The newly appointed Chairman of the Flexographic Industry Association (FIAUK ), Andy Wilson, has shared insights into some of the initiatives he is set to lead during his tenure as Chairman of FIAuk
Announced at this year’s Gala Awards Dinner celebration in November, Andy, Group Colour Director at Coveris UK, has taken over the role from Neil Jones, Managing Director of Bobst UK & Ireland who has been the chairman for the past four years and continues to serve on the FIAUK board.
Andy is supported in his new role by Steve Mulcahy, CEO of Contact Originators Group, who was elected Vice-Chairman.
Andy said: “It is exciting to be part of an industry that is constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible. This infectious pursuit for excellence is driven by the many passionate people working within the industry which we are proud to represent.”
He added: “The world around us is changing fast and we need to adapt and evolve to keep up and stay relevant. One area where I believe FIAUK can support the industry is working with education authorities and government to promote the packaging industry as an attractive career path for young people to pursue. It is vital for any business to have a constant stream of talent being developed for succession planning, but also new creative ideas that will move the industry forward. This is a key area where we will be looking to offer wide-ranging support to members.”
There will be a renewed focus on creating fresh content for the Association’s e-learning platform, FIAUK Academy, as well as an improved user interface. The Academy is a comprehensive training package delivered in a modular format and covers everything for the flexographic print and packaging supply chain, from artwork origination to waste and recycling.
The environment, sustainability and circular economy will also be a key area for Andy and the Association in the coming months and years. He commented: “This is a huge topic but by continuing to work with our partners, such as the Packaging Federation, the Retail Institute and the Graphics & Print Media Alliance (GPMA), we will be looking at new, innovative ways that we can support members and the wider industry to navigate to a better, more sustainable future.”
For more information on FIAUK or its activities, please visit the newly launched website at www.fiauk.co.uk.