Pepper News
HAPPY NEW YEAR - FREE DESKTOP CALENDARS!
27th December 2007
 |
 |
We hope you enjoyed your festive break. We certainly did, but now its back to the grind stone. To help you in the year ahead why |
don't you check out our new desktop calendar with a sweet and simple theme. If you’d like to receive one for free to brighten up you desk all year round just click here and send in your name and address and we’ll send one out to you completely free.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ACCOUNT MANAGER JAMIE AHEARN
8th December 2007
Special Congratulations are in order for account manager Jamie Ahearn and girlfriend Mel Miller on the safe arrival of Chloe their first daughter on December 3rd, the best Christmas Present they could have wished for!
LAST CHRISTMAS POST DATES
3rd December 2007
These are the latest dates that you can send post and guarantee that it's there before Christmas. Don't get caught out!
- Standard parcels: Friday 14th December
- 2nd Class, Mailsort 2, Presstream 2: Monday 17th December
- 1st Class, Mailsort 1, Presstream 1: Thursday 20th December
- Special Deliveries: Saturday 22nd December
CHRISTMAS OFFICE HOURS
3rd December 2007
This year we will be shutting up shop over the festive period from 3pm on Christmas Eve 24th December and coming back to work in a brand new year on the 2nd January! Please ensure if you have jobs that you need around this time is booked in with your account manager, and never fear our trusty production will continue to run through out the Christmas period to ensure all your jobs arrive on time.
EPRO SWITCHES TO OBA
29th November 2007
On the 30th November Epro will become a read only system and the OBA (Online Business Account) system will replace it. OBA's are the new online docketing system, or orders as they are now called.
See how the new Online Business Account is different from E*Pro
E*Pro |
OBA |
Only one order can be placed at a time |
Order multiple products at the same time and create order templates for future transactions. |
Can be difficult to view invoices on E*Pro™ retail |
Easy to locate and pay for invoices |
Save your orders to create a Statement of Mailing if you work off-line |
Save your orders throughout the day and return to them when you want |
Need to contact Royal Mail to set-up new users |
Control access to your account within your company, and externally to mailing houses. |
For information on OBA's speak to one of our account managers or click here to view the Royal Mail pages and set up your own account.
ENVIRO FOCUS- B8555 RE-ACCREDITATION AND FSC TRAINING
20th November 2007
This month we are pleased to announce our re-accreditation of B8555 the standard for environmental management systems from the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. This goes to show that the environmental management systems that were put in place are still working and have evolved with the company over the last year. We have clearly demonstrated measurable improvement in our green practices.
We also welcomed Paddy Byrne from Premier paper who gave our staff an insight into FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). These are mile stones on the road to our goal to achieve FSC and PEFC accreditation by the end on January 2008 and our on going commitment to the environment and ISO14001 accreditation. To view a small presentation on FSC and PEFC Click here.
NEW HEIDELBERG POLAR 92X GUILLOTINE
15th November 2007
We are always striving to keep on the very cutting edge of technology, which seems apt, having just installed our new guillotine, the POLAR 92X. It is specified with stacklift, air tables, jogger and unloading device to aid the user and increase efficiency.
"Materials handling is right to keep staff well and fit and the jogger really does help with the accuracy of the cut. We can produce up to 100 cuts in a single sheet so the programmability is important to us," says Jude Whitford, Commercial director.
This guillotine replaces a ten-year-old machine and is our first X series cutter so we will benefit from the improved Optiknife knife changing device and the overall build and quality of POLAR’s tenth generation product.
This combined with our investment in a new stitchline last month brings our recent investment to £300,000. Both machines can be JDF-networked and this is important to the future plans of Pepper Communications.
MEET THE TEAM - EMMA STAYS FULL-TIME
20th November 2007
We're delighted to say that Emma Golley has now joined us full time. Emma is one of our in-house design team and initially joined us a little over a year ago as maternity cover for Judith Hardasty. Judith has decided to hang up her mouse in favour of looking after her baby and enjoying the family life and we wish her the best of luck.
NEW HEIDELBERG STITCHLINE
20th October 2007
We have just taken delivery of our Stitchmaster ST 350 saddlestitcher. It is the professional solution for a wide range of applications, capable of speeds up to 12,000 cycles per hour. What this means to our clients is improved efficiency, reliability and even better quality for all your booklets, brochures and multi page bound work. For full specifications on this machine please visit the Heidelberg website.
DMC NOW FULLY INTEGRATED INTO PEPPER
3rd October 2007
Way back in June 2005 Pepper took over the Plymouth branch of Ailec and renamed it The Direct Mailing Company (DMC). Since then plans have been afoot to integrate with Pepper. Now that process is complete with the production side of DMC having moved in to the new factory extension which was recently completed, and key account managers Mandy and Paul moved into the offices. We are now one big happy family and your one stop shop for quality print, mailing and related services. Check our DM pages to see how we could help with your mailing campaigns.
MY MY HOW YOU'VE GROWN
25th September 2007
We’re proud to say we’ve grown! Last year we experienced sales growth of 25% with a further growth this year of 35% in the first 6 months. We’d like to thank all of you that have contributed to our success and hope that we can all grow together. In particular we’d like to thank our team here with out them none of the magic would happen!
PEPPER BECOMES CORPORATE MEMBERS OF THE DEVON WILDLIFE TRUST
20th September 2007
We are now fully fledged corporate members of the Devon Wildlife Trust, highlighting our commitment to the county's environment in which our manufacturing base is situated.
The DWT was established as a registered charity in 1962, and has a unique and influential position. Unique because it is the only organisation concerned with all aspects of wildlife conservation in Devon. Influential because it is a member of The Wildlife Trusts partnership, a nationwide network dedicated to the achievement of a UK richer in wildlife. We are proud to support our local environment. Check out our environmental pages for more on Pepper and the environment.
STEVE SAUNDERS COMPLETES DIGITAL PRINT NVQ
19th September 2007
Steve Saunders has successfully completed his NVQ Level 2 with Plymouth College of Art and Design (PCAD). Steve is a print apprentice and this qualification was based on producing a portfolio of evidence which included samples of work, problem solving and health and safety.
Every 6 weeks Steve attended PCAD to have his portfolio looked over and participate in key skills sessions. In between college visits his tutors would visit twice to observe him working and to monitor his progress with feedback from management.
Steve is now pioneering the digital print level 3 NVQ with the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) the first year the course has been run to this level. Good Luck Steve!
MEET THE TEAM
15th March 2007
Click on Jamie to get to know him a little better!
ENVIRO FOCUS - PEPPER PLANTS 80 TREES
8th March 2007
With the builders finally packing up and about to hand over the keys to the new extension, we have been busy doing our sums on the environmental impact of the project.
As a result of this 80 brand new trees have been planted on site. Not only does this offset the carbon footprint of the build but it also looks pretty damn good too! Somewhere nice and shady to enjoy our lunch in the long summer months ahead.
PEPPER CELEBRATES 25 YEARS IN THE PRINT INDUSTRY
10th January 2007
This year Pepper is celebrating its 25th anniversary. It was started all those years ago (then called Design & Print) at Holly Court in Plymouth by Managing Director Steve Whitford. Building on experience that he had gained from working at a print works in Essex he decided to go it alone and start afresh in his home town.
In 1982 in a small 800sq ft unit with a basic single colour Heidelberg press it began and quickly grew over the next 6 years to accommodate the three neighbouring units. At this stage in 1989 Plymouth City Council offered a much larger 7,500sq ft factory at Langage.
Pepper continued to grow and after 11 years had again out grown its surroundings, moving to a purpose built 16,500sq ft factory up the road to the Science Park in 2000, changing names from Design & Print to Pepper Communications just ahead of the move.
Another 7 years on and the final phase of the factory has been built, doubling its size ready for the arrival of The Direct Mailing Company, which Pepper acquired in 2005 completing the print and mailing one site integration.
Pepper has grown from a one man band to a 40 employee strong company with a good heritage that has stood the test of time. It is a true family business, Vicki, Steve's wife joined to help with paper work in the late 80's and during the time at Langage his eldest sons Jude and Seth fresh from university also joined the company. Jake arrived in time to help project manage the move to the Science Park and now the extension is complete Saul the youngest sibling will shortly be joining as well.
Now we’re looking forward to the next 25 years.
