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Pre-Press Apprentice
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Do you enjoy working in a creative team to ensure excellent service is provided? Are you willing to learn new skills, follow instructions and become a valued member of our team? Do you take pride in producing accurate and high-quality work? Then we want to hear from you.
Wage
£15,808 to £25,114.96, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
- Annual wage review based on performance.
- Overtime available for factory staff.
- Weekly pay, every Friday
- Company pension
- 26 days holiday, plus bank holidays (33 days total per year).
Training course
Print technician (level 3)
Hours
- Days to be worked: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
- Start and Finish time: 08:30 – 17:00 (Monday - Thursday). 08:30 - 15:00 (Friday).
- Unpaid breaks: 30 minutes each day.
- 38 hours a week
Start date
Monday 12 October 2026
Duration
2 years 2 months
Positions available
1
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 provide support to the reprographic and CAD departments. Communicate confidently and in a professional manner with customers and suppliers. Be well-organised, show good attention to detail, and be self-motivated to get work done to the highest possible quality to ensure consistent service to the print department.
Duties will include:
- Liaising with customers
- Learning and understanding print set up for artwork
- Using Esko software and workflows to create proofs and laydowns
- Preparing artwork for samples
- Making reprographic printing plates
- Proofreading
- Understanding design briefs
- Using a CAD plotter table and maintaining quality checks and processes are followed
Liaising with customers via email and telephone on artwork and proof approvals.
Willing to learn and understand print set up for artwork.
Use Esko software and workflows to create proofs and laydowns.
Working with a wide range of media on layouts, ensuring artwork received in on correct cutters, making any required changes and sending to customers for approval.
Preparing artwork for samples.
Proofreading to produce accurate and high-quality work.
Understand internal and clients’ briefs on designs.
Preparing files for printing (RIP).
Generating proof sheets in accordance with Work Orders.
Making reprographic printing plates in advance of when print requires them on lithographic B1 press.
Help when required by using a CAD plotter to cut out samples.
Learn how to fold up and construct a 2D sample to a 3D carton, following the rules of the keyline.
Using a CAD plotter table to cut out varnish blankets for production.
Capable of working within a small studio team and also able to work on own initiative.
Able to keep up with a high pace of work and manage deadlines efficiently.
Liaising with relevant people/departments to ensure the Studio and Print teams are able to work as effectively as possible.
Always follow health and safety procedures / guidelines.
Monitor, check and maintain quality checks and processes.
Ensure relevant documentation is named correctly and saved securely.
Providing holiday cover for the CAD and Prepress departments.
Any other CAD and Pre-press duties as required.
Full training will be provided.
Where you'll work
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UNIT D
LIMESQUARE ESTATE
ENTERPRISE WAY
PETERBOROUGH
PE3 8YQ
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
LEARN 2 PRINT 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.
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Training schedule
Advanced Apprenticeship Standard for Print Technicians (Level 3)
A full plan will be created at the start of the Apprenticeship to provide information as to what you will be studying and when. Learn2print will deliver the theoretical knowledge for your Print Apprenticeship. You will attend a class each month for one full day at a local venue (this information can be provided on interview) This teaching and training will cover everything from health and safety and general industrial practices to specific industry practices. This will lead you to preparation for your end point assessment, consisting of an online exam, professional discussion and observation in the workplace. You will be allocated a designated tutor and workplace mentor who will support and guide you through the Apprenticeship.
Desirable qualifications
- GCSE in:
- English (grade Grade C/4 or above)
- Maths (grade Grade C/4 or above)
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
- Presentation skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Willing to learn
- Willing to follow instructions
- Not afraid to ask questions.
- Able to grasp technical info
- Able to grasp new concepts
- Flexibility to change
- Professional and ethical
- Courteous to others
- Respectful attitude
R Howard are leading manufacturers of printed cartons, folding boxboard cartons, full colour printed packaging, product and shelf ready packaging, printed sleeves and backing cards.
https://www.rhoward.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Christmas shutdown (closed 25 Dec to 2 Jan).
- Free on-site parking
- Workwear provided.
- Career development and advancement opportunities.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Flexible working and hybrid working for specific roles.
- A good work-life balance (no weekends & early finish
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