Production Artwork Apprentice
CORNFLOWER LTD
BERKSHIRE (RG14 2EZ)
Closes on Friday 28 August 2026
Posted on 17 July 2026
Contents
Summary
An excellent opportunity to train as a print artworker with Cornflower, a Newbury company designing and producing bespoke printed products for museums, galleries and heritage sites since 1999.
- Wage
-
£17,000 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Company pension and staff bonus scheme. Twenty days holiday plus bank holidays, your birthday and Christmas Eve. Free parking at our Newbury site.
- Training course
- Print technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday 9.00am - 5.30pm.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 7 September 2026
- 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
You will prepare print ready artwork for a wide range of print and production processes, including large format digital, litho, screen print, sublimation and laser cutting.
A typical week means:
- Setting up files correctly for bleed, trim, colour space and cutter guides
- Preflighting files
- Preparing digital proofs for approval and amending artwork after feedback
- You will coordinate with the sales and production teams on specification and deadlines
- Keep the artwork archive in good order with careful naming and version control
Where you'll work
UNIT D
CASTLE INDUSTRIAL PARK CASTL
NEWBURY
BERKSHIRE
RG14 2EZ
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
You will work towards the L3 Print Technician apprenticeship standard, Pre-Press Technician option. Learning will take place onsite supported by an experienced mentor and a tutor from BPIF Training, a provider specialising in our sector, through a combination of online and face to face sessions. The apprenticeship will build your knowledge across the whole print process alongside a pre-press specialism in colour management, file checking and preparing print ready artwork.
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
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Patience
Other requirements
This is careful, methodical, screen-based studio work with real consequences, since a small error can affect a large print run. You will work to a process and to deadlines. An interest in print, design, making or museums is welcome, though not essential.
The successful candidate must have exceptional attention to detail above all. Be methodical, orderly and able to work to a process rather than around it. Curious, with a good eye and a genuine interest in how things are made. A clear communicator who would rather ask a question than guess. Calm under a deadline and able to manage several jobs at once.
About this employer
Cornflower designs and manufactures bespoke printed products and souvenirs for museums, galleries, gardens and heritage sites and has done so since 1999. Design, print, laser cutting and finishing happen under one roof at our Newbury premises, with a team of around thirty. Our customers include Kew Gardens, the Natural History Museum and the National Gallery. We are a certified B Corporation™ and are ISO 14001 and FSC® certified.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Successful completion could lead to a permanent position in the studio as an artworker, with a L3 print technician qualification behind you. From there the routes run towards Senior Artworker and Studio Management and the sector offers further progression to Level 4 and beyond for those who want to progress.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BPIF TRAINING LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000043173.
Apply now
Closes on Friday 28 August 2026