Apprentice Print Technician
LABELNET LTD
ESSEX (CM5 9RB)
Closes on Saturday 28 February 2026
Posted on 15 January 2026
Contents
Summary
We have an excellent opportunity for a committed and enthusiastic individual to join our well-established print business in Ongar, Essex. You will be shown the core principles of our printing processes, with an aim of finding a role within the department that suits skills you have demonstrated during the apprenticeship.
- Wage
-
£17,550 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
£337.50 per week.
A pay and performance review will be planned for the end of year one.
- Training course
- Print technician (level 3)
- Hours
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Monday - Friday, 08:00 - 16:30 with a one-hour lunch break.
38 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 2 March 2026
- Duration
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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
We have a philosophy of investing time in people to help them grow within our business and we have built an environment that relies on the team using their expertise and talent to continually improve the business and initiate our growth.
You will be shown the core principles of our printing processes; Pre-press, Flexo printing, Digital printing and Post-press.
In addition to the Apprenticeship Standard syllabus, you will:
- Receive hands on training on both Digital and Flexo presses
- Understand the culture, values and processes of the printing and graphic communication industry
- Develop technical knowledge of print industry practices
- Deal with customer expectations, resolving problems and ensuring quality
- Work in accordance with company quality procedures at all times to ensure compliance with working practices and standards
- Once trained, show you have the ability to operate machinery in the most effective & safe manner
- Notify supervisor of any discrepancies or errors
- Ensure the allocated machinery/equipment you use is checked before use
- Clean the machines and doing minor maintenance
- Adhere to health and safety, environmental requirements and laws
Under the supervision of a friendly team who will support your training and give guidance as necessary.
Where you'll work
LABEL HOUSE
HALLSFORD BRIDGE
ONGAR
ESSEX
CM5 9RB
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, the qualification obtained will be a Level 3 Print Technician Apprenticeship Standard
- The Print Technician will have a strong core of knowledge covering the print production process, including paper science, pre-press, press and post-press, and will specialise and supplement this core knowledge by following one of the three options; Pre-Press Technician, Press Technician or Post-Press Technician
- 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 Labelnet and the BPIF
- 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 needs
- Most training and studying will be site-based
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (grade 4)
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
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Patience
- Physical fitness
- Positive approach
- Adaptable
- Enthusiastic
Other requirements
This vacancy will involve working within a manufacturing environment – there is heavy machinery, requirements for manual handling and requirement to be on your feet all day.
About this employer
A well-established family run print business, supplying independent and large corporate brands with self-adhesive labels, tickets and tags.
After this apprenticeship
- A successfully qualified Apprentice will be offered a full time position at Labelnet within the Print department
- As a professional member of the team, optional training in other departments will be available, with potential career progression for ambitious individuals
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BPIF TRAINING LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000009079.
Apply now
Closes on Saturday 28 February 2026