Print Technician Apprentice
HOVAT LIMITED
LARKFIELD KENT (ME20 6XJ)
Closes on Friday 31 October 2025
Posted on 26 August 2025
Contents
Summary
You will be trained on both our flexographic CI presses and in line presses using either UV, Solvent or water based ink technology, you will also learn colour matching skills, maintenance, the principles of Flexography as well as an understanding of reprographics & plate manufacture.
- Wage
-
£14,918.80 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Print technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm. Changing to a 3shift rotation.
6am-2pm , 2pm-10pm and 10pm-6am.
30 mins unpaid break.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 10 November 2025
- Duration
-
2 years 2 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
- Operating both wide format presses and narrow web.
- Complete samples and visual inspection of all products that are printed.
- Ensure the colour and visual impact of the design meets the customers expectation.
- Monitor required timescales of the printed products
- Perform the daily/Weekly maintenance routines on press
- Perform all duties in line with Company Standards, Environmental Policy, Code of Conduct and Health and Safety Standards.
- Provide cover for other team members during busy periods, absence and holidays
- The role is an apprenticeship so training will be provided to enable you to carry out the above role and responsibilities.
Where you'll work
UNIT 1
WEST POINT
NEW HYTHE LANE
LARKFIELD KENT
ME20 6XJ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
LEARN 2 PRINT LIMITED
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.
Training schedule
Advanced Apprenticeship Standard for Print Technicians (Level 3)
A full plan will be created at the start of the Apprenticeship to provide information as to what you will be studying and when. Learn2print will deliver the theoretical knowledge for your Print Apprenticeship. You will attend a class each month for one full day at a local venue (this information will be provided on interview) This teaching and training will cover everything from health and safety and general industrial practices to specific industry practices. This will lead you to preparation for your end point assessment, consisting of an online exam, professional discussion and observation in the workplace. You will be allocated a designated tutor and workplace mentor who will support and guide you through the Apprenticeship.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade Grade C/4 or above)
- Maths (grade Grade C/4 or above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
About this employer
Welcome to Hovat, the UK’s printed packaging and label specialist. Hovat products can be found in all major retail stores, hotels, restaurants and tourist outlets. 116 employees across 2 dedicated production sites in Maidstone and Folkestone.
After this apprenticeship
Possible full time position within our print team for the right candidate.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
LEARN 2 PRINT LIMITED
Keith Haines
Keith.haines@hovat.co.uk
01622 208159
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000338474.
Apply now
Closes on Friday 31 October 2025
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