defend the interests of members and the sign industry as a whole; to encourage and promote the highest quality standards; and to promote members to prospective sign buyers and specifiers.

The membership fee varies according to the type of membership and turnover of a company. For example, a full membership for a company turning over up to ?200,000 costs ?375, whereas for a ?2 million turnover business this rises to ?2,490; meanwhile, an educational member that provides BSGA-approved sign-related training is levied ?305 annually.

"Members benefit in more ways than one, but primarily through the demonstration that they are a competent, qualified and professional business," comments David Catanach, director of the BSGA. The association is also a member of the European Sign Federation and hosts the British Sign Awards, a scheme which recognises the achievements of businesses within the industry.

FESPA UK

FESPA UK currently consists of some 80 members who are digital and screen wide-format service providers, industrial printers and suppliers, as well as other specialist companies that utilise print as part of their manufacturing process. The association was established 80 years ago and provides on-going support with the aim of enabling its member businesses to best achieve their diverse objectives. According to president Peter Kiddell, FESPA UK has reinvested more than ?1.3m of revenue from membership fees and trade shows back into the industry since 2005.

The fee to join the organisation varies from ?384 to ?1,032, depending on turnover, which goes towards funding free technical and business legal helplines, plus monthly updates on areas such as the environment and health and safety. "One of the key elements of this support is to set up links between members, not just in the UK but throughout our network of 36 other FESPA associations world-wide," comments Kiddell. "Inter-trading between members is valued in millions per annum." The group also hosts events, including the Screen Printing Now conference, which takes place from September 30th to October 2nd 2014.

IPIA

The Independent Print Industries Association was formed in 1990 to help a wide range of print-associated businesses consolidate their resources and explore new avenues for growth. To achieve this the organisation focuses on two key areas: reducing overheads and generating sales opportunities. Its swathe of member services range from networking events, exhibitions, conferences, personal referrals, introductory letters, PR and copywriting, to sponsorship opportunities, logistics, financial services, business support helpline and warranty programmes.

The organisation currently has 180 members from different areas of print, including trade buyers, cross-media and direct mail suppliers, marketing agencies, office supplies companies and giftware distributors. With membership starting from ?35 per month, business owners can gain access to potential clients in a number of ways: through client forums, which the association sets up at a member company's site; its print services summit; and the frequent 'Meet the trade buyer' events, which takes place in October this year.

POPAI UK and Ireland

Point of Purchase Advertising International （POPAI） is an international not-for-profit trade association dedicated to point-of-purchase marketing. Founded in 1936, the organisation acts as a regulatory body, establishing and maintaining industry standards, as well as providing its 1,400 members in 45 countries access to diverse industry and educational resources, professional certification programs and global networking opportunities.

The organisation also runs a legal helpline, offering guidance on IP law, contracts, and competition policies. Furthermore, the organisation runs a digital signage standards committee, as well as hosting the Outstanding Merchandising Achievement （OMA） awards.

Membership to the association extends to marketing and advertising or research agencies, retailers, digital signage software, content and hardware providers as well as designers and material distributors. The annual fee stands at ?1,550 for UK companies turning over ?250,000 or more, while companies earning less are levied ?999, or €999, for their Irish equivalents.

Verdigris

Rather than an industry association, per se, Verdigris is a research group that strives to raise awareness about environmental issues within the graphic arts industries. It mobilises disparate parties such as manufacturers, industry associations, commentators and the trade press, pooling their resources to generate content focusing on the sustainability of print.

"We're really about communicating the environmental friendliness of print to as wide an audience as possible, in as many languages as possible," explains Laurel Brunner, founder of the organisation. "The blog is translated to Czech, Turkish, Chinese, German and French, for example, so we have a very big [reader] footprint."

Membership to the group is strictly by invitation. "We tend to invite people, rather than promote the membership, because we want very proactive members," comments Brunner. The membership fee remains a matter for discussion between the association and potential member but it contributes towards content development on a regular basis, such as the weekly Verdigris blog.

"It is paramount that the whole supply chain understands how and why print is a sustainable medium," Brunner stresses. "What printers can do to improve that sustainability is also important for them in terms of improving their business, because apart from curbing wastage and improving efficiency, they can save both money and people's time."

The aforementioned groups represent only a small section of the wider network of associations embedded in the industry that strive to educate, and enrich printers. The fact that many still exist indicates a vibrant and buoyant industry that relishes in some essential TLC. More information about these associations can be found on their respective websites.