Print Finishing Apprentice

Summary

A hands-on apprenticeship to provide the skills and experience required to operate, maintain, and optimise a range of print finishing equipment. You'll work alongside experienced professionals and gain practical knowledge across all aspects of the finishing process, ensuring printed jobs are completed to the highest standard before delivery.

Wage

£15,600 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Training course

Print technician (level 3)

Hours

Standard hours are Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm. 1-day will be an off-the-job training day working from home (day to be arrange with manager).

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 3 August 2026

Duration

3 years

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

• Assist in setting up and operating print finishing equipment (e.g. guillotines, folders, stitchers, laminators, binders)
• Learn to carry out finishing tasks such as cutting, folding, binding, creasing, and laminating
• Monitor quality of finished products to ensure they meet required specifications
• Prepare work for despatch, ensuring accuracy and presentation standards are met
• Manage workflow to meet production schedules and deadlines
• Follow all health and safety procedures at all times
• Work collaboratively with the wider production team

Where you'll work

UNIT 4
ASHVILLE WAY
COWLEY
OXFORD
OX4 6TU

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)

What you'll learn

• 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

• Employer: Mayfield Press Oxford Ltd
• Training Provider: BPIF Training
• Apprenticeship Standard: Print Finishing Technician Level 3
• Duration: Typically 24-36 months
• On-the-Job Training: 4 days per week (onsite at Mayfield Press)
• Off-the-Job Training: 1 day per week (home-based coursework + BPIF learning)

More training information

On-the-Job Training (4 days per week - workplace) - The apprentice will gain hands-on experience across key print finishing operations:

• Print finishing processes and techniques
• Machine setup, operation, and adjustment for different finishing requirements
• Quality control and inspection of finished goods
• Safe use and maintenance of finishing equipment
• Production workflow and efficiency practices within a print environment

Off-the-Job Training (1 day per week - home study) - The apprentice will complete structured learning activities, including:

Knowledge Modules:

• Print finishing principles and processes
• Materials and substrates knowledge
• Lean manufacturing and workflow efficiency
• Environmental and sustainability practices in print

Assignments & Coursework:

• Written assignments and practical logs
• Evidence portfolio (mapped to apprenticeship standard)
• Case studies linked to workplace tasks

Remote Learning Activities:

• BPIF online training sessions/webinars
• Virtual tutorials and assessor reviews
• Self-directed study and revision

Reviews & Assessment - Progress Reviews (Every 8–12 weeks): 

• Conducted jointly by BPIF trainer, Mayfield Press, and apprentice
• Review skills development and progress against standard
• Set targets for next training period

Portfolio Development:

• Ongoing collection of evidence (photos, job sheets, witness testimonies)
• Demonstration of competence across all required Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (KSBs)

Requirements

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
• Team working
• Initiative