Production Operative Apprentice
PRINT PRODIGY LTD
Jarrow (NE32 3DT)
Closes on Friday 27 November 2026
Posted on 15 October 2026
Contents
Summary
Print Prodigy are looking for an apprentice to join our growing team. Working alongside our experienced printers you will develop skills required for printer operation, creation of print ready files, digital artwork and all aspects of print finishing.
- Wage
-
£13,260 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Regular quarterly reviews where wage will be reviewed depending on performance.
- Training course
- Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 08:30 to 4:30, with a 30 minute lunch break.
30 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 4 January 2027
- Duration
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1 year
- 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
Duties to include:
- The operation and basic maintenance of a full colour digital printer
- Creating, editing and adjusting digital files to make them print ready
- Stock control
- Preparing orders for despatch
- To provide a professional service to customers delivering and collecting print and other work
- To maintain confidentiality of information and to comply with requirements related to the Data Protection Act
- To undertake any necessary training and development required including appropriate health and safety courses
The ideal candidate must have a flexible approach to working, be able to work effectively as part of a team and to follow policies and procedures as instructed.
Where you'll work
Jarrow Business Centre
Rolling Mill Road
Jarrow
NE32 3DT
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CITY OF SUNDERLAND COLLEGE
Training course
Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, and other relevant guidelines. Identifying risks within their processes and support/carry out countermeasure activities to improve safe working. Manage tooling, equipment and materials daily in-line with supplier standards e.g. COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
- Comply with environmental procedures and systems and contribute to the achievement of specific standards e.g. ISO 14001 or other relevant environmental standards and use the 4R’s (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Recover) where possible
- Demonstrate their ability to carry out their role effectively, efficiently and flexibly maintaining lean manufacturing principles to meet customer’s demands e.g. JIT
- Demonstrate their skill and knowledge following SOPs and building their versatility across a number of processes and process areas. Select and use appropriate tools, equipment and materials to carry out the manufacturing operation
- Demonstrate appropriate process documentation control. Accurately completing check sheets, monitoring process and equipment data efficiently and legibly using the correct terminology required to meet the quality standard e.g. ISO 9002
- Demonstrate their ability to identify and resolve problems within the lean manufacturing environment using effective problem solving tools and techniques. Manage problems that may occur during the manufacturing process within the limits of their responsibility and escalate as appropriate
- Generate ideas and contribute to process improvement activities individually or as part of a team through fact finding and analysis to improve the safety, environment, quality, cost or production process. Identifying and eliminating the 7 wastes (defects, over production, transportation, waiting, inventory, motion and processing)
- Demonstrate communication skills which include oral, written, electronic (PC), information boards or visual displays to effectively share information
- Maintains and monitors the work site efficiently and effectively at all times using the elements of sifting, sorting, sweeping, spick & span (5’s) within the lean manufacturing environment
- Check components for damage and that they are in a usable condition
- Correctly position, align and secure the components
- Secure the components in position using the specified fastening device/method
- Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions/Standard operating procedures production/assembly specifications in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the production/assembly activity
- Produce components which comply with the specification and quality requirements
- Carryout quality checks on component parts and completed assemblies and deal with quality concerns and defects in line with their responsibility
- Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, inspection/quality procedures and product specifications in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the inspection/quality assurance activity
- Collect production samples at the required frequency in accordance with inspection specification and operating procedures
- Carryout inspection and testing activities using the specified methods and equipment
- Prepare, Handle, transfer and store samples safely and correctly in accordance with quality control procedures
- Accurately interpret the data/results gained from the inspection and testing procedures being used
- Record and report inspection findings to relevant person
- Safely move materials to the correct location using the relevant equipment
- Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, specification details and specific transfer/handling procedures in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the logistic/material handling activity
- Move materials using the appropriate procedures, ensuring the materials are correct, safely loaded and secure.
- Check materials selected to be moved are in line with job requirements
- Carryout quality checks on materials that are to be moved and deal with quality concerns and damage in line with their responsibility
- Return equipment to its correct location on completion of the activities and leave it in a safe and usable condition
- Perform one processing/finishing operation method e.g. hand processing, manually operated machine processing, fully automated machine processing, combined processing
- Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, processing/finishing procedures and equipment operating procedures in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the processing/finishing activity
- Perform the processing/finishing operation according to instructions and safe operating procedures
- Monitor and control the processing/finishing operation
- Produce processed/finished products which comply with processing specification
Training schedule
- Training in print production
- Level 2 Lean Management qualification
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 3-9)
- Maths (grade 3-9)
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
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
The work is hands on, physically printing items and lifting boxes, so the candidate must be looking for this type of work and be physically fit.
About this employer
With over 8 years experience in digital print, we have set up Print Prodigy to deliver excellence and quality in all forms of digital print.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
It is expected that there will be full-time permanent position upon successful completion of the apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CITY OF SUNDERLAND COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000059382.
Apply now
Closes on Friday 27 November 2026