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BETTER BUSINESS

ing to see how this brings together reaped the benefit of that throughout
the printing sector to both under- Jamm’s existence as we watched
stand the skills gap, but also the gen- them flourish and develop.”
der divide too”. But looking at the question of
In conclusion Thirlby stresses that whether there are enough women in
she doesn’t think the print sector is print, to Shackleton the impact of
alone as a highly male dominated more women joining the sector – at
sector: “I suspect there are many all levels – has been very marked.
other industries with similar chal- In particular, she thinks that “the
lenges. However, there is a chance increase in the number of women
that if the print sector attracts more working in the print industry has
females, it could also contribute transformed it. When I started in
towards attracting a younger work print, business was done in the pub;
force as well.” reps from paper merchants, ink mer-
chants and so on were all male and
Liz Shackleton Managing direc- would offer to take their, usually
tor, Jamm Print & Production male, customers to the pub to discuss
Liz Shackleton is an experienced new deals. Women didn’t, as a rule,
businesswoman who’s seen much in participate”.
her years in the world of print includ- While she understands what hap-
ing, it appears, her fair share of sexist pened in the past – and why – and
behaviours. She explains that back in also doesn’t like to generalise, she
the late 1980s she was appointed says that “that approach really
manager at Farleigh Press in doesn’t tend to appeal to most
Watford: “It was a closed shop, and women, so new ways of making con-
the full-time branch secretary of the tacts and doing business have flour-
NGA came in to see me soon after I ished in the past 20 plus years as
started. He assured me that print women have become more and more
‘wasn’t a job for a woman’ – not a par- prominent in the industry”.
ticularly promising start.” Getting more women into the
Fortunately, over the intervening sector
years she’s witnessed both the atti-
probably tell you: [it’s] not easy to implement in an environment that tude of the unions, and the situation Granted the gender balance is
depends on high productivity and lean operation to function successfully”. generally, change greatly since that changing, but how can the sector get
period of her life. more women into print? Is there a
Dealing with the challenges lack of awareness of print as a career
As to how to get more women into print generally, Thirlby sees little hap- Men and women combined for women? Are they put off by a per-
pening unless management leads from the front. As she says, “until the top In terms of the ratio of men to ception that some women may strug-
layer becomes more infiltrated by females it is unlikely to filter down to the women, in her world at least, gle with physical roles? It’s possible,
but for Shackleton, the solution
shop floor”. Shackleton puts it around the other seems to be working its way out natu-
That said, she doesn’t think women are put off. Rather, she thinks there’s way in that it’s more like women to
a lack of opportunities or poor awareness of the variety of roles in the print- men. “We have a 60:40 split women rally over time. She explains what she
means: “
ing industry. As she says: “It is not as linear as some may think and probably to men here at Jamm,” she says. “We Back in the day, if dad was a
not a sector that is seen to promote or offer a great work life balance.” The do employ some casual staff who are printer, sons often got apprentice-
natural question, then, is what can be done to encourage more women into mostly women. And one of the ways ships too. That has changed so much,
print; should the process begin at school to get more women onto technical we have achieved that balance is by not least because employment in the
courses and apprenticeships? offering employment and training industry is no longer a secure job that
Thirlby acknowledges that more apprenticeships focusing on opportuni- opportunities to casual staff.” It’s would see you through to retire-
ties in the printing sector could help. But for her there is only one guaran- notable that Jamm’s warehouse man- ment.” She notes too that “a lot of
teed way to get more women involved in the sector. As she says, “change ager, one of the directors, IT staff, jobs used to be far more physical than
needs to start at the top with company owners looking at how they can and the head of a new service that the they are now...technology has
embrace and encourage a higher female ratio, probably starting at the board company has recently begun to offer, changed the demand for physical
level”. “all started as casuals on zero-hours strength so much”.
That said, Thirlby pins hope on the new government making positive contracts. We spotted their potential, But even in the late 80s things
noises about establishing a ‘Skills England’ body to tackle the “country’s offered training and a supportive began to change as Shackleton
fragmented and broken training system”. She thinks that “it will be interest- atmosphere, and we have absolutely recalls.

www.printweekmena.com January 2025 PrintWeek MENA 41