Apprentice Print Assistant

STATEX PRESS (NORTHERN) LTD

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE (NE3 2EF)

Closes in 26 days (Wednesday 30 April 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 26 March 2025

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Contents

Summary

A great opportunity to join an ambitious and forward thinking employer in Newcastle. You'll support our production department, learning to operate printing presses under supervision of a skilled team whilst working towards a Level 3 qualification. If you have an appreciation of quality and take pride in everything you do, then we welcome your application.

Wage

£14,722.50 to £23,809.50, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Print technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday, specific working hours to be agreed with the successful candidate.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Thursday 1 May 2025

Duration

2 years 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you’ll do at work

Print technicians conduct one stage of the printing process to produce a range of printed goods. They set up and operate complex print machinery and equipment to produce print products to the client’s order specification and timescales. They use their technical judgement to optimise production, maintain machinery and to resolve production problems and improve performance.

They produce risk assessments and safely handle hazardous materials. They must ensure a safe working environment that complies with health, safety and environmental requirements. To manage the production process, they must keep records using both digital and manual processes. They must work effectively with others, including giving clear instructions to colleagues.

Typical daily duties and responsibilities:

  • Ensure that the work schedule for a defined period or shift will minimise wash-ups, changeovers, and machine downtime
  • Comply with all company health & safety procedures
  • Run the press, check output and registration are within tolerances at pre-agreed checkpoints
  • Ensure that levels of waste and run-overs required for subsequent stages of the process are managed, quality is achieved, and operational efficiency is maximised
  • Liaise and consult with internal or external customers on wet proofs or press sign-offs
  • Identify and conduct maintenance in line with both manufacturer and company standards

Where you’ll work

6 AIRPORT INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
NE3 2EF

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

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

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will obtain a Level 3 Print Technician apprenticeship, specialising in the Press pathway. This will include any necessary Functional Skills training if required.

Training for both the apprenticeship and the relevant skills to succeed in the role will take place at the workplace, with no requirement to travel to the training provider, BPIF.

The training and studying for the apprenticeship will be carried via regular visits from your BPIF Training Coordinator to deliver 1-1 support.

As an apprentice you will be given full training to carry out your role under the supervision of a supportive team, and will be given regular time during your working hours to work on the apprenticeship requirements.  

More training information

We are the largest supplier of apprenticeships to the printing industry. We support the UK’s most innovative, dynamic and creative companies who are setting the standard for what is possible in print production. We do so through deep knowledge, passion and collaboration.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE 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

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Number skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Physical fitness

About this company

Statex is an established, multi-award winning print solutions provider based in Newcastle, offering high quality print and digital services directly to our local, national and global customer base. We have a passion for print and take great pride in expanding traditional boundaries associated with print, to the benefit of our customers. Our employees are viewed as our most important asset, and we actively promote and offer training and progression opportunities to each individual.

https://statex.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

We are an employee focused business offering competitive rates of pay, 26 days annual leave, contributory pension scheme and on-site parking.

After this apprenticeship

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, a permanent, full-time position may be available, subject to business need.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BPIF TRAINING LIMITED

Lucy Kirkbride

lucy.kirkbride@bpif.org.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000311884.

Apply now

Closes in 26 days (Wednesday 30 April 2025 at 11:59pm)

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