A Print Apprenticeship is a nationally recognised Training Scheme for employed young people aged 16 to 24 who are working towards work based qualifications. If you are an employer looking for a Print Apprentice, or an Apprentice looking for a print employer, Leeds College of Technology may be able to match you to the perfect employee or employer through our database.

The database contains both employers looking for prospective Print Apprentices and prospective Print Apprentices looking for employment in the print industry. Each year we also have a number of quality students that have completed either a one year First Diploma in Print or a two year National Diploma in Print and they have an excellent portfolio of work produced during their courses.

Leeds College of Technology Work Based Unit provides print companies with full support and will work with you to meet your needs and those of your employer making sure the right print course is selected.

An Apprenticeship is a nationally recognised Training Scheme for employed young people aged 16 to 24 who are working towards work based qualifications. Trainees must begin the programme before their 25th birthday.

Print Apprenticeships are available at two levels:

Apprenticeship
An Apprenticeship is a level 2 course, which means that as a trainee you will be working towards a National Vocational Qualification at Level 2 (Print NVQ) in your chosen specialist area. A Print Apprenticeship is a one or two year course. Entry requirements for this do vary but we will discuss with you. We will give your employee a Basic Skills Assessment, which will ensure your employee is enrolled at the right academic and Apprenticeship level.

Trainees who have successfully completed an Apprenticeship can apply to progress on to an Advanced Apprenticeship.

Advanced Apprenticeship (AA)
The Print Advanced Apprenticeship is a Level 3 course, which means that as a trainee you will be working towards a National Vocational Qualification at Level 3 (Print NVQ) in your chosen specialist area. The course is two to four years in duration. There is an entry requirement but this does vary according to vocational area. In addition, we will give your employee a Basic Skills Assessment, which will ensure your employee is enrolled at the right academic and Apprenticeship level.

The graphics and printing industries are very diverse and exciting with a wide range of career routes, which include:

• Pre-Press - Design, Mac Operator, Electronic Publishing, Preparation prior to print
• Litho Printing - print for high quality brochures, posters and leaflets
• Flexographic Printing - print for stickers, labels, packaging and food packaging
• Gravure Printing - Magazines, supplements, catalogues packaging
• Screen Printing - print for point-of-sale, retail, T-shirts, fabrics, furnishings and wallpapers
• Print Finishing - finishing the printed product, liaison with pre-press and print, binding, collating, wire stitching, guillotine trimming, foil blocking, packaging for the customer
• Carton Manufacture - package design and packaging products including CAD
• Print Administration - costing, estimating, production control

National Vocational Qualification (Print NVQ) in chosen specialisms
The Print NVQ is fundamentally a work-based qualification, achieved by putting together a portfolio of evidence to prove competence of various tasks laid down by the national standards. This assessment will be carried out in the workplace and Leeds College of Technology provides individual support and guidance on a weekly basis and on-site assessment at appropriate stages throughout training. Depending on which level of course you are taking, you will achieve Print NVQ level 2 or 3.

City & Guilds qualification to underpin your trainees knowledge
This is the theory that is taught when they attend college on either days, mini blocks or by the award winning Print Media On Line. It goes hand-in-hand with the Print NVQ. It is a modular qualification and exams / assessments are set at the end of each module. A practical session is incorporated to reinforce theory taught for those people attending day release or mini blocks.

Key Skills
In Application of number (Numeracy), Communications and Information Technology (IT). Plus, additional work-based skills such as working with others and improving own learning performance are included. These are achieved by exams and/or by gathering evidence for their NVQ portfolio. Each of the above subjects may be timetabled or be fully integrated into the programme during the day.