With the 2026 autumn school term approaching fast, Young People in Print & Packaging (YPIPP) is raising awareness about opportunities in the industry with a new project aimed at pupils of all ages. Combining an appreciation of local landmarks with the creativity and design skills foundational to the print packaging world, the Love Our Landmarks campaign will give young people a chance to interact directly with an industry that plays a constant role in their lives.
Either on their own or as part of a wider group, the intent of the project is for pupils to design a postcard featuring a UK landmark that is special to them in some way. They’ll then write about their connection to the place they’ve chosen on the back of the postcard, leaving room for an address and stamp. A local print company will then print four to six copies of each postcard for the pupil to keep or post themselves.
As well as developing pupils’ skills across a swathe of disciplines, Love Our Landmarks offers schools the chance to forge connections with local print and packaging businesses. When a school registers interest in the campaign, the YPIPP team will match them with a company that will print the postcards. They will also provide schools with contact details for future engagement opportunities, such as school visits and work experience pathways.
Fostering links between young people in search of opportunities and an exciting, expanding industry is one of YPIPP’s core values. The Love Our Landmarks project, with its focus on creative design, offers teachers and pupils alike the chance to peek behind the curtain of a unique career path that is often overlooked by both. It also gives printing companies direct communication with a demographic they often fail to reach.
Although this is a creative project rather than a competition, YPIPP will publicly celebrate participants on its social media to mark the International Day of Print on 21 October. All schools who share photos of their pupils with their printed postcards will be shouted out in recognition of their creativity, celebration of community and ambition.
“The Love Our Landmarks campaign is a fabulous campaign that lets young people engage directly with the print and packaging industry in a way that’s fun for them,” says Paul Stead, Co-founder, YPIPP. “At a time when news stories about unemployed young people seem to be constant, finding creative ways to show what pathways are open to them is vital. The print and packaging industry needs a new generation to take the helm; we hope initiatives like this will pave the way for that change.”
Schools and print companies that would like to know more about Love Our Landmarks can contact YPIPP through its website, where more information about all its activities and resources are available. Any school and business can join the campaign at no cost; local printers are especially encouraged to get in contact.
