DESPATCH
Welcome to December’s e-newsletter
I’m sure many of you are eagerly counting down the days to the Christmas break and looking forward to a well-earned rest. As we approach the end of the year, I want to take a moment to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.
We’re also coming up to the exciting time when we open the ACPME Creative + Print Awards, celebrating the fantastic achievements across our community. Each year, your feedback helps us shape the awards, and this year is no different. We’ve refreshed some of the categories and added new sub-divisions to ensure every team – whether small, large, or multi-service – has the opportunity to showcase the incredible work you’ve accomplished. We’ll also be hosting an Awards Q&A webinar in February to answer any questions you may have.
I’d also like to extend a special message to those of you who may be facing challenging times. Please remember that the ACPME is here to support you however we can. I truly wish you strength, success, and brighter days ahead.
Warmest wishes,
Michelle Barraclough, ACPME Chair
CALL FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS
As we look ahead to the new year, we’re also preparing to welcome fresh perspectives and new energy to the ACPME Board. If you’re passionate about our community and would like to help shape the direction of ACPME, we would love to hear from you.
Whether you’ve served on a committee before or are completely new to this kind of role, your experience, ideas, and enthusiasm are what make our organisation strong. Being part of the Board is a rewarding opportunity to contribute, grow, and make a real difference.
If this sparks your interest – or if you’d simply like to find out more – please get in touch. We’re very happy to have a chat about what the role involves.
ACPME TO THE ICPA – STRATEGY UPDATE
As we continue moving our ACPME strategy into its next exciting phase, I’m pleased to share an important update. The Board recently reflected on how we can become even more inclusive and welcoming to in-house creative and print teams across all sectors. Following a unanimous vote, we will begin operating under a new trading name: ACPME trading as the ‘In-house Creative & Print Alliance (ICPA)’.
This change reflects our commitment to growing our community and representing the breadth and diversity of the work you all do. I am currently updating our ‘Articles of Association’ to ensure our governance aligns with our strategic direction. We are working towards a formal launch of ICPA in February 2026, and planning is already well underway.
We have also developed new Industry Partnership
Our Goal
“The In-house Creative & Print Alliance [ICPA] is the premier cross-industry network for professionals leading in-house print, media, creative, and mailing operations. We bring together internal service teams from corporations, universities, government, and nonprofits to share best practices, drive innovation, and elevate the strategic value of in-plant operations. Whether you’re managing print production, marketing support, document services, or multimedia content, our association gives you access to peer collaboration, industry insights, benchmarking tools, and professional development designed specifically for internal providers. We’re here to help you do more – smarter, faster, and with greater impact.”
Honorary Membership & Outstanding Contribution Award
We have formalised the process for recognising those who have made a lasting impact on our community. When a Full Representative, Associate Representative, or other eligible member retires or steps away from the industry, they may now be invited to receive Honorary Lifetime Membership. While this honour does not include voting rights or eligibility for office, it reflects the deep appreciation we have for their contributions.
In addition, we are proud to continue celebrating excellence through our Outstanding Contribution Award. Members may nominate any Full Representative, Associate Representative, or individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to ACPME or to the industry as a whole.
- Nominations open: 1 August
- Nominations close: 30 September
All submissions will be reviewed by the Directors in November, with recipients notified in the New Year.
2025–26 ANNUAL BENCHMARKING SURVEY
Help us, to help yourself
It’s vital that as many members take part as possible, as the more responses we receive, the more valuable the results will be for everyone.
Thank you in advance for your contribution!
This year’s Annual Benchmarking has been split into two parts:
- Part I: About Your Service
EXTENDED until 31 January 2025 - Part II: About Activity and Pricing
NOW OPEN until 28 February 2026
At the start of each section, you’ll find a checklist of the information required. Each survey should take around 20–30 minutes to complete.
Developing your in-house creative team – Creative SIG at Loughborough University
Tuesday 4 November saw a hoard of ACPME creative members head to Loughborough University for an inspiring day. First, they heard how Tom Kavanagh, Head of Creative at the RAC, keeps a 125-year-old brand innovative in a digital-first world. Then, they gained insights into the Future of Print with Canon’s Matthew Frost, before learning to Pitch it on a Post-it with Firehaus. The full and well-panned day closed with Loughborough University’s digital experts exploring ‘Designing for Impact in digital advertising’.
Steve Longdale, designer at Lancaster University, commented:
“I really enjoyed ‘Pitch it on a Post-it’ with Ian Bates which gave me the opportunity not only to engage with other attendees and but also discover a new approach to problem solving and looking for solutions. Listening to how Loughborough University uses social media advertising was also a really insightful approach to an area of design I need to become more familiar with. A very useful SIG, and I look forward to the next one.”
Here is the link to video interviews about Canon’s Future of Print report: Future of Print: Insights & Trends for 2025 and Beyond – Canon UK
As well as a video on Canon’s World Unseen work with the RNIB: World Unseen – Canon Ambassador Brent Stirton and blind conservationist Lawrence Gunther
Photos of the day from Darren at Creative Scrum can be seen here
Canon Leadership Forum – from Kat Keay
In November I was invited to talk at the first Canon Leadership Forum for in-house print. Hosted in the 130 year-old North Tower of London’s Tower Bridge on one of the coldest days of the year, it was a somewhat chilly day, but I was warmed by the shared passion and enthusiasm of the print professionals from across the public sector – and the chocolate samples from guest speaker and founder of Green and Black’s Jo Fairley, who gave an inspiring talk about the impact of print in the success of Green and Black’s.
It was an intimate group of those working across education, local authority, NHS and government and despite the differences in organisations, it was clear the positives, issues and frustrations of working in print were shared by all. I talked about bucking the trend and ending external supplier contracts in favour of in-sourcing our print through investment and establishing a fully equipped print room on campus at the University of Plymouth. We couldn’t have delivered what we have in Plymouth in the short time it has taken without the support of Canon, and it was reassuring that they are launching these events to learn about our challenges and how they can continue to support public sector print.
The support of the ACPME has been the biggest factor in our print journey however, and it was great for me to be able to return that support by sharing the difference it has made to the University but also see the interest in the Association from the wider public sector organisations. It reinforced for me, the decision to move to the ICPA and open our doors to those outside education who could also benefit from the wealth of experience in the ACPME – but also to bring new insight and ideas that we can learn from.
Kat Keay, Head of Student Recruitment and Creative Services, Univerity of Plymouth
Schools & Academies Event – from Ollie Renshaw
THE 2026 IN-HOUSE CREATIVE & PRINT CONFERENCE
The highlight of the ACPME Calendar
The In-house Creative & Print Conference, organised by ACPME, will be held in Glasgow from 31 May to 2 June 2026 at the Westerwood Hotel.
This event will include the 2026 ACPME Creative + Print Awards. Don’t miss your chance to grab some of the limelight – showcasing your team’s amazing work and effort.
Do you want to see a particular supplier at Conference?
Please send them this link to the Exhibition and Sponsorship leaflet and explain why they should be there. The more the merrier.
We’d love you to give a member-led presentation
We all know that members love to hear from each other. We need you to come forward and share your story.
Please email admin@acpme.ac.uk if you’d be prepared to speak.
NEW AND REVISED AWARD CATEGORIES FOR 2026
We are passionate about championing people within the #ACPMEFamily as well as showcasing your achievements.
Whether you are a small team offering one core service or a large multi-service team, we want to celebrate the work accomplished by your team / organisation and to shout about it.
Every year we ask for members’ feedback on the awards and we tweak the categories so that every team feels there are categories relevant to them to enter.
This year we’ve renamed some of categories and sub-divided a few.
Take a look at the categories, criteria and start thinking now about which categories to enter.
UPCOMING EVENTS
2 FEBRUARY 2026
College Marketing Network Conference – ACPME Exhibiting
4/5 FEBRUARY 2026
PRINT-ED 2026. Konica Minolta & ACPME event, hosted at the Konica Minolta Client Engagement Centre. Connect with peers, swap ideas and take part in roundtable discussions designed for real-world problem-solving.
11 FEBRUARY 2026
Awards Q&A webinar
Find out more
To discuss membership, sponsorship opportunities or annual conference please contact
Jennie Mort, ACPME Administrator: 01527 893675 | admin@acpme.ac.uk
Contact address: Seven Elms, Dark Lane, Astwood Bank, Redditch, Worcestershire B96 6HB
Or feel free to contact members of our Board
Details here
The Association of Creative and Print Managers in Education, a not for profit private company, limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales No. 10244428. Registered address: Seven Elms, Dark Lane, Astwood Bank, Redditch, Worcestershire B96 6HB