Increasingly Prism is hearing about members who are doing really well. General manager at G Bopp, Andrew Moss, for example, says the company is going from strength to strength and has had to increase its production capacity. What G Bopp is seeing is a transition in the screen printing industry to a demand for high quality screens produced to very tight tolerances. This is particularly so in the industrial market but also the graphics sector, which has adopted a similar approach.

In this month's Regulatory Bulletin, Prism highlights a useful document produced by the Environment Agency entitled: Management toolkit for small and medium sized businesses. This information pack contains helpful templates, specifically targeted to help small and medium size enterprises (SMEs).

Economic gurus paid by the government predicted that we would see the end of the recession in the third quarter of this year, but unfortunately this didn't occur. In fact, the gross domestic product continued to decline and one has to question where these analysts get their figures - certainly not from industry, it would seem.

A year ago the market felt like is was in meltdown. Fortunately that hasn't happened for the majority but there are an increasing number of casualties as the low margins and unstable debtors take their toll.

The UK market for graphics and point of sale remains one of the most sophisticated in the world; confident in using advanced technology with a cohort of astute clients who are testing graphic solutions providers with every pound they spend. That means that now is the time of opportunity for companies who are positive and pushing hard.

Most printers are aware of the issues surrounding global warming. In fact they may well be sick of 'environmental speak.' What they really want to know is how their company can benefit from adopting best practice and what that best practice really entails.

Meeting with peers and colleagues to discuss the issues everyone is currently facing ensures you are not alone in these uncertain times. The Prism AGM, which is running at Robert Horne in Northampton on 7 May, also provides the opportunity to improve your company's performance with advice from industry specialists.

THE NEW 2009 Planet Friendly Guide is designed to tell printers all they need to know about process relevant environmental legislation from Brussels and Westminster. More importantly, it explains how to maximise the business advantage of these developments.

GOVERMENT GRANTS for training are now more easily available than ever before. Using its Train to Gain program, the shackles have been removed from funding. Previously money was only available for National Vocational Qualifications, yet now virtually any form of training that will increase the performance of the individual and the company will be considered for up to 60 per cent grant aid.

WHEN TRADING is difficult, some accountants will look at expenditure and cut back on the very things the company really needs: training, marketing and association membership etc. These are soft targets but cancelling them can quickly become an own goal. Training helps companies perform more efficiently with reduced wastage and improved quality. Marketing helps the company stands out from the crowd. Trade Associations, that's an easy saving of £1 a day: equivalent to 40mm of squeegee or 10cc of digital printing ink. At this point the accountant has swiftly severed his nose from his face.

It is times like these that we need to know how we can manage our businesses and the technology within them. Prism has taken up the challenge to inform the industry of the options to take it forward. We have gathered industry leaders who will highlight the alternatives to enable you to make informed decisions. This conference takes place on 20 November, Menzies Strathmore Hotel, Luton. It is sponsored by HP and Fespa.

The environment is important, its just taken a step back given current economic conditions. The importance of green at any cost is perhaps changing to a stronger and more pragmatic call to be green while being efficient, effective and securing a sustainable business.

The holidays are over and we should all be refreshed for whatever the market can throw at us. Oil prices are falling after the commodity brokers have taken their snouts from the trough, so the market may see a little more optimism on the horizon.

In the last few weeks the news has been dominated by the economic downturn and overcapacity.  Resulting changes are not easy to digest, though I'm sure companies are refusing to take things lying down and are now formulating plans to make a difficult situation better for them.

‘We need to outperform and out-innovate our competitors'. So said Gordon Brown. We all know how valuable good people are and how important we feel both as employers and employees about being valued. It pays off in terms of motivation, loyalty and growing and developing personally in a career.

As prism business manager, I hope to answer your questions and explain how initiatives in the new membership package will benefit members and the industry as a whole.

Today, and for the sake of argument, let's take a different view and look at our UK businesses from a market-served, rather than a production process led perspective. What does it look like? I think it looks rather good, with growth being the operative word.

In the last week or so I have experienced an excellent European wide format Directors Forum organised by Fespa, Printwear and Promotion's successful inaugural awards dinner, plus the ups and downs of engaging members and non-members of the DSPA in a period of transition and change for the organisation. My lessons learned?

My style is to take a long hard look at a challenge and continuously review, revise and try new approaches and solutions. First the market, then the challenges, then the solutions: so here goes after a month in the role. Firstly, I would like to thank Peter Kiddell and the teams at The Print House Group, Kolorcraft, GSM Graphic Arts, Instant print and Multigraphics for showing a rookie some of the ‘ropes'.

We all wish Mike Turner the best after retiring as director of the Digital and Screen Printing Association and thank him for his contribution over the last 18-years. Be assured, the Association will go from strength-to-strength, built on the foundation Mike created.

Professor John Davison has received the DSPA Award for Services to the Screen and Digital Printing Industry. DSPA president, Peter Kiddell, said: “John likes to be known as ‘inky’ thanks to his passion for pigments, dispersions, mediums and associated technologies. His application of this knowledge has been vital to many industries. Add his unmatched skill in drying and curing techniques, plus a complete grasp of analogue and digital printing techniques, and John becomes the most complete scientist in ink technology we are likely to see.