ICG leverages technology, creative leadership, and core values to deliver cutting-edge communications
Integrity Communications Group (ICG) is a £70-million print and communications business, supporting clients in the UK and worldwide with its innovative, technology-driven solutions. With a diverse range of brands spanning customer communications, labels, security print and print, ICG has undergone a remarkable transformation since its acquisition by current CEO Mark Cornford in 2008. The company, formerly known as MCAARP Holdings, rebranded as ICG in October 2023.
The individual companies that form ICG are all experts in their field, each with their own unique style and approach, employing people who understand the challenges of the markets they serve. The group’s philosophy is to enable each of its business leaders to think creatively, act with agility and build teams that deliver exceptional service, providing the structure and oversight for good business practice without stifling the behaviors that breed success.
ICG is a business with integrity at its heart, built on trust, powered by passion and focused on excellence. These are the foundations on which the group has been built and each company within ICG subscribes to shared core values and is driven to achieve a collective vision.
Following our last conversation with the company in 2023, Mark joins us to share insight into how the business has progressed. “I’ve been delighted with the rebrand,” he enthuses. “I’m very proud of how it reflects the evolving group offering. Customers have contacted me to tell me that the new brand is more effectively showcasing the breadth of our offering, and we have seen an uplift in direct contacts through the new website from both new customers and existing customers who had not previously been aware of some of the capabilities we are able to provide.
“In terms of operations, I have been particularly pleased with the development and growth of our Labels division,” he continues, “with sales growing by nearly 20 percent. We have continued to invest in digital print and finishing equipment, enabling business wins in the food and beverage sector by creating high impact label products.
“Additionally, our Security division has been able to accelerate export growth with new markets opening in Libya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Event ticketing is also expanding into new markets with a signature win being the Milan Winter Olympics. A key focus for me has been our ability to drive revenue from things other than print, such as supporting digital transformation projects and selling technology-driven solutions like digital membership cards and e-ticketing.
“Our technical development teams have been working on some highly innovative solutions for clients, working on several key projects that have delivered truly groundbreaking services,” he continues. “We have launched an e-ticket solution for a Southwest council that enables residents to access services such as parking and council facilities at free or discounted prices. We have also worked with SpecSavers to build an online portal to enable e-delivery of eye test vouchers to corporate clients. The team have also developed a digital membership card to support clients wanting to integrate member services into a digital wallet.”
Asked whether the business had recently implemented any new technologies or innovations to enhance operational efficiency, Mark shares that the primary focus has been on building solutions for clients and seeking to improve operational efficiency across the ICG sites. A strong example of this is the ARTHUR solution developed by the Security Print division: a client-facing job management portal that provides real-time job tracking and enables work to be seamlessly transferred to other group manufacturing sites during periods of peak demand.
Furthermore, ICG is an approved supplier on the Procurement for Housing (PfH) Business Solutions and Supply Management Framework, which supports UK housing associations and public sector bodies in procuring efficient, value-for-money services. Through its Integrity Connect and Integrity Print divisions, ICG provides a range of print, mailing, and digital communications solutions and has secured a leading position on the framework, reflecting its expertise in delivering secure, scalable, and sector-specific communications services to the social housing market.
“The Communications division was awarded first place on two lots of the PfH Framework; these were for print and mail services and digital transformation,” Mark elaborates. “The award recognizes our deep sector expertise in social housing, providing support and guidance on designing effective regulatory communications, and our proven track record of delivering critical mailings on time and on budget. Achievement of first position on the digital transformation lot was an acknowledgment that while we are experts in the delivery of printed communications, we also have the appetite for innovation and delivery of complex digital channel messages.”
Turning to the company’s approach to leadership and corporate culture, Mark discusses ICG’s core values of trust, passion and excellence. “These are lived every day across the organization,” he explains. “We trust our people and empower them to make decisions and do their jobs effectively. Our passion is reflected in a genuine desire to go the extra mile for our clients, and we continually strive for excellence, recognizing that it is fundamental to the survival and growth of the business. Underpinning these values are the behaviors I actively encourage: courage to be bold and decisive, determination to remain resilient and continually improve in a changing industry, cheerfulness to ensure we enjoy what we do, and unselfishness to be good citizens who help others and add value to society. Together, these values and behaviors form the bedrock of our business culture.”
As we approach the end of the year and look ahead to 2026, Mark shares ICG’s priorities for the coming months. “We are continuing to accelerate growth in the labels market and increase market share, building on our technology capability to become a key partner for digital transformation projects, and using technology to drive both sales growth and operational efficiency. At the same time, we are focused on ensuring the Communications division continues to diversify into new market sectors through direct sales growth.
“Looking further ahead,” he continues, “over the next three to five years, I see the business continuing to evolve, maintaining a £70-million group while progressively replacing declining legacy print revenues with technology-driven, consultative solutions that deliver communications as a service. Central to this evolution is the development of our people; we have strengthened our senior management team with talent from both within and beyond the print industry, and it is vital that we harness their expertise and fresh perspectives to support our ongoing transformation. Above all, I have enormous pride in the business and our people,” he concludes. “They are truly special, and I will do everything in my power to protect and cherish them so that we continue to uphold the culture and values that define who we are.”