Post Press Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship
Micropress Printers Limited
Southwold (IP18 6DH)
Closes in 30 days (Monday 27 October 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 26 September 2025
Contents
Summary
Do you love working with your hands, solving problems, and seeing your work transformed into something real? As a Post-Press Technician, you’ll take freshly printed sheets and turn them into eye-catching, high-quality products from brochures and books to luxury packaging and special editions. This is where the magic of print finishing happens!
- Wage
-
£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Print technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 8 hours a day, working hours TBC
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 24 November 2025
- Duration
-
3 years
- Positions available
-
2
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 Do Every Day:
- Set up & run finishing equipment - guillotines, laminators, die-cutters, binders, and more
- Add the wow-factor - foiling, embossing, varnishing, folding, gluing, packing
- Turn sheets into products - stitch, trim, and bind to bring pages to life
- Experiment with finishes - holographic foil, scented varnish, soft-touch laminate, even NFC stickers
- Quality check everything - is that fold perfect? Is the foil aligned? You’ll make sure it shines
- Teamwork - work alongside pre-press and press teams to keep production flowing
- Beat the clock - deliver amazing results even on tight deadlines
Where you'll work
Reydon Business Park
Southwold
IP18 6DH
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
More training information
What You’ll Bring & Where It Leads:
Knowledge You’ll Gain:
- How the whole print process fits together (pre-press → press → post-press)
- The science of materials, adhesives, foils, and finishes
- All about paper and plastic stocks - their strengths, quirks, and limits
- The secrets of folding styles and how to pick the right one.
What makes a product customer-ready and top quality
Skills You’ll Develop:
- Confidently set up and maintain machines
- Master a wide range of finishing techniques
- Problem-solve on the go and cut down waste
- Keep projects on time and on spec
- Handle materials safely & efficiently
- Stay cool under pressure while keeping standards high
Behaviours We Value:
- Curiosity and a willingness to learn
- A team player with integrity and reliability
- Open to new ideas, technology, and challenges
- Consistent, accurate, and detail-focused
- Communicates clearly and professionally
The Details:
- Qualification: BPIF Level 3 Print Technician (Post-Press route)
- Duration: Around 3 years, with structured training + mentor support
- Requirements: GCSEs in English & maths (or equivalent, Level 2)
- Assessment: End Point Assessment (EPA) to prove your mastery
- Interested? Contact us at hr@micropress.co.uk to find out more or apply
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
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
About this employer
About Micropress Printers Micropress Printers is a leading specialist in high-quality print and finishing, providing innovative solutions for publishing, packaging, and promotional industries. We pride ourselves on precision, creativity, and delivering products that exceed customer expectations. Join a team where your skills make a real impact and your creativity is valued.
After this apprenticeship
After the apprenticeship you would be a qualified Print Finisher.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
Micropress Printers Limited
HR
hr@micropress.co.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000344044.
Apply now
Closes in 30 days (Monday 27 October 2025 at 11:59pm)
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