July 2026

Retention is becoming one of the biggest workforce challenges across the global Print and Packaging sector. While recruitment remains difficult in many specialist areas, businesses are increasingly recognising that replacing experienced operational, technical, and commercial talent is becoming more disruptive, expensive, and operationally risky. The industry continues to operate under pressure from: Skills shortages. Leadership […]

The Print and Packaging talent market is becoming increasingly global. Manufacturers are no longer competing solely within local or regional markets for leadership, technical, and commercial talent. Businesses across the UK, Europe, and the United States are increasingly drawing from the same international talent pools. At the same time: Supply chains continue evolving. Manufacturing investment

Sustainability is rapidly reshaping the global Print and Packaging sector. What was once viewed primarily as a compliance issue is now becoming a major commercial, operational, and customer-driven priority. Across global markets, businesses are facing increasing pressure from: Customers demanding more sustainable packaging solutions. ESG reporting expectations. Investor scrutiny. Regulatory change. Consumer preference shifts around

Automation and digital transformation are reshaping the global Print and Packaging sector at pace. Manufacturers across the UK, Europe, and the United States continue to invest heavily in: Smart factory capability. Robotics and automated converting systems. AI-driven production planning. Workflow automation. Predictive maintenance technologies. Data-led manufacturing environments. The pressure driving this investment is significant. According

Commercial hiring across the global Print and Packaging sector is changing rapidly. Businesses are increasingly moving beyond traditional sales profiles and prioritising commercial leaders who understand: Manufacturing environments. Operational pressures. Supply chain complexity. Sustainability requirements. Margin management. As customer expectations evolve, commercial teams are under growing pressure to: Deliver profitable growth. Build strategic customer partnerships.

Technical capability is becoming one of the most important competitive differentiators across the global Print and Packaging sector. As manufacturers continue investing in: Automation. Smart manufacturing. Digital workflows. Sustainable materials innovation. Advanced converting technologies. the demand for highly skilled technical professionals continues to accelerate globally. At the same time, the available talent pool is tightening.

Operational performance is becoming one of the defining competitive differentiators across the global Print and Packaging sector. Manufacturers are continuing to operate under pressure from: Rising operational and energy costs. Labour shortages. Margin compression. Supply chain volatility. Increasing customer expectations around quality, speed, and sustainability. At the same time, automation investment and manufacturing transformation are

The global Print and Packaging sector is entering a major leadership transition period. Across the UK, Europe, and the United States, many businesses continue to rely heavily on experienced operational, technical, and commercial leaders who hold decades of sector expertise, customer relationships, and manufacturing knowledge. At the same time, the industry is evolving rapidly through: