Pre-Press Technician Apprenticeship

SIMPSON PRINT LIMITED

Washington, NE37 3HX

Closes in 8 days (Monday 14 October at 11:59pm)

Posted on 28 May 2024

Print

Contents

Summary

Join a north-east company with 50 years’ experience in Point of Sale and Point of Purchase. Learn to print across 3 different disciplines and use your newly acquired skills to support high street retailers and brand owners to maximise the impact of their marketing and promotional campaign activity.

Annual wage
£12,480 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Print technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm

37 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 21 October

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

The successful candidate will have an aptitude for problem solving, have an interest in the print industry and a passion for continuous learning.

This is an excellent opportunity to begin a career in a fast moving, ever developing industry, starting your role in the environment where the product itself is prepped, printed, hand tailored and delivered to prestigious high street customers.

The role will include:

  • Training to cover employment rights & responsibilities, productivity measurement and how to improve it
  • Developing an understanding of how to achieve and maintain quality, as well as understanding quality systems

By the completion of the apprenticeship, you will have gained an understanding of the different methods to deliver print images/files to different print disciplines in use.

This will include:

  • Colour theory
  • Receipting
  • Checking and processing digital files
  • Creating imposition schemes, job layouts and producing a digital “proof”
  • Learning to manage digital colour reproduction in pre-press so that the press technician can set up and run effectively
  • Producing reports and relevant paperwork

Where you’ll work

Influence Park

Rutherford Road

Stephenson

Washington

NE37 3HX

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 L3 Print Technician Apprenticeship standard (pre-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 Simpson Print and the BPIF. 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 a combination of site-based and remote delivery.

    Functional skills maths and English, if required.

    Requirements

    Desirable qualifications

    GCSE or equivalent in:

    • English (grade 9-4/A*-C)
    • Maths (grade 9-4/A*-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
    • Problem solving skills
    • Team working
    • Initiative

    Other requirements

    Vacancy will close early if the right candidate is found - apply early to avoid disappointment. Please note you may be contacted via e-mail for interview.

    About this company

    Large format print manufacturer, specialising in Point of Sale and Point of Purchase items to influence our clients’ brands instore. Since 1972, Simpson Group has been providing award-winning print marketing campaigns to some of the biggest names in business. We are consistently investing in pioneering technology and client-benefiting services to ensure that we are the market leader in cutting edge Point of Purchase & Point of Sale. We are even home to Europe’s only simulated shopping mall – The Influence Mall! Through our dedicated CAD and Client Services teams, we will listen to our client’s requirements, budget, pains and gains before presenting a well thought through solution. With an average service length of 15 years, our team is well equipped to advise on a vast range of printing methods for innovative and stand-out displays that produce impressive results.

    http://www.simpsongroup.co.uk (opens in new tab)

    After this apprenticeship

    There is the possibility of a full-time post upon completion of the apprenticeship for any candidate who has demonstrated their value to the business during the course of the apprenticeship.

    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 VAC1000253461.

    Apply now

    Closes in 8 days (Monday 14 October at 11:59pm)

    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.