Woodchip & Magnolia in Darwen is Recruiting for an Apprentice Printer

The successful candidate will work towards completing a Level 2 Lean Manufacturing apprenticeship over the duration of 15 months.

Wage

• £13,312 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
• National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
• £256 per week

Training Course

• Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)

Hours

• Monday - Thursday / 7am - 3pm / 30 minutes paid lunch
• 32 hours a week

Start Date

• Wednesday 18 November 2026

Duration

• 1 year 3 months

Positions Available

• 1

What You'll Do at Work

As an Apprentice Digital Print Production Operator, you will bring a proactive and solutions-focused approach to support the smooth running of our digital print operations. You will work under the guidance of our Senior Printer, assisting with all aspects of digital print production, and will benefit from genuine opportunities for career progression and structured on-the-job training.

We offer a four-day working week (Monday to Thursday, 7.5 hours per day), with Fridays off.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supporting the print team with the processing of printed wallpaper and fabric, while developing a thorough understanding of our product range.
• Learning two distinct and specialised printing and finishing techniques used in our manufacturing process.
• Learning paint mixing, to support colour accuracy and consistency across production.
• Working closely with senior print operators, progressing over time from trainee to a fully competent Print Production Operator.
• Operating the print machinery directly, building speed, accuracy, and product knowledge.

Where You'll Work

• Unit 1 a Millbank Business Park
• Greenbank Terrace
• Darwen
• BB3 0RN

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training Provider

• NORTH LANCS. TRAINING GROUP C.I.C.

Training Course

• Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)

What You'll Learn

Course Contents

• Work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, and other relevant guidelines. Identifying risks within their processes and support/carry out countermeasure activities to improve safe working. Manage tooling, equipment and materials daily in-line with supplier standards e.g. COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
• Comply with environmental procedures and systems and contribute to the achievement of specific standards e.g. ISO 14001 or other relevant environmental standards and use the 4R’s (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Recover) where possible
• Demonstrate their ability to carry out their role effectively, efficiently and flexibly maintaining lean manufacturing principles to meet customer’s demands e.g. JIT
• Demonstrate their skill and knowledge following SOPs and building their versatility across a number of processes and process areas. Select and use appropriate tools, equipment and materials to carry out the manufacturing operation
• Demonstrate appropriate process documentation control. Accurately completing check sheets, monitoring process and equipment data efficiently and legibly using the correct terminology required to meet the quality standard e.g. ISO 9002
• Demonstrate their ability to identify and resolve problems within the lean manufacturing environment using effective problem solving tools and techniques. Manage problems that may occur during the manufacturing process within the limits of their responsibility and escalate as appropriate
• Generate ideas and contribute to process improvement activities individually or as part of a team through fact finding and analysis to improve the safety, environment, quality, cost or production process. Identifying and eliminating the 7 wastes (defects, over production, transportation, waiting, inventory, motion and processing)
• Demonstrate communication skills which include oral, written, electronic (PC), information boards or visual displays to effectively share information
• Mains and monitors the work site efficiently and effectively at all times using the elements of sifting, sorting, sweeping, spick & span (5’s) within the lean manufacturing environment
• Check components for damage and that they are in a usable condition
• Correctly position, align and secure the components
• Secure the components in position using the specified fastening device/method
• Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions/Standard operating procedures production/assembly specifications in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the production/assembly activity
• Produce components which comply with the specification and quality requirements
• Carryout quality checks on component parts and completed assemblies and deal with quality concerns and defects in line with their responsibility
• Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, inspection/quality procedures and product specifications in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the inspection/quality assurance activity
• Collect production samples at the required frequency in accordance with inspection specification and operating procedures
• Carryout inspection and testing activities using the specified methods and equipment
• Prepare, Handle, transfer and store samples safely and correctly in accordance with quality control procedures
• Accurately interpret the data/results gained from the inspection and testing procedures being used
• Record and report inspection findings to relevant person
• Safely move materials to the correct location using the relevant equipment
• Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, specification details and specific transfer/handling procedures in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the logistic/material handling activity
• Move materials using the appropriate procedures, ensuring the materials are correct, safely loaded and secure.
• Check materials selected to be moved are in line with job requirements
• Carryout quality checks on materials that are to be moved and deal with quality concerns and damage in line with their responsibility
• Return equipment to its correct location on completion of the activities and leave it in a safe and usable condition
• Perform one processing/finishing operation method e.g. hand processing, manually operated machine processing, fully automated machine processing, combined processing
• Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, processing/finishing procedures and equipment operating procedures in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the processing/finishing activity
• Perform the processing/finishing operation according to instructions and safe operating procedures
• Monitor and control the processing/finishing operation
• Produce processed/finished products which comply with processing specification