Print Technician Apprentice

Summary

You'll assist in day-to-day production of a wide range of printed materials from business card and flyers to custom signage and promotional products. Ideal for someone looking to start a practical, creative career with long-term potential. No experience required just a genuine interest in print and a commitment to develop new skills.

Wage

£15,704 to £25,396.80, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

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Training course

Print technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday-Friday 0700- 1500.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 11 August 2025

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

You'll be trained on a variety of print and finishing equipment and how to manage print jobs from start to finish, including machine set up, operation quality control customer interaction We're a small business, so every team member plays an important role The day typically begins with a focus on health and safety and the correct set up of the production area, ensuring all equipment is checked and the workplace is clean and hazard free. You will then move on to setting up print jobs, preparing materials and configuring machines for the day's workload. Throughout the day, you'll operate a range of printing and finishing equipment. Problem solving is a key part of the role- whether it's adjusting settings to improve print quality, troubleshooting machine issues or adapting to last-minute changes. As part of our commitment to environmental sustainability, you'll help manage waste by monitoring material usage, recycling where possible and reducing excess production. You'll also play a role in improving workflow efficiency, keeping print jobs organised and on schedule. Every job is checked for quality, ensuring that the final product meets both customer expectations and professional standards. It's a role that combines technical skill with attention to detail, teamwork and the proactive mindset that no two days are exactly the same.

Where you'll work

On Demand Print & Design Ltd
Block B
5 Lower Tuffley Lane
Gloucester
GL2 5DE

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, the qualification obtained will be a Level 3 Print Technician Apprenticeship Standard. The apprentice will be given sufficient time to undertake their "off-the-job" requirement of the apprenticeship. Throughout your time as an apprentice, you will be supported by both your employer and BPIF Training. You will be assigned a training coordinator to ensure that you have the best training available. Training requirements will be discussed at the point of employment to suit your individual needs and business's needs. Most training and studying will be site-based.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

Maths (grade 4)
English (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

Attention to detail
Communication skills
Creative
Customer care skills
Initiative
Logical
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Team working

About this company

A small, local printing business, where quality, creativity and customer service are at the heart of everything we do

After this apprenticeship

Full-time, permanent employment upon successful completion of apprenticeships

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