Inspiring the Future (ITF) is calling for Australian print people, from apprentices to CEOs, to volunteer one hour of time per year to speak to schoolkids about what they do for a living, with the aim of inspiring them about print.

The programme is new to Australia, but has had massive success in the UK. In four years, it has signed up 140,000 volunteers, with 135,000 speaking invitations sent out, connecting more than a million students to industry professionals.

The program operates as an online platform, where printers can sign up, and be requested by teachers to give talks.

Inspiring the Future (ITF) connects industry workers with schoolkids, so that they understand the different career paths available to them, how to get started, while giving them industry contacts.

Adrian Rhodes, director, ITF Australia explains, “We ask volunteers to spend one hour per year giving talks. When they receive a request to speak, they can change the time, length, or refuse.

“Research confirms that young people who have five or more meaningful contacts with people from the world of work during their school years are five times less likely to be NEET (Not in employment, education or training) when they leave school.”

Australian printers have already signed up to the programme, which is also being promoted by Printing Industries’ Andrew Macaulay.

Rhodes says, “Andrew Macaulay believes this is the solution to getting more apprentices in the industry. We are happy to do something if it means filling these skill gaps.”

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