Apprentice Print Finisher

Summary

Harkwell are offering an exciting opportunity to join our fast-paced Label Company based in Poole as a Print Finisher Apprentice. As a Print Finisher you will communicate with multiple departments within the business and much much more!

Annual wage

£13,312 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Wage to increase after successful completion of first year of apprenticeship.

Training course

Print technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8 hour shift. Times to be confirmed.

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Tuesday 1 October

Duration

2 Years 6 Months

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

Post-press print technicians conduct finishing or post-press processes after printing. They are usually the final stages of creating a printed product. Through finishing, printed material is made into finished products.

The Print Finishing Department is full of experienced Finishers, who between them take great pride in their work that goes to the customer. The job role includes setting up machines, machine maintenance and problem solving, all of these ensure that high quality Labels are produced. Typical duties of a print finishing apprentice include:

Monitor and review production schedules to ensure that the work can be carried out in the correct running order, completed on time
Ensure that materials and consumables supplied are suitable for the job at hand
Operate print finishing equipment ensuring the output meets customer expectations and standards
Change and replace components as needed. For example, knives, heads, belts and drives

Where you’ll work

Unit 2A

Aston Way

Poole

BH12 4FE

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

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, the qualification obtained will be a Level 3 Print Technician Apprenticeship Standard (post-press pathway). The apprentice will be given sufficient time to undertake their "off-the-job" requirement of the apprenticeship during their working hours. Throughout your time as an apprentice, you will be supported by both your employer and BPIF Training to achieve the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the apprenticeship through a structured training plan.

You will be assigned a training coordinator who will work with you throughout your apprenticeship to ensure that you have the best training and support available. Most training and studying will be a combination of regular site-based visits at the employer's premises and occasional remote delivery. Candidates without the required level of maths and English will be required to complete Functional Skills alongside the apprenticeship.

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

Attention to detail
Communication skills
Initiative
IT skills
Organisation skills
Patience
Problem solving skills
Team working

About this company

Harkwell is a family run label and flexible packaging company based in Poole, Dorset. Harkwell Labels has Industry leading digital label printing and finishing technology and expertise to provide customers with a complete packaging solutions for their products for over 18 years.

After this apprenticeship

Potential permanent full time role upon successful completion of the apprenticeship.

Ask a question

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