Print Operator Apprentice
Authentix
CONSETT (DH8 6TW)
Closes on Friday 25 July 2025
Posted on 20 June 2025
Contents
Summary
Excellent opportunity to work for a well established business based in Consett, part of a larger global group. You will work in a busy print department.
- Wage
-
£20,020 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
£10 per hour.
- Training course
- Print technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Hours of work: Mon – Thurs 8.00am – 5.00pm, Friday 8.00am – 12.30pm
(38.5 hours per week).
One day per week will be dedicated to working towards your studies.
This may lead to a shift pattern of earlies and lates for candidates 18+.
38 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
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Monday 28 July 2025
- Duration
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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
As a Print Apprentice, you will be involved in:
- Set up and prepare machines for production
- Run print press
- Make ready jobs to a quality standard for production
- Operate the production lines to the KPI’s of waste, time efficiencies and quality
- Ability to perform reasonable levels of maintenance when required
- Work within and to all SPS quality and regulatory standards
- Work as part of a team both on the press and as part of a specific shift team
Where you'll work
UNIT 38
NUMBER ONE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
CONSETT
DH8 6TW
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)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
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 achieve a Level 3 Print Technician apprenticeship standard.
You will be supported by both your employer, Authentix, and training provider, BPIF Training during your time as an apprentice. You will follow a structured training plan and will be provided one day a week dedicated to working towards your qualification.
Training will take place at the workplace, with regular visits from your BPIF Training Coordinator along with occasional online sessions. You will work one-to-one with your Training Coordinator throughout your learning journey to ensure you receive tailored support and guidance.
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
Essential 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
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving skills
- Logical
- Team working
About this company
Authentix (Security Print Solutions) is the leading provider in authentication solutions. Authentix brings enhanced visibility and traceability to today’s complex global supply chains. For over 25 years, Authentix has provided clients with physical and software-enabled solutions to detect, mitigate, and prevent counterfeiting and other illicit trading activity for currency, excise taxable goods, and branded consumer products. Through a proven partnership model and sector expertise, clients experience custom solution design, rapid implementation, consumer engagement, and complete program management to ensure product safety, revenue protection, and consumer trust for the best-known global brands on the market. Headquartered in Addison, Texas USA, Authentix, Inc. has offices in North America, Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Africa serving clients worldwide.
After this apprenticeship
It is expected that you will be a qualified Print Operator at the end of your apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BPIF TRAINING LIMITED
Yasmin Brotherson
yasmin.brotherson@bpif.org.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000327442.
Apply now
Closes on Friday 25 July 2025
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