Picon urges UK industry to lobby government for funding

Hundreds of small businesses in the printing industry in the UK could face losing out on future funding grants as a result of changes introduced by the government (DTI) into the way in which it allocates resources and funding.  To address this, Picon has joined forces with a number of trade associations from a variety of industry sectors, to form ‘The Sponsors Alliance’ which aims to lobby the government on the issue of funding for participation in overseas trade fairs.
Under the proposed changes, Government funding, which has already been reduced from the previous figure of 22 million to just 10 million going forward, will no longer be channeled through the industry trade associations which have the knowledge and understanding of their specific industry.  In future, the decision whether or not to allocate funding support, will be delegated to regional sectors of the UK Trade & Investment (UKT&I).  Picon warns that the regionalization of the funding application will not only dilute the understanding of issues affecting the printing industry, but will also significantly complicate the process for nationwide organizations.
Picon also warns that these changes will see funds previously used to support UK trade development overseas, diverted to attract inward foreign investment into the UK, posing direct competition to UK companies.
‘Acting as industry representative bodies, we believe it is the trade associations that are best placed to promote our industry sectors and to manage appropriate funding applications,’ said Paul Evans, business development manager at Picon. ‘Trade development must be managed nationally and with sector expertise, so we are once again having to battle to retain a nationally run and properly funded trade fair scheme.  We’re therefore urging companies to sign the e-petition to object to the reduction and re-direction of funds.’
To sign the petition log onto http://www.sponsorsalliance.net/