Print and Finishing Apprentice
PROPACK DIRECT MAIL LIMITED
Huddersfield (HD2 1FA)
Closes on Thursday 30 April 2026
Posted on 11 March 2026
Contents
Summary
An exciting opportunity to join a fast-growing, dynamic company in Huddersfield, working within the print and direct mail industry. This is a fantastic chance to become part of an ambitious, forward-thinking team in a thriving and energetic workplace.
- Wage
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£14,722.50 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Salary progression will be reviewed in line with your development and performance, with pay increases awarded as you advance.
- Training course
- Print technician (level 3)
- Hours
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Monday - Friday, 09:00 - 17:30, with one hour lunch break.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
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Monday 4 May 2026
- Duration
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2 years 6 months
- Positions available
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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
As an Apprentice Digital Printer, you'll gain essential industry knowledge and hands-on experience operating digital printing machinery. You will also learn key post-press finishing processes, including trimming, coating, folding, binding, and quality control, ensuring high-quality finished products. In addition to the Apprenticeship Standard syllabus, you will:
- Receive hands on training on both small and large format printers
- 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
- Transfer data files, setting up digital presses for production and carrying out various print finishing duties
- 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
Unit 4-
5 Fieldhouse Park
Old Fieldhouse Lane
Huddersfield
HD2 1FA
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 (press pathway). 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 Propack Direct Mail and the BPIF. You will be assigned a tutor 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
Desirable 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
- Attention to detail
- Communication skills
- Customer care skills
- Initiative
- IT skills
- Organisation skills
- Patience
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
Other requirements
Shift work will be required eventually, in line with other production operatives' working patterns. Shifts are: Monday -Thursday, 6:00am-1:30pm and 1:30pm - 9:00pm. Friday, 6:00am - 12:00pm and 12:00pm - 6:00pm.
About this employer
Propack are an award winning print and direct mail company. With 30 years direct marketing experience, we operate a state-of-the-art production site covering: creative, data, print, direct mail, fulfilment and distribution. We are a proud Yorkshire company established in 1996. With decades of experience under our belt.
After this apprenticeship
A successfully qualified Apprentice will be offered a full time position as a Digital Printer.
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 VAC2000019480.
Apply now
Closes on Thursday 30 April 2026