Print Finishing Apprentice
MAYFIELD PRESS (OXFORD) LTD
OXFORD (OX4 6TU)
Closes on Friday 31 July 2026
Posted on 25 June 2026
Contents
Summary
A hands-on apprenticeship to provide the skills and experience required to operate, maintain, and optimise a range of print finishing equipment. You'll work alongside experienced professionals and gain practical knowledge across all aspects of the finishing process, ensuring printed jobs are completed to the highest standard before delivery.
- Wage
-
£15,600 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Print technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Standard hours are Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm. 1-day will be an off-the-job training day working from home (day to be arrange with manager).
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 3 August 2026
- Duration
-
3 years
- 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
- Assist in setting up and operating print finishing equipment (e.g. guillotines, folders, stitchers, laminators, binders)
- Learn to carry out finishing tasks such as cutting, folding, binding, creasing, and laminating
- Monitor quality of finished products to ensure they meet required specifications
- Prepare work for despatch, ensuring accuracy and presentation standards are met
- Manage workflow to meet production schedules and deadlines
- Follow all health and safety procedures at all times
- Work collaboratively with the wider production team
Where you'll work
UNIT 4
ASHVILLE WAY
COWLEY
OXFORD
OX4 6TU
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BPIF TRAINING 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
- Employer: Mayfield Press Oxford Ltd
- Training Provider: BPIF Training
- Apprenticeship Standard: Print Finishing Technician Level 3
- Duration: Typically 24-36 months
- On-the-Job Training: 4 days per week (onsite at Mayfield Press)
- Off-the-Job Training: 1 day per week (home-based coursework + BPIF learning)
More training information
On-the-Job Training (4 days per week - workplace) - The apprentice will gain hands-on experience across key print finishing operations:
- Print finishing processes and techniques
- Machine setup, operation, and adjustment for different finishing requirements
- Quality control and inspection of finished goods
- Safe use and maintenance of finishing equipment
- Production workflow and efficiency practices within a print environment
Off-the-Job Training (1 day per week - home study) - The apprentice will complete structured learning activities, including:
Knowledge Modules:
- Print finishing principles and processes
- Materials and substrates knowledge
- Lean manufacturing and workflow efficiency
- Environmental and sustainability practices in print
Assignments & Coursework:
- Written assignments and practical logs
- Evidence portfolio (mapped to apprenticeship standard)
- Case studies linked to workplace tasks
Remote Learning Activities:
- BPIF online training sessions/webinars
- Virtual tutorials and assessor reviews
- Self-directed study and revision
Reviews & Assessment - Progress Reviews (Every 8–12 weeks):
- Conducted jointly by BPIF trainer, Mayfield Press, and apprentice
- Review skills development and progress against standard
- Set targets for next training period
Portfolio Development:
- Ongoing collection of evidence (photos, job sheets, witness testimonies)
- Demonstration of competence across all required Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (KSBs)
Requirements
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
- Team working
- Initiative
About this employer
Mayfield are a successful, growing and ambitious print services provider who have been trading for over 25 years. We have an enviable reputation as one of Oxfordshire's finest print companies, boasting an array of litho, digital and large format printing. In an industry where quality is imperative, we pride ourselves on ensuring our customers’ needs are met or exceeded every time they order. We are constantly evolving our services and welcome people from every walk of life to join us.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Upon completion, the apprentice would usually move into a fully competent operator role, such as:
- Print Finishing Operator
- Bindery Technician
- Finishing Machine Operator
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
MAYFIELD PRESS (OXFORD) LTD
Ayesha Ford-Hayles
careers@mayfieldpress.co.uk
02075665070
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000039212.
Apply now
Closes on Friday 31 July 2026