6 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk March | April 2026 - Issue 359 INDUSTRY | NEWS printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine printmonthly_signlink Royal Mail has confirmed that it has begun charging business customers for self-adhesive thermal label rolls. Previously, Royal Mail had provided the label rolls free of charge to those with valid posting accounts. Under the new changes, standard 100x150mm direct thermal labels will be treated as a paid consumable, listed at £4.69 per roll excluding VAT, which is equivalent to around £5.63 per roll including VAT. Royal Mail has also reduced the number of thermal label rolls you can order per request for some business accounts, dropping to five rolls per order instead of a previous limit of ten. Online supplier of packaging materials, Kite Packaging, has highlighted that it is stocking alternatives to the Royal Mail labels which match Royal Mail’s template alignment and printer compatibility. The print and design industries have reacted with mixed opinions to Pantone’s decision to make ‘Cloud Dancer’, a shade of white, the Pantone Color of the Year for 2026. Pantone’s Color of the Year programme, now in its 27th year, is designed to promote conversations on the impact of colour choice. This year, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer was chosen as its Color of the Year, with 2025’s choice having been PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse. Pantone describes Cloud Dancer as a “billowy white imbued with a feeling of serenity” which “serves as a symbol of calming influence in a frenetic society rediscovering the value of measured consideration and quiet reflection.” The choice of Cloud Dancer for 2026 has garnered some controversy since it was announced in early December. The term "Pantonedeaf" has been coined by critics and used in headlines by UK outlets including The Guardian, describing a perceived disconnect between Pantone’s choice and the global mood. Some critics have argued that choosing a shade of white is ‘bleak’ or ‘dystopian’ in the current social and political climate. Many graphic designers had reportedly predicted a bolder choice of colour to be chosen such as a vibrant teal or earthy green. Global trend authority, WGSN, had named ‘Transformative Teal’, a fusion of deep blue and aquatic green, as their 2026 Color of the Year. This led many designers to assume Pantone would follow a similar trajectory. Royal Mail now charges for thermal label rolls Print professionals react to Pantone Color of the Year Direct thermal labels will cost a reported £4.69 per roll excluding VAT By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert The British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) has launched a new apprenticeships guide for employers which was released to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week 2026. The guide from the BPIF’s Training subsidiary, titled 'Employer’s Guide to Understanding Apprenticeships 2026', is designed to give employers a clear and practical overview of how apprenticeships work, the benefits they bring, and the support available throughout the full apprenticeship journey. Designed for both employers new to apprenticeships and those looking to develop existing staff, the guide brings together information on apprenticeship levels, funding, recruitment, onboarding, and progression. It also includes detailed support for ‘off-thejob’ training, mental health, performance management, and understanding English and maths requirements. To support the launch, BPIF Training ran a new online employer briefing titled ‘Apprenticeships Explained in 20 Minutes: What Employers Need to Know’. Details on further events will be announced by the BPIF Training in due course, both on the events section of its website and on social media. The Printing Charity has announced its next honorary president is singer, actress, author, and politician, Baroness Floella Bejamin OM, DBO, DL. Known for programmes such as Play School, Play Away, and Jamboree, Baroness Benjamin is a Trinidadian British actress who is a member of the House of Lords as a life peer after being nominated by the Liberal Democrats. As well as writing over 30 books, including Coming to England, which is now part of the UK national Curriculum, Baroness Benjamin was given an OBE in 2001 and even has a statue of herself outside the University of Exeter’s students’ guild. As with previous presidents, Baroness Benjamin will be a keynote speaker at The Printing Charity’s Annual Luncheon on November 19th, 2026, at Plaisterers’ Hall in the City of London. Baroness Benjamin follows on from other female figureheads like Theresa May and Nicky Morgan BPIF releases new apprenticeship guide Baroness Floella Benjamin named as Printing Charity’s new president The guide provides up-to-date information on apprenticeship funding, recruitment, and onboarding David Osgar By Jonathan Pert Cloud Dancer has been described as “a whisper of calm and peace in a noisy world”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjM0NDIxOA==