Find an apprenticeship
Foilblocking & Embossing Machine Operator Apprentice
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Foilblocking & Embossing Machine Operator Apprentice
This is an excellent opportunity to get one-to-one training from experienced operators.
Wage £19,240 a year
Hours 5 days, Monday – Friday (alternate shifts) 6am – 2pm or 10am – 6pm. 40 hours a week
Duration 2 years 6 months
Requirements Essential qualifications
- GCSE in:
- English (grade 5)
- Maths (grade 5)
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
- Reliability & Punctuality
- Enthusiastic
- Adaptability
Other requirements
- Overtime will be required.
- There will also be a need to work over the weekend when the demand from our customers is high.
- The job role does include some heavy lifting, moving pallets and other materials.
- The job is manual, and you will spend a large amount of time standing.
Responsibilities What you'll do at work Your training will be on a one-to-one basis, you will be mentored by an experienced member of staff, who will guide you in every aspect of your role.
No experience is needed, but we are seeking an individual with a strong can-do attitude, self-motivation and the ability to work as part of a team.
You will be learning to set up and run an array of different machines, guided by experienced staff members. Initially, you will concentrate your time learning and perfecting your skills on a Bobst 126, which is the largest format hot foil machine in the UK.
The job role will include the following:
- Preparing the machine for production
- Running the press.
- Maintaining quality standards
- Completing maintenance tasks on the machine.
- Completing paperwork.
- Understanding Health & Safety.
Training tasks will be assigned each day. These tasks will give you an in-depth knowledge of how to prepare, run and manage each order.
Training Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Your training will be both practical and theory-based.
You will be studying for a Level 3 Print Technician qualification.
The training will last for 30 months and will cover all aspects needed to become a fully qualified machine operator.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Training for the practical and theory elements will take place on site at your place of work.
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.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Benefits After this apprenticeship Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
After training is completed, the goal would be to establish yourself as a machine operator, to continue to develop the knowledge you have gained while training and learn all the different machines within the factory.
Once you have a strong understanding of the processes and machinery, there is a potential to progress into a team leader position.
Application Process Apply now Closes in 29 days (Friday 31 July 2026 at 11:59pm)
Sign in or create an account
About Blockfoil Blockfoil are a leading UK specialist in hot foiling and embossing. We have been at the forefront of the foil blocking industry since 1981. We work with print and packaging companies to provide decorative finishes for major brands across the world.
Blockfoil Manchester Limited are a market leader in foil printing and embossing.
https://www.blockfoil.com/ (opens in new tab)
Contact The contact for this apprenticeship is: BPIF TRAINING LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000040252.
Ask a question
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills