AN independent press and publishing company where one of the directors is 86, is backing a Welsh Government campaign designed to challenge age stereotypes.

Gomer Press, in Llandysul, has joined the ‘People Don't Have a Best Before Date’ campaign, which encourages business owners to build an all-age workforce.

People Don't Have a Best Before Date is encouraging firms to recruit, retain and retrain older workers, as by 2022 one in three people of working age in Wales will be over the age of 50.

Gomer Press employs 60 people, around 50 per cent of whom are over 50 at its headquarters and on-site printing press.

Established in 1892, it’s the oldest printing company and publishing house in Wales - Jonathan Lewis, the great grandson of the company’s founder, is managing director aged 57. His father, and company director, John H Lewis, 86, still takes an active role in the daily running of the business.

The company owns the rights to popular Welsh cartoon character Sali Mali and some of its clients include Imperial War Museum, Kew Gardens and several other independent publishers across Wales and the UK.

Pît Dafis, 60, joined in 1974 as an apprentice and is one of the most experienced members of the team after 44 years with the company. He’s now a senior estimator, calculating costs for printing projects, a job which requires knowledge of every aspect of the business.

He said: “Every day I’m in contact with clients and using my knowledge of everything in the print process from pagination to foil blocking and book binding. You have to have a good eye and be a perfectionist.”

Printing was in the family - all four maternal uncles were printers and Pît’s uncle ran a shop in Cardigan.

“I used to go there in the school holidays and from the age of eight, I was doing odd jobs for my uncle. They used to print horse racing programmes,” said Pît, who now lives in Talgarreg.

“My mum didn’t want me to become a printer, but I was immediately hooked on the buzz. I don’t think many people have a clue just how much work goes into creating a book and I’m still fascinated by the process.

“I’ve never wanted to read a book on a computer. There’s nothing like the feel and smell of a quality book.”

The dad-of-two works with a team of eight people, where the youngest is 26.

He said: “I love working with a mixed age-group. Young workers have enthusiasm and us older workers get excited about teaching them our trade. It’s a mix that works really well and I’d encourage other employers to strive for an all-age workforce as there are benefits for the whole team.”

Financial controller, Eirian Davies, has been working at the company for five years and says an all-age workforce is important.

Eirian said: “Myself and others have learned so much about the printing industry from people like Pît and he’s always willing to give up his time. It’s not an industry you can just walk into and get straight to work - there’s a lot to learn. You need to respect the machines and you can’t learn this trade from a book.

“We want to bring in younger people, too, and we currently have openings for apprentices. They learn from the older members of staff who have given years to the industry.”