Victoria-based Breen Printing is set to grow its workforce after recently securing a second site.
The company, which is in Healesville and led by husband-and-wife team Kirsty and Luke Woodhead, has already begun recruiting, with a new pre-press coordinator role currently open to help manage operations across both sites.
Looking ahead, the company plans to create up to three new positions over the next 12 months, including an apprentice, web/software programmer, and print estimator.
“It’s exciting that we get to grow the business with new team members and support the local community,” Kirsty told Sprinter.
Scheduled to be operational by the end of the year, the new site will allow Breen Printing to split its operations between the two locations. Alongside relocating equipment, Breen will also be investing in new machinery.
“We’re planning to move some of our existing equipment across to the new site, as well as purchase additional machinery to expand our product range and introduce new services for our customers,” Luke said.
The company’s immediate priority is a software/web programmer, a key role in supporting Breen’s move toward automation and online integration as it prepares to work across two sites.
“The biggest part of the next phase is figuring out how to automate every step of the process,” Kirsty said.
“The priority is the programmer to help us really launch that space and streamline everything from online orders through to our presses.
“We’re a small business which is now stepping into that medium business space. So, it is a big leap for us, but we’re currently bursting at the seams with our orders, so the leap is needed to grow,” Kirsty said.
According to Luke, key to the pair’s success since taking over the business five years ago has been adapting to industry changes, by shifting their focus and investment toward specialty products like packaging, labels, and point-of-sale items.
“Over the last few years, a lot of smaller businesses have closed, gone into liquidation, or just struggled,” he said.
“I think the difference with us is that we’re not sitting still, waiting. When we took over the business 2020, it was a fully operational business – it had lots of equipment and lots of work – but we could see the industry was shifting.
“Even with the roles we’re hiring now, that shift is reflected. Having a programmer or software developer is critical – especially in the print industry – to make sure we stay active in the digital space.
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