Print Finisher
Northend Creative Print Solutions

print
info Issues viewing the video?

Scott M

0.00.00 My name’s Scott M. I’m a Print Finisher and I work at JW Northend in Sheffield. A Print Finisher takes flat printed sheet off the press and turns into the finished product. Full of variety and the differences of what I do keeps changing constantly. I enjoy the other people I work with are really easygoing and very friendly people. When you’re younger you always have a dream and dream to become a footballer are probably my dream that everyone used to dream about.

0.00.30 But it just wasn’t realistic for me. At school I didn’t have no idea whatsoever what I wanted to do. There was no real guidance through school. It wasn’t important to me. It was more of a place to go see my friends and mess around. I wish I had done more at school but I’m perfectly happy what I got out of school and where I am now. I didn’t know anything about the printing industry whatsoever.

0.01.00 It was through a family friend who got me a job as a work experience through school. I first came I didn’t know what to expect whatsoever. I came and I found it’s not just a little photocopying machine that’s in a corner. It’s actual massive production company and I just enjoyed the variety of works that were being done and different skills that were being used. Just before finishing school I wrote Northends and asked him whether there was an opportunity for an apprenticeship or some, even some part-time work.

0.01.30 He made it clear that they were interested in me coming to work for him and that I’d done well on my work experience and impressed. By the time I’d gone into my interview, they’d already set up an apprenticeship place for me and I was quite fortunate I was, being that I was their first apprentice that this company took on for well over twenty years. Through my apprenticeship I was given a mentor from Northends which happens to be one of my colleagues and still is and he was the guy that I’ve mainly learned everything off.

0.02.00 So I’ve got a lot to thank him for. He’s basically down to him that I’ve sticked at this job cos he’s made it interesting for me. He’s shown me the way to go in this industry. My dad’s a car mechanic and he advised me against being a mechanic as one day your car’s going to be drove into a garage and plugged into a computer and fixed. He says if you get a proper industry trade behind you, you’ll be in the job for life.

0.02.30 That’s where my main inspiration’s been my dad. Just seeing how he used to bring us up, give us everything we ever wanted. He’s just been my role model, I’d love to be like him when I’m older. I think nowadays there’s a lot, lot more opportunities out there. There’s new industries starting all the time and I think when my dad was a lad there’s only so much you can do.

0.03.00 You have a little, well years ago you either worked down pit or you went in the Army. Now there’s thousands of different careers you can choose from. I feel I’ve had a good opportunity to have a look round and choose my own direction in life and I think I’ve chose the right one. Outside of work I like socialising with friends, playing sports, just general young lad things really, going on holidays, just playing around. At the minute I don’t see myself doing anything different.

0.03.30 I’m happy where I am. I can see myself progressing further within this industry. I’ve had to work my way up the company and become well respected within the company with other colleagues and with family and friends. If I met a teacher from school now I think they would really be surprised where I have come these days. I wasn’t the brightest kid at school. I was probably one of the naughty lads but I’ve calmed down a lot. This industry has really pushed me forward in life and made me a better person.

0.04.04

Scott M is a Print Finisher at JW Northend. “I found it’s not just a little photocopying machine that’s in a corner. It’s actually a massive production company and I just enjoyed the variety of works that were being done”.

More information about Printing machine assistants

?
£26,520
average salary

The UK average salary is £29,813

?
43
average weekly hours

There are 37.5 hours in the average working week

?
77%  male 
23%  female 

The UK workforce is 47% female and 53% male

Future employment

Future employment?

Description
? Printing machine assistants set and operate letterpress, platen or cylinder, lithographic and photogravure printing machines, photocopiers, office printers, duplication machines and other reprographic equipment.
Qualifications
No academic qualifications are required. Off- and on-the-job training is provided. NVQs/SVQs in Screen Printing are available at Levels 1 and 2, and in Machine Printing at Levels 2 and 3.
Tasks
  • Positions printing plates, loads inks into reservoirs and loads paper rolls or sheets into printing press;
  • Sets controls to control the speed, pressure and ink flow of printing machine;
  • Loads photocopiers, office printers, duplication machines and other reprographic equipment with stationery;
  • Starts reprographic or printing machine and monitors operation for paper misfeeds and error messages, removes blockages and replaces damaged paper, and monitors quality of output;
  • Carries out routine maintenance and cleaning of printing machine;
  • Sets and operates machines for cutting paper to specified dimensions or for folding or binding to produce finished paper items;
  • Sets and operates presses for stamping patterns and labels on textiles, clothing, pottery, footwear and other leather goods.
Employment by region
?
Top 10 industries for this job
?
Retail trade 3552
Printing & recording 1826
Legal & accounting 1769
Paper, etc 1204
Employment status
?

From personal careers advice to finding work, see our round-up of
useful websites to help you on your way

Explore more videos by: