Digital Print Finishing Apprentice
CAMBRIDGE SCHOLARS PUBLISHING LIMITED
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE (NE6 2PA)
Closes on Friday 17 April 2026
Posted on 11 March 2026
Contents
Summary
Are you a creative problem-solver with a keen eye for detail? We are looking for a proactive Digital Print Finishing Apprentice to join our production team.
This is a varied role, and you’ll be learning how to operate various types of digital print finishing equipment to turn digital designs into high-quality physical products.
- Wage
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£15,600 a year
- Training course
- Print technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Days to be worked: Monday - Friday Start and finish time: 8am - 4pm Unpaid breaks: 30-minute lunch
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
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Monday 27 April 2026
- Duration
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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
What You’ll Be Doing:
You will learn the end-to-end production process; from the moment a digital file arrives to the final product, ready for dispatch.
What We’re Looking For:
- Tech-Savvy: You’re comfortable with computers and eager to learn specialised production software
- Precision: Have a keen eye for detail
- Hands-on Learner: You enjoy working with machinery and aren't afraid to get stuck into a busy production environment
- Reliability - We need someone we can count on to be part of the team
What’s In It for You?
- Nationally Recognised Qualification
- Future-Proof Skills: Learn a blend of hands-on craftsmanship and modern print & finish technology
- Career path
Common Daily Tasks include:
- Book Binding on a Digital Perfect Binder
- Cutting and trimming books on Digital Guillotines
- Laminating
- Making Hardback Book Covers (Cases)
- Making Hardback Book Covers (Cases)
- Book Casing - Joining Book components into a finished product
Where you'll work
LADY STEPHENSON LIBRARY
WELBECK ROAD
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
NE6 2PA
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
Print Technician 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 can 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
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Number skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
About this employer
Founded in 2001 by a group of academics, Cambridge Scholars Publishing is an independent academic publisher with a strong commitment to original scholarship and academic excellence. We are based in Newcastle upon Tyne, in the historic Lady Stephenson Library, with additional offices in Berlin and Barcelona.
We specialise in publishing monographs, edited collections, and thesis-based works across a broad range of disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, life sciences, and health and physical sciences.
After this apprenticeship
Full-time production assistant position at the end of the training period.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
LEARN 2 PRINT LIMITED
Jeanette Vickers
jeanettevickers@learn2print.co.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000020458.
Apply now
Closes on Friday 17 April 2026