The Scottish Alliance of Masters in the Printing and Kindred Trades, now known as Print Scotland, was formed at a meeting in the North British Hotel (now the Balmoral) in Edinburgh on 8 November 1910 to represent the interests of printing employers throughout Scotland. It has gone through several name changes, becoming the Scottish Alliance of Master Printers in 1952, then the Society of Master Printers of Scotland in 1960 and the Scottish Print Employers Federation in 1991. From 2010 it was known as Graphic Enterprise Scotland. There is a list of past presidents with a photo gallery, and the centenary history Mechanical to digital printing in Scotland by Professor John Gennard is available through our online shop.
Click on the links below to see lists of office bearers and member companies (grouped by local association) over the period 19231983.
Society of Master Printers of Scotland 1964
Society of Master Printers of Scotland 1973
Society of Master Printers of Scotland 1983
There was also an active Young Master Printers Group, which held its first conference in St Andrews in 1928. A short history was written to mark the 50th anniversary of its foundation.
Local associations were the mainstay of the employers organisation: these were:
- Aberdeen Printing and Kindred Trades Employers Association. First met in November 1912: branch formed March 1918
- Ayrshire Printing and Kindred Trades Employers Association. First met in 1914: branch formed November 1918
- Central Counties Printing and Kindred Trades Employers Association. Branch formed May 1919
- Dumfries and Galloway Master Printers Association
- Dundee Printing and Kindred Trades Employers Association. First met in October 1910: branch formed February 1917
- Edinburgh Printing and Kindred Trades Employers Association. First met prior to 1792: branch formed April, 1917: a list of EMPS presidents 19171991 has been compiled
- Fifeshire Printing and Kindred Trades Employers Association. Branch formed 1920
- Forfarshire Printing and Kindred Trades Employers Association. Branch formed May 1919
- Glasgow District Printing and Kindred Trades Employers Association. First met in December 1876: branch formed April 1917
- Greenock Master Printers AssociationLanarkshire District Printing and Kindred Trades Employers Association. Branch formed March 1926
- Northern Counties Printing and Kindred Trades Employers Association. Branch formed December 1920
- Perth Printing and Kindred Trades Employers Association. First met in early 1918. Branch formed June 1918
- Scottish Border District Printing and Kindred Trade Employers Association. Branch formed July 1919
SPRAT is grateful for support from The Watson Foundation