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YMP Conference Cardiff 2009
For over 80 years the YMP has been providing quality training and networking opportunities for people who work in the print industry, and this year's conference, the flagship event of the YMP calendar, promised to deliver just that.Arriving on Friday, slightly later than planned, I got checked in and quickly donned my costume (police biker of the YMCA!) and dived head first for the traditional Friday night ice-breaker event, which was Disco Fever! Following dinner, which was mixed with some classic 70s games such as Hoola Hooping and Space Hopping between courses, the 5 piece 70's band ‘The Man from Funkle' played two great sets and got everyone on their feet. Most importantly it was great to catch up with old friends from around the printing industry and lament about the problems most of us are facing at present.
Following a very insightful opening by George Thomas of Oxuniprint, it was down to the training and an introduction to Sir Terence (the in character business mogul) who was there to put all the teams through their paces and apprentice style tasks. The first task was a surprise but great fun. Armed with shopping list, budget and Polaroid camera we jumped onto the awaiting coach and headed for Cardiff city centre to acquire our ‘unusual' goods at knock down prices, coupled with a team project of compiling a calendar that Sir Terence could market and make a profit on.
The 4 tasks that all teams were set were great fun and tested each delegate's creativity and ability to think under pressure, not to mention their presenting skills when presenting to Sir Terence - no hiding places there!
The Saturday finished with the Gala dinner, an opportunity to dress up and let our hair down, so to speak. The food was fabulous and the fines night, hired in Welsh comedian and late disco were just what the doctor ordered after a hard days training and development. Awards were given and toasts were made before the lights faded and it was time to retire.
The next morning, the YMP were taken through a Vision in Print (VIP) workshop, where we were taught about the benefits of ‘Lean Manufacturing', and completed a series of production tasks which supported the theory. This was followed by a presentation from ProSkills about the organisation and how they work between the Government and industry to provide the training needs for both the printing industry and other industries within the manufacturing and production sectors.
Sadly, following lunch, it was time to say farewell to good friends but we are all looking forward to the next YMP national event the National Training Weekend, September 2009.
Kevin Stallwood
Past Chairman
Select links below for the Proskills presentation documents, or contact
Carl Leonard
Regional Manager EM WM EE
M: 07795 011964
O: 01235 833844
E: carl.leonard@proskills.co.uk
Proskills Sector Qualifications Strategy
Skills Pledge
Management and Leadership Solution 1
Management and Leadership Solution 2
Management and Leadership Solution 3
Management and Leadership Solution 4