Level 3 Print Technician Apprenticeship

Summary

UKRI's Creative Services team provides creative, design and production services to the whole of UKRI. We are seeking two Print Technician Apprentices who will be trained in all aspects of our workflow from client services, pre-press and print production to deliver high quality products utilising the latest software, technology and equipment.

Annual wage

£18,900 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Rising incrementally every 12 months to £23,186 in Year 3

Training course

Print technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Friday, Shifts to be confirmed.

37 hours a week

Possible start date

Tuesday 1 April

Duration

3 years

Positions available

2

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

Typical responsibilities will include:

Pre-Press:

Client Services - First point of contact
Use of Management Information System
Pre-flighting and checking files
Use of our web to print software
Automation of templates and workflow

Digital Print/Finishing:

Produce high quality print and finishing services
Offer advice to colleagues and clients
Implement agreed corporate branding requirements
Maintain equipment to a high standard
Ensure that production methods are aligned to client expectations and delivered to the highest standard

Communications:

Liaise with colleagues in Creative Services and wider teams on all aspects of digital print
Provide technical advice and solutions
Liaise with Head of Creative Services in relation to scheduling
Escalate client issues as necessary

Over time, you will use your experience and knowledge to continuously review processes and practices, with a view to enhance products, improve efficiency and overall workflow throughout the production area.

This apprenticeship will provide the successful candidate with the tools, knowledge and experience that is needed to begin a career as a competent Print Technician.

Where you’ll work

Polaris House

North Star Avenue

Swindon

Wiltshire

SN2 1PL

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

BRITISH PRINTING INDUSTRIES FEDERATION LTD

Your training course

Print technician (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Apply environmental and sustainability procedures in compliance with regulations and standards for example, segregating resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
Apply health and safety and manual handling procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
Plan and prioritise work
Record or enter information - paper based or electronic for example, work sheets, check lists, handover records, job sheets.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Communicate with others verbally including colleagues or stakeholders.
Communicate in writing.
Apply problem-solving techniques to common problems.
Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
Identify, organise and use resources effectively to complete tasks, with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
Apply team working principles.
Convert customer files to print-ready files using software and workflow packages.
Check, process and transmit digital files using software.
Create and edit digital images.
Conversion of digital files into colour separations for the defined production method.
Apply digital techniques to produce a proof.
Apply colour profiles to the design.
Apply production techniques to produce plates, screens, or output files.
Apply pre-press quality assurance procedures.
Set up and check the multi-unit print press, including speeds, inks and toners and pre-printing quality checks.
Follow print press start up or warm up procedures.
Apply print press operations and techniques, including managing colour. Handle variable data on digital presses.
Follow quality control processes during printing, including checking for colour matching, print resolution, product consistency.
Apply press equipment and machinery maintenance techniques including cleaning and servicing.
Follow machine shut down, safe isolation, hand over procedures. Escalate issues.
Apply press quality assurance procedures.
Apply safe systems of work to the printing press process in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidelines. This should include identifying risks and hazards and the handling and disposal of chemicals.
Set up finishing equipment for example, guillotines, stitching-trimming machinery, binding machinery, laminating equipment, die-cutters.
Operate finishing equipment to apply different finishing processes, for example, varnishing, folding, embossing and debossing, foil blocking, scoring, packing, gluing, match and attach, tab and slot, sorting, banding.
Prepare printing for next stage, including packing and wrapping.
Apply post-press equipment maintenance techniques including cleaning and servicing.
Apply post-press quality assurance procedures such as checking for folding accuracy, stitch alignment, foil position.
Apply safe systems of work to the finishing process in compliance with regulations, standards and guidelines, including the handling and disposal of chemicals.
Apply environmental and sustainability procedures in compliance with regulations and standards for example, segregating resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
Apply health and safety and manual handling procedures in compliance with regulations and standards.
Plan and prioritise work
Record or enter information - paper based or electronic for example, work sheets, check lists, handover records, job sheets.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Communicate with others verbally including colleagues or stakeholders.
Communicate in writing.
Apply problem-solving techniques to common problems.
Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
Identify, organise and use resources effectively to complete tasks, with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
Apply team working principles.

Your training plan

You will undertake professional development and training as part of a cohort of apprentices with the British Printing Industries Federation completing the Level 3 Print Technician Apprenticeship.

The apprenticeship is delivered over 30 months and covers essential core competencies required within the print industry as well as specialist knowledge, skills and behaviours in 1 of 3 optional pathways:

Pre-press print technician
Press print technician
Post-press print technician

You will specialise in one of the optional pathways towards the final 6 months of your apprenticeship. Throughout the apprenticeship you will build a portfolio of work, demonstrating your application of effective print technician duties.

Towards the end of the programme you will be supported to prepare you for your End Point Assessment. The End Point Assessment will assess the development of your Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours within the Print Technician Apprenticeship and will consist of an observation of your work, an interview underpinned by your portfolio of evidence and a multiple choice test.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4/C)
Maths (grade 4/C)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative

Other requirements

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, therefore we strongly encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

About this company

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

http://ukri.org (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

A full list of our benefits can be found here: https://www.ukri.org/about-us/work-for-us/working-at-ukri/

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Ongoing employment within UKRI subject to performance and successful completion of the Apprenticeship and End Point Assessment

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

UK Research and Innovation

Early Careers Resourcing Team

apprenticerecruitment@ukri.org

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000294600.

Apply now

Closes in 29 days (Sunday 9 February)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered.

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