International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global opportunity to celebrate the achievements and impact of women across all sectors. At CDS Print Services, it also provides a meaningful moment to champion the women who are shaping the future of print, challenging long‑standing norms, and driving representation within a traditionally male‑dominated industry.
This year, we asked women across CDS what IWD means to them — and their reflections highlight a shared belief in visibility, progress, and empowerment.
For Sian Buckland, visibility isn’t optional — it’s vital for unlocking opportunity:
“International Women’s Day is a reminder to recognise the contribution women make across all industries, especially in sectors where they may not always be highly visible. Visibility matters because representation changes perceptions. When women see others succeeding in technical and production roles, it makes those paths feel accessible and achievable.”
Her insight captures a central theme echoed across the business: representation inspires confidence and creates new possibilities.
Katie Tillotson sees International Women’s Day as a moment for collective empowerment:
“International Women’s Day is a celebration of, and for all women! It’s about all the women who have, are and will stand together to make a positive difference. It’s important that our contributions are seen, recognised and celebrated… to ensure equality continues to improve.”
Many contributors reflected on progress already made, and the work still ahead.
Claire Blythe, Michelle Watkins and Claire Brown emphasised the importance of celebrating resilience and women’s leadership in industries where they have long been under‑represented.
Claire Brown noted that visibility
“…inspires younger generations to take that step into print, feel confident in their abilities, and see real opportunities for growth and leadership.”
Nicole Fletcher spoke passionately about promoting equal opportunity in print, regardless of gender:
She believes in equality “based on merit and skills,” emphasising that women make up 50% of the population — and therefore 50% of the audience that print serves. She encourages women to be “tenacious” and to drive change where they see it’s needed.
Kirsty Colley reinforced this with her point around seeing “more women in some of the predominantly male‑dominated roles within the print industry”.
Carrera McGrath highlighted the influential role women can play in encouraging others into print:
She noted that the voice of a woman reaching out to another can often be “more persuasive,” helping attract more women into the industry.
Her insight captures the importance of mentorship, advocacy, and shared experience.
Across every voice in our team, one message is clear:
“International Women’s Day is both a celebration of women’s impact and a call to keep pushing for progress.”
At CDS Print Services, we remain committed to:
The insights from our team remind us that change happens when visibility, opportunity, and support come together.
We’ve captured these powerful messages in a dedicated IWD video — celebrating the women of CDS, their achievements, and their vision for the future of print.
Look out for more content from the CDS Print Services team over the course of the week, as we continue our focus celebrating Women in Print over the course of the next week.
If you are keen to find out more about working with CDS Print Services, please email on info@cds-print.co.uk or send your enquiry through our Contact Us page.
With our focus this week being on celebrating Women In Print, we also recommend the following site for their vision in providing a platform for women working in the design and print industry to showcase the wealth of creative talent we have in the north of England. Link