Post-Press Apprentice

Summary

We are looking for an Apprentice Post-Press Technician / Operative to join our team and learn how to operate print finishing equipment. This is a hands-on role where you'll be trained by experienced professionals to finish printed materials to a high standard. With regular feedback and progress reviews, this apprenticeship is a great opportunity

Wage: £13,312 to £23,795.20 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Print technician (level 3)
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-3pm
40 hours a week
Possible start date: Monday 17 March
Duration: 3 years
Positions available: 1

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

Learning to set up and operate print finishing equipment, such as guillotines, binding machines, and creasing/folding machines.
Assisting in the production of NCR (no carbon required) pads, books, and sets, commonly used for invoices, delivery notes, and order forms.
Trimming, collating, and binding printed materials to ensure a professional finish.
Carrying out regular quality control checks to meet our 17-point quality control checklist.
Packing and preparing finished products for dispatch.
Learning how to maintain and clean finishing equipment to keep it running smoothly.

Where you’ll work

Ripley Printers Uk Ltd

Unit F

Salcombe Court

Alfreton

DE55 7EG

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

BPIF TRAINING LIMITED

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

Full training on operating and maintaining high-speed printing presses. Regular feedback and progress reviews to support your learning and development. A friendly, experienced team to guide and mentor you.

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, the qualification obtained will be a Level 3 Print Technician Apprenticeship Standard (post-press pathway)
Functional Skills in English and maths if required
The apprentice will be given sufficient time to undertake their "off-the-job" requirement of the apprenticeship
Throughout your time as an apprentice, you will be supported by both your employer and BPIF Training
You will be assigned a training coordinator to ensure that you have the best training available
Training requirements will be discussed at the point of employment to suit your individual needs and business needs
Most training and studying will be site-based

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

English (grade 4)
Maths (grade 4)

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

Analytical skills
Attention to detail
Logical
Number skills
Problem solving skills
Team working

About this company

Specialist printers of NCR pads, books and sets to other printers across the UK

After this apprenticeship

Opportunity to join the team on a full-time basis after successful completion and develop skills further

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: