print operators and apprentices, will help to challenge the stereotypes and inspire others. “I can’t stress the need for coaching and mentorship enough,” Van Luyck adds. “I benefited from guidance early in my career, and we should all pass on our knowledge and connections to newcomers, no matter their age, as it really helps form your career.” As highlighted by both White and Van Luyck, promoting print as an attractive career choice needs to start from early on in the education stream and this involves showcasing the exciting opportunities in print. Highlighting creative work on social media, hosting open days at print houses, visiting schools and colleges to showcase exciting projects or work examples, as well as offering internships and work experience opportunities, can all help to position print as the dynamic and exciting career path it can be for both young people and women. Lyons Black adds: “I think print’s best marketing tool to attract women of all ages is to tell the story that there are SO many career pathways and industry niches to explore, some of which can even pair work with personal interests, such as apparel decorating and fashion or wide-format and the entertainment industry. It’s also highly mobile; print manufacturing is everywhere and offers women to chart their course in a new city, area, or even country knowing they can find employment options.” Once we have attracted more talent to print, the key is retaining them. Van Luyck emphasises the importance of fostering a creative and supportive workplace culture including flexible work options, clear career paths, and addressing bias in hiring and promotions. White agrees with this, adding: “Creating more awareness and opportunity is key. Since many still consider it a male-dominated industry, creating safe schemes, networking events, or expos specifically aimed at training and educating women on what roles and skillsets are required could be a great idea. Starting this at the education level is crucial. I would definitely attend a women in print trade show!” Echoing Van Luyck and White’s thoughts, Lyons Black adds: “The key here is to showcase the individual, unique pathways of successful women in print to inspire other women to be part of the industry – and then provide networking and mentorship to support those women and ensure they have long, rewarding, prosperous print careers.” “Attracting young people in general to print is a challenge,” Van Luyck agrees, elaborating: “They don’t consider print as a career option because it’s not always brought to their attention early on. Many don’t realise the variety of exciting career options available, from creative roles to technical innovation, and this lack of awareness makes recruitment harder for everyone.” So, how do we address these challenges? Visibility. As Van Luyck explains, highlighting successful women in print, in a variety of roles from leadership to sales to 34 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk March / April 2025 - Issue 353 WOMEN IN PRINT of gender, so maybe we’re challenging that trend!” Cindy Van Luyck, head of marketing at Four Pees, an integrator providing automated solutions for operational challenges in the printing industry, found her way into print by accident, as is the case for so many women in the industry. Starting her career in marketing and communication working in fashion and advertising, Van Luyck says print quickly became a passion once she realised it is everywhere. For Van Luyck, meeting people who helped her to grow and develop has been instrumental in her building a successful career in print. “Tom Peire, then marketing director and my manager at Enfocus, and industry experts like Dave Zwang, Pat McGrew, Vicki Blake, and many more shared their knowledge, introduced me to the right people, and guided me,” she explains. “Their mentorship showed me how important it is to support new people to find their way and succeed in print. I learned everything on the job. With the right attitude, support, and opportunities, anyone can build a successful career in this industry.” An important factor in retaining women into print and attracting them to a career in the first place, Van Luyck says, is role models and representation. “Print is often seen as a hands-on, labour-heavy industry that mainly attracts men. But with more focus on automation and technology now, it offers more opportunities for women. “Sadly, the lack of female role models in the industry reinforces the idea that it’s not a space for them.” This lack of representation raises the issue of overall industry visibility, as highlighted by White, and the challenge here is very much linked to the broader industry challenge of attracting young people into print. The Power of Mentorship Promote Print as an Attractive Career Showcase Pathways of Successful Women ▲ [L to R] Kerry Rice, senior account manager; Karis Copp, managing director; and Carys Evans, account manager of Karis Copp Media ◄ Lisbeth Lyons Black, director of Women in Print Alliance at PRINTING United Alliance This September, Karis Copp, managing director of Karis Copp Media, a B2B PR and comms agency specialising in the print industry, will host a panel discussion at The Print Show. The session will hear from a panel of women who’ve made successful careers in various areas of the industry, including Karis Copp Media account manager, Carys Evans, and will draw on their own experiences of how they came to work in print and their experiences of working in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Together, the panel will explore why there is still an imbalance within print, and how we can tip the scales. Women in Print Panel
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