Bishops feels the local love

Print Solutions

Portsmouth based Bishops Printers Ltd has revealed the importance to the company during the pandemic period of other businesses in the area.

A significant local employer and one of the largest commercial printers in the south, the company was hit hard by the cancellation of sports, arts and business events in particular. Overnight, the business shrank by 70%.

While Bishops continue to produce matchday programmes for prestige football clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and Portsmouth, managing director Gareth Roberts explained that it has not been the supposed glamour of these contracts that have helped the company through a difficult last year.

‘We might be known for the programmes we do, and most notably our long association with Pompey, but in reality, it is the local business from right across the Solent area that has helped us survive the last 12 months,’ he said. With 10% of households in the south east and 18% in Portsmouth classified as ‘workless’ in 2020 (according to official labour statistics – Nomis) it is a welcome sign that Bishops can now positively contribute to reducing those figures. Having like many others had a painful year, Gareth is delighted to report that the 35 year old firm is once again ‘on the up’. ‘We have been recruiting again in all areas of the business, but the fact that we are still here and able to do so

Bishops recognises the ongoing recovery is due in part to its customers continuing to recognise the versatility and cost effectiveness of print. When marketing budgets are under pressure, or a business is looking for a tactile reminder, one of the oldest mediums can still deliver.