Apprentice Print Technician
DELTOR COMMUNICATIONS LTD
Saltash (PL12 6LZ)
Closes in 29 days (Sunday 21 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 20 August 2025
Contents
Summary
This is an excellent opportunity for someone interested in learning the trade of lithographic (offset) printing. Under the guidance of experienced press operators, you will learn how to set up, operate, and maintain lithographic printing presses while gaining a solid understanding of the entire print process.
- Wage
-
£14,722.50 a year
- Training course
- Print technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, Possibility of shift work.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 22 September 2025
- Duration
-
2 years 6 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
Key Responsibilities:
- Assist senior press operators with the setup and operation of lithographic printing presses
- Learn how to prepare printing plates, adjust ink levels, and align paper for print runs
- Monitor print quality under supervision and make basic adjustments as instructed
- Help with loading and unloading materials such as paper, ink, and plates
- Support general press maintenance and cleaning tasks to ensure smooth operation
- Follow all safety procedures and keep work areas clean and organised
- Develop an understanding of colour control, registration, and print specifications
- Participate in training sessions and gradually take on more responsibility as skills develop
Where you'll work
Deltor Design & Print Co
Unit C
Long Acre
Saltash
PL12 6LZ
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
- Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will achieve a Level 2 Print Operative Apprenticeship Standard
- You will be supported by both your employer and training provider, BPIF Training, during your time as an apprentice
- You will follow a structured training plan and will be provided one day a week dedicated to working towards your qualification
- Training will take place at the workplace, with regular visits from your BPIF Training Coordinator along with occasional online sessions
- You will work one-to-one with your Training Coordinator throughout your learning journey to ensure you receive tailored support and guidance
- You will have access to the company meeting room throughout your apprenticeship where you will have dedicated space to study
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
- Maths (grade 4)
- English (grade 4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Attention to detail
- Communication skills
- Initiative
- Logical
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
About this employer
Established in 1976 Deltor Communications is one of the South West Of England's largest family owned commercial printers specialising in the production of corporate and promotional printed literature. With experienced professionals we run a 24 hour operation from our base in Saltash which features B1 Litho and B3 Digital printing facilities and a full in-house bindery. We have many prestigious customers which we pride ourselves on providing excellent service and standard of work.
After this apprenticeship
- The plan is for a permanent full time job as a Print Technician after the apprenticeship is completed
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BPIF TRAINING LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000338144.
Apply now
Closes in 29 days (Sunday 21 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
Sign in with your GOV.UK One Login to apply.