9th July saw 2026’s Rising Star Awards winner constellation shining brightly at the annual winner celebration at the House of Lords.
Printing Charity President Emeritus and long-standing Rising Star Award supporter Lord Black of Brentwood hosted the ceremony for 82 winners, who between them represent the sheer range and diversity of career paths and roles available within the print sector. 59% are working in the charity’s core sectors: print, paper and packaging.
The Printing Charity is investing over £111,000 in the futures of this year’s winners. This translates to funding for 155 courses, covering training and development to build our Stars’ skills in areas ranging from vehicle wrapping, UX and textile printing to sustainability, digital engagement, accountancy, and AI.
This year, 43% of courses selected were for personal development, including project management, public speaking, leadership and management, and coaching to make genuine connections, all helping build truly transferrable skills to support progression and success in any job role.
This year saw a 41% increase in winners working in technical roles, highlighting winners’ commitment to professional development that will help drive print’s high-tech future forward.
“One look at the content of the courses funded through this year’s Rising Star Awards emphasises the huge potential for people to build a successful career in any discipline within our sector. This is part of the sector’s superpower.
It also shows the determination of people starting out in their careers to effectively equip themselves for a rapidly-evolving future by concentrating on studying personal skills and capabilities to support their growth, regardless of where their career paths take them. With this in mind, it was right to extend the award age range to 35, acknowledging that, more than ever, careers are unlikely to be linear, and so providing support for people making a later career pivot to join the sector, and those determined to upskill to take advantage of new opportunities as they arise.”
Visit The Printing Charity website to learn more about this year’s winners:
Aaron Leishman – Bluetree Group
Cuong Dinh – Bluetree Group
Millie Jackson – Bluetree Group
Abby King – Shotton Mill Ltd
Adam Dobbie – Newsprinters EuroCentral
Alexandra Bartholomew – University of Strathclyde
Alice Tradewell – Liverpool University Press
Laura Neilson – Liverpool University Press
Melissa Thomas – Liverpool University Press
Amber Hardman – Signs Express Ltd
Lily Mayneord – Signs Express Ltd
Michelle Huggins – Signs Express Ltd
Amy Douglas – SAGE Publishing
Amy Elkheart – Elkheart Editorial
Anagha Suresh – Precision Proco
Anna Sofija Pranevska – Tungate Group
Anthony Pearson – CJ Strain & Sons
Barbara Grotta – Imago Group
Beatrice Spencer – Very Displays
Becki Hiskey – Fedrigoni UK Ltd
Callum David – Eurostampa UK
Carys Evans – Karis Copp Media
Catherine Edwards – MPS Marketing Services Ltd
Francesca Baker – MPS Marketing Services Ltd
Celine MacLeod – Penguin Random House UK
Heidi Appleton – Penguin Random House UK
Daryl Hutton – Eastern Exhibition & Display
Declan Connolly – Open Eye Gallery
Edward Chesterman – Futureprint (part of FM Future Limited)
Emily May-Gordon – Art Angels
Madison Powlesland – Art Angels
Emma Ferguson – Emerald Publishing Limited
Emma Huzzard – Qualvis Print & Packaging Ltd
Joe Borland – Qualvis Print & Packaging Ltd
Felix Pope – Freelance
Finn Haunch – Oxford University Press
Hannah Davenport – PrintWeek
Han Noss – Freelance
Harriet Hirshman – Dead Ink Books
Harrison Dyehouse – Budget Paper Supplies Ltd
Harvey Stephens-Dunn – Budget Paper Supplies Ltd
Michael Uff – Budget Paper Supplies Ltd
Hayley Moss – Watkins Media Ltd
Isobel Arnold – Paragon
Melissa Oakley – Paragon
Olly Nicholls – Paragon
Jack Blyth – Northern Flags and Faber Exposize UK
Jack MacIver – University of Glasgow Print Unit
Katie Hanlon – University of Glasgow Print Unit
Jade Biss – Canon UK
Rimal Khan – Canon UK
Jasmine Owens – Freelance
Jessica Jackson – Kimberly-Clark
Jingye Liu – APP (Calington Ltd)
Jordan Howe – Screen Europe (UK)
Josh Middleton – Smurfit Westrock
Matthew Walker – Smurfit Westrock
Melissa MacIntyre – Smurfit Westrock
Jude Corless – Hybrid Services Ltd
Kierian Cameron – House of Cult Brands Ltd
Latifah Salaudeen – ProPack Direct Mail Ltd
Lee Spivey – Springfield Solutions Ltd (All 4 Labels Group)
Libby Clifford – Make it Happen Signage Consultancy Ltd
Lily Kehoe – Manchester University Press (University of Manchester)
Lisa Shepherd – MBA Group
Patryk Bebech – MBA Group
Lucy Ashworth – LSE Press
Marco Suttie – Freelance journalist
Maya Sales-Hyde – Pushkin Press Ltd
Mohammed Rahit Choudhury – DS Smith
Natalie Haytayan – Harkwell Labels Ltd
Nathan Mclauchlan-Welsh – MTWO Search
Paula Moreno – Durnell Marketing Ltd
Peyton Stableford – Pellerin Books
Priyanka Joshi – Cambridge University Press and Assessment
Savannah Dale – University of Plymouth
Sophie Porteous – HarperCollins UK Ltd
Tamsin Shattock – KGK Genix (Essex) Ltd
Thomas Anderson – BBC Leeds (Freelance)
Tomisin Chuka – Tradeprint
Wesley Duffy – Edward Elgar Publishing
Zoe Lovell – James Cropper plc
