The National Association of Paper Merchants

Helen was presented with her award at the NAPM Annual Dinner on Thursday 17^th April 2008 by Alistair Gough, the new President of the NAPM. She attained the overall highest marks in all of the NAPM’s Introductory Certificate courses run in 2007.

Helen says:

“I am a 29 year old business graduate and joined Howard Smith Paper in February 2007. I was given the opportunity to complete the NAPM course early in my career and I saw it as an opportunity to gain an industry specific qualification. I am currently the internal support for the Creative Papers Team who look after approximately 3200 designers within the UK with our environmental portfolio of specified grades.

Working in the design industry with tangible products means there is a creative element to my role and a sense of satisfaction helping designers differentiate their work. The industry is continually evolving as customers demands increase, and working for a company who pre-empts these changes and provides tailored products allows me to be continually challenged and to develop my job role.

From very early on at the company I saw the positive and refreshing approach the company has to developing members of staff and was pleased at being given the opportunity to go on the course. Howard Smith is a unique and progressive company who encourage employee communication and there is an extremely enjoyable working atmosphere with people approachable throughout the management structure. The satisfaction of achieving Student of the Year was well worth the additional effort I put in to the course and I hope that it will provide a stepping stone to forge a successful career within the Howard Smith Paper Group”.