Print Scotland
Print Scotland is a Glasgow-based trade association representing Scotland's graphic communications industry, serving 64 member print companies and suppliers through membership subscriptions, apprenticeship training, advocacy, networking, and the annual Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year Awards.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1910
- HeadquartersGlasgow, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Print Scotland does
Print Scotland is a trade association and the recognized collective voice of Scotland's graphic communications industry, headquartered in Glasgow with a registered office at Dentons UKMEA LLP, 1 George Square. The organisation traces its institutional lineage to the Scottish Alliance of Masters in Printing and Allied Trades, founded in 1910, and currently operates with 1-10 staff serving 64 member organisations across two segments: full print company members (litho, digital, large format, label, and finishing printers such as Bell & Bain, CCL Design, PG Paper, Newsprinters UK, and Panda Print) and associate supplier members (equipment OEMs and consumables providers including BOBST, Koenig & Bauer, Ricoh, HP, Antalis, and Kodak).
Its core offering is a service portfolio rather than a technology platform, comprising five pillars: the Scottish Apprenticeship Scheme (Modern Apprenticeships with SVQ qualifications delivered in partnership with Skills Development Scotland and Ultimate Learning Solutions), bespoke Print Scotland Training Services (50+ industry-specific work-based learning units for upskilling without a full apprenticeship commitment), Business Training seminars, the annual Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year Awards (10th edition in 2025), and Membership Benefits (governance participation, industrial relations and employment law advice through HR Services Scotland, exclusive UPS courier rates, free JTMS safety audits, legal/accounting seminars through affiliate partners Dentons, Chiene & Tait, and Gilson Gray, and use of the Print Scotland brand).
The business model is a subscription/membership-fee trade association generating recurring revenue from member dues (pricing not publicly disclosed; contact via Director Garry Richmond). Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, relying on direct recruitment of print companies and associate suppliers, networking events in Edinburgh and Glasgow, an annual awards ceremony, website presence, and social media. Beyond member services, Print Scotland pursues policy advocacy on apprenticeship funding parity with England (currently £7,000 per apprentice less than England) and industry representation, with leadership comprising Director Garry Richmond, President Susan Graham (MD of FLB Group), Vice-President Iain Robertson, and Training Officer Jim McKenzie.
Print Scotland firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Print Scotland
- Legal name
- Print Scotland
- Website
- https://print-scotland.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1910
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Print Scotland is a Glasgow-based trade association representing Scotland's graphic communications industry, serving 64 member print companies and suppliers through membership subscriptions, apprenticeship training, advocacy, networking, and the annual Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year Awards.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Print Scotland industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade Association Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Printing (323120)
- SIC
- Service Industries For The Printing Trade (2790)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Print Quality Assurance & Compliance Services (Press Checks, ISO/G7, Accessibility/Standards) (MPAJALAJ)
Keywords
Where Print Scotland is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glasgow
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Print Scotland business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Membership fees: Print Scotland generates revenue through membership subscriptions from print companies, suppliers, and associate members. Membership provides access to governance participation, industrial relations advice, insurance cover, networking events, training services, and use of the Print Scotland brand.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Print Scotland product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Print Scotland is a membership-based trade association that represents and serves Scotland's graphic communications industry. Its core offering is a bundled package of membership benefits — governance participation, industrial relations and employment law advice, insurance cover, networking events, training services, and use of the Print Scotland brand — alongside structured training and apprenticeship programs (Modern Apprenticeships, SVQs, bespoke business training) for print companies and their staff across Scotland.
Product overview
Print Scotland is a trade association serving as the voice of Scotland's graphic communications industry. Rather than a unified software platform, its offering comprises service programs: Print Scotland Training Services (providing bespoke upskilling with 50+ industry-specific units), the Scottish Apprenticeship Scheme (Modern Apprenticeship certification with SVQs), Business Training (seminars and workshops), the annual Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year Awards, and Membership Benefits (governance, HR advice, insurance, networking, and operational support services).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Membership Benefits Trade association membership for print companies and supplier/associate members, providing governance participation on the Executive Board, industrial relations and employment law advice, competitive insurance cover, networking events in Edinburgh and Glasgow, free annual safety audits, website directory listing, use of the Print Scotland logo, and exclusive UPS courier rates.
- Print Scotland Training Services Bespoke training service that allows Scottish print companies to upskill or retrain individual staff members using over 50 industry-specific work-based learning units that can be customised and combined, without the need to enrol the learner in a full Modern Apprenticeship.
- Scottish Apprenticeship Scheme (Modern Apprenticeships) Modern Apprenticeship programme providing training, work-based assessment, and SVQ qualifications for young people entering the Scottish print industry. Funded through Skills Development Scotland grants and the Scottish Training Scheme, with the option for apprentices to experience multiple employers during their training.
- Business Training Seminars and Workshops Seminars and workshops covering business development topics such as marketing, carbon footprint measurement, cash management, employment law, and accounting, delivered to Print Scotland members through affiliate partners.
- Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year Awards Annual industry awards ceremony recognising outstanding achievement among apprentices in Pre-Press, Press, Post-Press, and Mentor categories, sponsored by major print industry suppliers. The tenth edition was held in 2025.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20% increase in apprentices taken on by members year-over-year in 2019
Companies that use Print Scotland
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Print Scotland technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Print Scotland partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ultimate Learning SolutionscoreTraining partner for Print Scotland providing apprenticeship assessment and training services. Jim McKenzie serves as Training Officer for Print Scotland through this partnership.
- UPSminorPrint Scotland offers members exclusive courier rates through partnership with UPS.
- HR Services ScotlandcoreProvides industrial relations and employment law advice to Print Scotland members, helping ensure employment issues are dealt with according to legislation.
- Chiene & TaitminorAffiliate member providing accounting and business advice seminars to Print Scotland members.
- Gilson GrayminorAffiliate member providing legal seminars and workshops to Print Scotland members.
- DentonsminorLegal services provider. Print Scotland's registered office is at Dentons UKMEA LLP.
- Scottish GovernmentcoreProvides grant funding through the Scottish Training Scheme to cover the cost of apprenticeship training for Modern Apprentices.
- Skills Development ScotlandcoreGovernment skills agency that supports Modern Apprenticeships in Scotland.
- AntalisminorSponsor of Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year awards since their inception.
- Muller MartiniminorSponsor of Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year awards and provides support for apprentice training.
- HPminorSponsor of Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year awards.
- CCL DesignminorSponsor of Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year awards.
- EBB (Elliott Baxter)minorSponsor of Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year awards.
- JTMSminorProvides free one day annual Safety Audit to Print Scotland members.
- BCF (British Coatings Federation)minorPrint Scotland is a partner association of BCF, co-hosting UV LED technology forums and events.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Print Scotland competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- FESPA: International federation for screen, digital and specialty print, with global membership, events and awards. Comparable to Print Scotland as a print trade association serving member companies, but operating at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
- The Stationers' Company: One of the UK's historic livery companies with roots in the printing and publishing trades, still operating as an industry body with membership, awards and networking functions. Comparable in advocacy and member-services role, though more historical and broader in scope than Print Scotland.
Regional players
- PRINTING United Alliance: The leading US-based printing industry trade association, offering training, certification, events and advocacy. Operates in a comparable trade-association role to Print Scotland but serves North American printers rather than Scottish ones.
- The Newspaper Society / News Media Association: UK trade body representing regional and local newspaper publishers, providing advocacy, training and member services. Comparable to Print Scotland as a print-sector trade association, though focused specifically on newspaper publishers.
- IAPHC (International Association of Printing House Craftsmen): An international trade association serving printing industry professionals through networking, education and awards. Comparable as a peer association, though primarily US-rooted and focused on individual craftspeople rather than company membership like Print Scotland.
Others
- Smithers (Smithers Pira): A research, testing and events provider serving the print, packaging and paper industries. Comparable as an ecosystem participant serving the same print-industry customer base as Print Scotland, though operating as a commercial services firm rather than a member association.
Direct peers
- British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF): The UK-wide trade association for the printing industry, providing advocacy, training and member services. It is the most direct counterpart to Print Scotland, with the main difference being geographic scope (UK vs Scotland).
Emerging players
- Two Sides: A global advocacy initiative promoting the sustainability of print and paper, with member companies across the print supply chain. Comparable to Print Scotland's advocacy function but focuses specifically on print's environmental narrative rather than broad trade representation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Print Scotland social profiles
Digital presencePrint Scotland financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Print Scotland leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Print Scotland funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Print Scotland M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Print Scotland
What does Print Scotland do?
Print Scotland is a membership-based trade association that represents and serves Scotland's graphic communications industry. Its core offering is a bundled package of membership benefits — governance participation, industrial relations and employment law advice, insurance cover, networking events, training services, and use of the Print Scotland brand — alongside structured training and apprenticeship programs (Modern Apprenticeships, SVQs, bespoke business training) for print companies and their staff across Scotland.
Is Print Scotland a public or private company?
Print Scotland is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Print Scotland founded?
Print Scotland was founded in 1910. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Print Scotland based?
Print Scotland is headquartered in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Print Scotland make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership fees.
Who are Print Scotland's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are FESPA and The Stationers' Company. Regional players are PRINTING United Alliance, The Newspaper Society / News Media Association and IAPHC (International Association of Printing House Craftsmen). Smithers (Smithers Pira) is listed as an others. British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) is listed as a direct peer. Two Sides is listed as an emerging player.
Does Print Scotland have an API?
No public API is recorded for Print Scotland.
What industry is Print Scotland in?
Print Scotland's product category is Trade Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJALAJ, Print Quality Assurance & Compliance Services (Press Checks, ISO/G7, Accessibility/Standards). Its NAICS code is 323120 and its SIC code is 2790.