According to the Q1 figures released by the body, total advertising spend grew by 2.4%. However, while the overall picture was rosy, driven by growth in online and TV advertising, newsbrands, magazines and direct mail fell by an estimated 7.9%, 11.6% and 1% respectively. Total ad spend in the first quarter reached £4.14bn, following on from the positive trend of last year when total spend returned to pre-2007 levels and topped the £17bn mark. The AA/Warc Expenditure Report predicted that the total 2013 advertising spend in 2013 will be 2.6% higher than 2012, rising to a 4.9% year-on-year increase in 2014. Tim Lefroy, Chief Executive of the Advertising Association said: “A pound spent on advertising returns six pounds to GDP. These figures don’t just reflect growing confidence, they represent an important investment in the recovery.” Q1 2013 actuals 2013 (forecast) TV 5.6 3.9 Radio -2.9 1.7 Out of home 0.1 -1.5 Newsbrands -7.9 -4.3 Magazines -11.6 -5.6 Cinema 1.6 -11.7 Internet – pure play* 11.1 10.4 Direct mail** -1.0 -0.3 *Internet data for Q1 2013 is a Warc estimate. Excludes TV VOD, digital adspend for newsbrands and magazine brands** Direct mail data for Q1 2013 is a Warc...

The winner will undertake two weeks of work experience at the Midlands-based company, which was praised by Leicester College last month for an outstanding contribution to training apprentices. The firm is working with long-standing client Willie’s Cacao and is challenging packaging students to design a cartonboard gift box for goodies for its Chocolate Club members. The pack will be delivered to the homes of club members on a monthly basis and will be targeted at people aged between 35 to 65. Entrants studying part- or full-time at art school, a college or university in the UK or overseas must register online by 30 August. The winner will work in the design studio at the group’s HQ in Bardon, Leicestershire. Marketing manager Nikki Clark said: “This represents a tremendous opportunity for students to promote their abilities and talents to a huge audience.” Clark, Willie’s Cacao owner Willie Harcourt-Cooze and Gwyn Davies, design director at creative agency BrandOpus, will judge the entries. Harcourt-Cooze said: “I want people to experience some of the awakening I did: the zing of fruit or nut flavours that are the product of genetics, soil and climate.” Benson Group creates packaging for Two Sisters Food Group, Reckitt Benckiser and Samworth Brothers and clocks up annual sales of £120m. In June Leicester College praised the company for training four apprentices, Becky Timson, Jamie Skipper Joe Jacklin and Daniel Cunningham in NVQ 3 qualifications. “Like other companies we have an ageing workforce in the print department, and the industry is limited on where you can learn new skills,” said human resources advisor Louise Webster. “We needed to develop internally, plan for retirements and put in place succession planning.” For competition entry information visit www.bensongroup.co.uk...

The winner will undertake two weeks of work experience at the Midlands-based company, which was praised by Leicester College last month for an outstanding contribution to training apprentices. The firm is working with long-standing client Willie’s Cacao and is challenging packaging students to design a cartonboard gift box for goodies for its Chocolate Club members. The pack will be delivered to the homes of club members on a monthly basis and will be targeted at people aged between 35 to 65. Entrants studying part- or full-time at art school, a college or university in the UK or overseas must register online by 30 August. The winner will work in the design studio at the group’s HQ in Bardon, Leicestershire. Marketing manager Nikki Clark said: “This represents a tremendous opportunity for students to promote their abilities and talents to a huge audience.” Clark, Willie’s Cacao owner Willie Harcourt-Cooze and Gwyn Davies, design director at creative agency BrandOpus, will judge the entries. Harcourt-Cooze said: “I want people to experience some of the awakening I did: the zing of fruit or nut flavours that are the product of genetics, soil and climate.” Benson Group creates packaging for Two Sisters Food Group, Reckitt Benckiser and Samworth Brothers and clocks up annual sales of £120m. In June Leicester College praised the company for training four apprentices, Becky Timson, Jamie Skipper Joe Jacklin and Daniel Cunningham in NVQ 3 qualifications. “Like other companies we have an ageing workforce in the print department, and the industry is limited on where you can learn new skills,” said human resources advisor Louise Webster. “We needed to develop internally, plan for retirements and put in place succession planning.” For competition entry information visit www.bensongroup.co.uk...

This particular PaperlinX and World Land Trust certification has also been awarded to fourteen printers, including Healeys Print Group, Potts Print (UK) and 21 Colour. The scheme involves a firm inputting its primary energy consumption figures using an online calculator. These figures are then verified by the Edinburgh Centre of Carbon Management (ECCM) using evidence submitted by the printer. The ECCM also approves the methodology and conversion factor used by PaperLinX. “Unavoidable carbon emissions” are offset through The World Land Trust’s land purchase initiatives, where ecologically important forest areas under threat of clearance are purchased. The business is then licensed for 12 months to use a Carbon Balanced Publication logo on jobs using carbon balanced paper and which are registered online. Paul Bussingham, business development manager at Media Print Group said: “We want to be as strong as possible environmentally. We chose The World Land Trust because they are saving critically threatened forest.” He added: “In the future government legislation is going to drive most to carbon offset anyway. And while clients aren’t necessarily demanding this, it’s a nice add-on. We are always looking for an edge and this will give us that edge.” Jonathan Tame, carbon reduction and environment manager at PaperlinX, said: “This scheme is unique because the benefits are wider than carbon removal. It’s about preserving very high value areas of forest.” He added: “There are of course different market options for carbon offsetting now and I think choice is good- people can find the best option for them.”...

This particular PaperlinX and World Land Trust certification has also been awarded to fourteen printers, including Healeys Print Group, Potts Print (UK) and 21 Colour. The scheme involves a firm inputting its primary energy consumption figures using an online calculator. These figures are then verified by the Edinburgh Centre of Carbon Management (ECCM) using evidence submitted by the printer. The ECCM also approves the methodology and conversion factor used by PaperLinX. “Unavoidable carbon emissions” are offset through The World Land Trust’s land purchase initiatives, where ecologically important forest areas under threat of clearance are purchased. The business is then licensed for 12 months to use a Carbon Balanced Publication logo on jobs using carbon balanced paper and which are registered online. Paul Bussingham, business development manager at Media Print Group said: “We want to be as strong as possible environmentally. We chose The World Land Trust because they are saving critically threatened forest.” He added: “In the future government legislation is going to drive most to carbon offset anyway. And while clients aren’t necessarily demanding this, it’s a nice add-on. We are always looking for an edge and this will give us that edge.” Jonathan Tame, carbon reduction and environment manager at PaperlinX, said: “This scheme is unique because the benefits are wider than carbon removal. It’s about preserving very high value areas of forest.” He added: “There are of course different market options for carbon offsetting now and I think choice is good- people can find the best option for them.”...