Reprographic assistants, sometimes known as print room operators, copy and bind a range of printed materials in bulk, using photocopying and/or offset litho printing equipment. They handle a variety of items including manuals, brochures, leaflets and documents.

Once they receive the job requirements from a customer, they set up the reprographic equipment to make bulk copies. They must take into account timescales, format, number of copies and colour matches. Typical day-to-day duties include:

• programming instructions into the copying equipment, for instance colour saturation
• making sure machines have the correct levels of inks, chemicals and toners for each job
• supplying print materials to the machines
• mounting printing plates or cylinders, if working on a press, and aligning them correctly
• monitoring the progress of the copying run
• quality checking samples
• finishing copied items, for example trimming, binding and laminating
• carrying out basic equipment maintenance and cleaning.

Reprographics assistants have administrative duties like recording job details and ordering supplies. Some assistants also help prepare designs and layout for print runs. For more details about this, see the job profile for Pre-press Operator.

Reprographic assistants work in printing companies, reprographics departments within large organisations, for example a university, and specialist commercial copying companies.

Hours and Environment

As a reprographic assistant, you will normally work 35 to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. If you work in a a print shop, this is likely to include Saturdays. Part-time working and flexible hours may be possible.

You will spend most of your time working in an office, workshop or print shop.

Skills and Interests

As a reprographic assistant, you need:

• the ability to work in a methodical and well organised way
• the ability to follow manufacturer's instructions and job specifications
• the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• good computer and administration skills
• an appreciation of colour, detail and design
• good customer care skills
• the ability to work well as part of a team and alone
• a willingness to work flexibly.

Entry

You do need any specific qualifications to become a reprographics assistant but GCSE/S grade passes in maths, English, art and design, and IT may give you an advantage.

You may be able to get into this job through a printing or reprographics apprenticeship scheme. Funding for apprenticeships is available for 16-24 year olds and some over-25s. To find out more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. For information about apprenticeships in other parts of the UK, see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

You can also take one of several print-related qualifications at college, which will teach you some of the skills needed for this job. These are open to all age groups and include:

• City & Guilds Certificate in Printing and Graphic Communications (5261) levels 2 and 3
• Edexcel (BTEC) Certificate in Graphics; National Certificate and Diploma in Art & Design (Graphic Design); and First Diploma in Printing
• ABC Diploma in Digital Pre-Press Level 3.

General art and design, audio-visual and desktop publishing courses may be also be useful for entry into this job.

The British Printing Industry Federation, Get Into Print and Proskills UK websites have details about careers in printing and reprographics together with training providers. See their contacts in Further Information.

Training

Your company will train you on specific equipment when you start work. They will also send you on training courses run by the equipment manufacturers, or the manufacturers’ representatives may come to your firm to show you how to set up and operate their reprographics equipment.

You can also work towards the NVQ/SVQ in Printing (5158), which has several optional pathways, depending on your exact duties. These include:

• Mechanised Print Finishing and Binding levels 2 and 3
• Digital Print Production levels 2 and 3
• Hand Binding Level 3.

The British Printing Industry Federation (BPIF), the Scottish Print Employers Federation and Proskills UK have details about short training courses in specific technical areas and work-based training, leading to the NVQ/SVQ.

Opportunities

Your main opportunities will be with the copying and printing departments of large companies, civil service departments, local government, hospital authorities, universities, colleges and large schools. You will also find jobs with high street ‘instant print’ shops.

If you work for a large organisation, you can progress to departmental supervisor or production controller. In a print shop, you can become a shop manager.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Salaries for reprographic assistants start between £11,000 and £13,500 a year.
Experienced assistants can earn between £14,000 and £17,000.
Reprographics staff with supervisory responsibilities can earn up to £22,000 a year.

Further information

48 Palmerston Place
Edinburgh
EH12 5DE


Farringdon Point
29/35 Farringdon Road
London
EC1M 3JF
Tel: 0870 240 4085