Social Print and Copy (SP&C) is recruiting five new starts
A social enterprise is using a major funding boost to help young people into work.
Social Print and Copy (SP&C), has been awarded £100,000 from Social Investment Scotland (SIS) and more than £50,000 from the Scottish Government’s Adapt and Thrive programme to boost its business and recruit five new apprentices.
The printer and photocopier solution company’s apprentice programme, aimed at 16–24-year-olds, is set to launch in September, and has been developed to help young people kickstart their career and learn key technical skills in a social enterprise created with sustainability and lasting change at the heart of the business.
The young people will be based in SP&C’s Edinburgh office, alongside a group of leading charity partners and print industry professionals, created at the height of the pandemic to support SMEs and new organisations who often struggle to secure the finance they need for printer and copier technology.
The funding announcement comes as the company is shortlisted for the 2021 Social Enterprise Awards Scotland’s One to Watch Award, which recognises charities and community organisations who deliver social and environmental impact in Scotland.
Founder and chief executive, Ian Gray, said: “I am delighted that we have been awarded this funding from SIS and Adapt and Thrive to help accelerate the business and start our apprenticeship programme. Our innovative business model and approach is a first for social enterprises in Scotland, with all profits we make put back into the sector to best service local communities through youth employment and education.
“SP&C was set up to address the mis-selling that plagues the printer and photocopier industries and to support SMEs who are unable to access appropriate finance. Our vision is to help educate and upskill third sector employees and trustees around the procurement of technology which in turn, will help us to contribute to the local economy through creating jobs and supporting others to gain full time employment with partner organisations.”
Kirstie Penman, head of programmes, Firstport added: “Congratulations to Social Print & Copy on securing funding from Adapt and Thrive. The programme has supported over 750 third sector organisations across Scotland to adapt to the challenges presented by Covid-19. We trust that the funding will help Social Print & Copy’s recovery so it can continue to make a positive social and environmental impact.”
Environmentally sound print solutions are also at the heart of the organisation’s ethos, and the recruitment drive comes as the firm announces a major deal with leading manufacturer Epson. Partnering with the environmentally world-leading firm, SP&C has been able to secure an advantageous purchasing framework for machines that deliver significant environmental benefits that can be validated by Green Certificates.
