Investing in Young People: The Great Common Sense Debate...
At Graphic Warehouse, we’re passionate about investing in young people. It’s not just about filling vacancies — it’s about future-proofing the print industry and nurturing the next generation of skilled problem solvers.
Yet, there’s a phrase we hear all too often: “Young people today don’t have any common sense.”
We believe that’s not just misleading — it’s holding businesses back.
Am I Wrong ?
What is "common sense," really? 🤔
Many of us think of common sense as universal, self-evident knowledge. But look closer, and you’ll see it’s actually contextual, built from experience, exposure, and learning.
A simple example: my generation (and many in the print industry) grew up wiring plugs, diagnosing brake noises, and fixing machines on the fly. We call it common sense, but really, it’s accumulated knowledge gained over years of hands-on work.
Today’s young people might not know how to wire a plug — but they instinctively know how to navigate complex software, troubleshoot digital issues, or collaborate online. They bring different problem-solving strengths, shaped by the world they’ve grown up in.
Why this matters for the print industry
The print industry is built on practical knowledge and creative problem-solving. But if we don’t actively train and support young people, that practical skill base will vanish.
At Graphic Warehouse, we have chosen to tackle this head-on. Through apprenticeships, mentoring, and a “grow your own” approach, we equip young people not just with technical skills, but with the confidence to learn, experiment, and ask questions.
We’ve learned that young employees often see problems differently — and sometimes more innovatively — than older generations. They bring fresh thinking to traditional challenges, from new ways to automate production to modern marketing strategies.
Rethinking our expectations
If leaders continue to judge young people by outdated measures of “common sense,” we risk missing out on their true potential.
Rather than lamenting what they “should” know, we must:
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Recognise the value of different skill sets.
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Offer structured opportunities to build hands-on experience.
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Create safe spaces for learning and making mistakes.
At Graphic Warehouse, we see the results every day: our young team members grow into adaptable, skilled professionals who help drive our business forward — not in spite of their differences, but because of them.
Investing today for tomorrow
If we don’t invest in young people now, we won’t have a future generation of print specialists, engineers, or creative problem solvers. We’ll lose valuable knowledge, and the industry will stagnate.
We believe it’s time for all businesses — especially in print and manufacturing — to look inward and ask:
Are we holding on to outdated definitions of common sense?
Are we creating opportunities to nurture the next generation?
Join the debate
We’d love to hear from other leaders, colleagues, and educators:
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How are you investing in young people?
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What have you learned about adapting your expectations?
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How can we work together to keep our industry alive and thriving?
Let’s stop blaming “lack of common sense” and start building shared knowledge, together.
Let me know your thoughts!
Richard McCombe
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