Level 2 Print Operative Apprenticeship
The Level 2 Print Operative Apprenticeship is a great way to start a career in print. It suits anyone starting out in one of three areas:
- Pre-press: design or image carrier preparation
- Machine printing: across all print processes
- Print finishing: across all finishing disciplines
On the apprenticeship, you’ll build practical skills and develop your knowledge of the printing industry. You’ll attend monthly classes with experienced tutors from the print industry. The rest of the time you’ll be working alongside skilled colleagues in your workplace.
At the start of the apprenticeship, you, your employer and Learn2print agree a training plan. You’re employed throughout, so you earn a salary agreed with your employer while you learn.
Entry Requirements
A Grade D/3 or above, or equivalent, is desirable for the Level 2 Apprenticeship. In cases’ where this grade has not been achieved initial assessments will be carried out on an individual basis to establish suitability to the course. In some instances, it may be necessary for the Apprentice to study Maths and/ or English alongside the Print Apprenticeship programme.
Course Content
The Level 2 Print Operative Apprenticeship was developed by employers and industry experts. It gives apprentices thorough training in one of three print routes: Pre-Press, Press (machine printing) or Post-Press (print finishing).
The programme typically runs for 24 months, followed by an end-point assessment period of around 3 months. At the start, the employer chooses which route their apprentice will follow:
- Pre-Press: for apprentices who work on digital design and create print-ready artwork. This route may also include producing image carriers, such as plates, cylinders or screens, for certain print processes.
- Press: for apprentices who set up, run and look after printing machines across a wide range of substrates and processes.
- Post-Press: for apprentices who set up and operate finishing equipment, such as guillotines, folding machines and binding equipment.
Learning with Learn2print
On study days, our tutors cover the knowledge for each apprentice’s chosen route, along with core topics that every apprentice studies. All of our tutors are qualified and experienced in the print industry. Throughout the programme, we help each apprentice build a portfolio of evidence from their work. They use this portfolio later in their end-point assessment.
The employer’s role
The employer and workplace mentor play a major part in developing the apprentice’s practical skills on the job. They work with us to make sure all training and development is recorded.
Apprentices must also complete a minimum of 557 hours of off-the-job training over the programme. This is learning time set aside during their paid working hours, and it must be recorded and evidenced.
End-Point Assessment
Learn2print delivers the training. At the end of the programme, an independent end-point assessment organisation chosen by the employer assesses the apprentice. We work with GQA as our end-point assessment partner. The assessment has three parts:
- Observation with questions: a 2-hour observation in the apprentice’s own workplace
- Interview underpinned by a portfolio of evidence: a 50-minute interview with an independent assessor, using the apprentice’s portfolio as supporting evidence
- Multiple-choice test: 20 questions in 30 minutes
Apprentices can achieve an overall grade of Pass, Merit or Distinction.
Your next steps…
Learn2print have linked up with the Sheffield Hallam University and Axia Solutions of Stoke-on-Trent to create an education pathway in the print sector. This means you can progress from a level 2 apprenticeship right up to a level 6 degree qualification.