Ellie McBeath, account manager at Edinburgh-based direct marketing specialist, The Dragonfly Agency, was the recipient of this year’s inaugural Bright Futures Award at the SMP awards. We spoke to Ellie to find out about how it feels to win, and what her hopes are for the future of print.

How does it feel to win/what does it mean for you to win this award?

I am over the moon! It really was a shock, I’m not used to winning anything. I felt super proud to be in a category of all women and all amazing women at that. I am a big supporter of women having a voice and a presence in a male dominated industry, so it was a real honour to win that award.

Why do you think the Bright Futures Award is important for the print industry?

We work in an exciting, evolving world so an award like this is great for recognising the people at the early stages of their career and even more so women in business.

How do you think the Bright Futures Award can impact the industry going forward?

I think that it will encourage young professionals to really immerse themselves in the resources, training and insight that is out there to further your career. It will hopefully encourage everyone to be the pioneers and cheerleaders for the mail industry.

What are your hopes for the future of the print industry?

I hope that technology innovation continues to maximise and support what print can achieve. It needs to be embraced, understood, and utilised across the whole print industry to streamline processes and make the channel faster, cheaper, and smarter.

How do you think the SMP Awards benefit the industry?

The SMP alone does so much for this industry constantly challenging the norm and inspiring. It was my first time at the awards, and it meant that everyone comes together and recognises the incredible work that is being produced. It inspires and energises a room!

How do you think the SMP can benefit the print and mail industry going forward?

Lean on the younger generation! There are a lot of people who have been in the industry a long time who have unbelievable knowledge but there is something to be said for the young, fresh minds out there! 17–25-year-olds are the most engaged with mail so why not ask marketeers of the same age for their input?

Do you think the Bright Futures Award can inspire more young people to join the print and mail industry?

Definitely! It’s sexier than it sounds!

Tell us about your personal industry journey?

I started at Dragonfly during my university placement year. They very kindly offered me a full-time position for when I graduated. I have gone from intern to an account manager in five years which I am really proud of. The first thing I was told was to lean on people, so our amazing network of suppliers and my team have taught me everything I know. Dragonfly really are the best team to work with!

What do you love most about the industry?

The smell of ink…kidding! Just how supportive everyone is of each other. No matter what is happening, I know that there will always be someone that will bail me out or support me. I have gone to lots of printers over the years with dramas and everyone wants to help. I also love that every day is a school day, we are constantly learning.

What advice would you give to other young people considering a career in print and mail?

There are SO many areas to explore, it’s not just ink and paper. There really is a role for everyone in this industry.

Where do you see your career taking you in the industry?

I hope to keep climbing that career ladder! Hopefully continuing to do what I do now but keep on developing and learning from people around me and the resources I have access to.

Head to our membership page to find out more about how the SMP supports young talent like Ellie. If you’d like to discuss how we can support you, get in touch with our team.