Printing runs in Fife family

ROSYTH PRINTER Pandaprint has marked 35 years in business with a record turnover of nearly £2 million — but the family firm has its roots in Scottish printing going back more than 100 years.

On top of the 6% increase from £1.73m, the pre-tax profit rose 40% to £300,000.

Owner JamesWilson’s grandfather, also James, established James Wilson & Company in Dunfermline in 1911.

The business was initially the Wilson Business Institute, a school for shorthand typing, and the printing side was a sideline.

Gradually printing became the main part of the business, which was passed down to the original owner’s son Robert shortly after the Second World War.

His son James Jr joined the family firm in 1969 before taking over from his father in 1974.

Following a highly successful decade, James Wilson & Company was sold in the early 1980s to a plc, with James Wilson retained as its managing director before he left to pursue other business interests.

He later bought over Pandaprint, which had been established in 1979, and is part of a massive UK industry with a £14 billion turnover.

A fourth generation of the Wilsons has maintained the family’s connection with the industry, with son Mark Wilson now production director of Pandaprint.

James said: “Printing has changed since before the First World War when my grandfather got the ball rolling, and for our family to still be in the industry at this time is pretty unusual.

“I guess we are all rubber-stamped with the printer trademark.”

Mark added: “We have the family background and pedigree, and I know a lot of our customers believe there is integrity and experience because of that. So, yes, printing definitely runs through our veins.”

James continued: “We may have moved from physical typesetting to everything being organised by the touch of a button, but the principles remain the same. We are hired to do a job, and we pride ourselves on the excellence of our work and ultimately the product.”

To prove the family feel, out of Pandaprint’s 23 employees four have served for more than 25 years.

James added: “This highlights the fact that they are unquestionably part of the Pandaprint family, which we hope will continue to flourish for many years to come.”

Pandaprint has a number of high-profile public and private-sector clients and is a Scottish Government approved supplier. business@thecourier.co.uk

Pandaprint’s James and Mark Wilson.