Share This Page
Live Support
Hot News
WoWMyCV has launched a new website CareerAdvicePack.eu dedicated to the all new 2012 Career Advice Pack written by WoWMyCV.
Tips for finding Retail/Wholesale Jobs Online Click Here
Testimonial
Just thought I's let you know, I have been looking for a job for almost a year now, Got your CV last week, sent it out Sunday, invited to interview on Monday, today, given a starting date at my new job!!! You are good!!! Thanks a lot!!! M. Krawczyk
Free CV Review
Send your CV using the box below for a free review
Contact Our Team Today
T: 01603 490-102
M: 07713 564248
E: office@wowmycv.co.uk
Follow Us On
Career Profiles Database
Important Note
WoWMyCV(UK) would like to inform all our site visitors and customers that our Career Profiles Database is a research tool for you to use to investigate your potential Career Options, WoWMyCV(UK) is NOT a Recruitment Agency and the details contained in our Career Profiles Database should NOT be read/treated as Job Advertisements.
WoWMyCV(UK) is a Professional CV/Curriculum Vitae Writing and Careers Advice company based in the UK, if you need help with a CV for the job you are researching we can help, our highly experienced consultants are expert CV Writers and are ready to help. Send your current CV to us today for a FREE CV Review and let us show you how we can help you can improve your chances of securing that next interview with a quality CV from WoWMyCV(UK).
bookbinder/print finisher
Print finishers or machine bookbinders turn printed materials into finished articles such as books, booklets, catalogues or cartons. They use machines which cut paper to the correct size, fold and glue the paper and bind books together. Most of these machines work automatically and can be set up to run for long periods of time.
The main duties of a print finisher working in a factory are to:
- set up the machinery
- feed it with paper
- watch for breakdowns or misfeeds
- take away and stack the finished products
- work on one type of machine or on a range of different machines
- carry out routine maintenance.
Craft or hand bookbinders work on a much smaller scale, their work is to:
- bind by hand small numbers of books such as family histories or books for libraries and museums
- use specialist hand tools to make bindings for books and to sew pages
- add decoration such as gold lettering and edging, or marbled end papers.
Some binders restore and repair antique books, cleaning discoloured pages or using fine quality leathers and papers to match those originally used.
Hours and Environment
The working week is usually around 37 hours. Some companies operate a shift system. Overtime may be available at busy times, involving evening or weekend work. Self-employed binders set their own hours according to their work-load.
Print finishers/machine bookbinders work in a factory or workshop. Some machines are noisy and require the use of ear protectors.
Craft bookbinders may also work in a factory or workshop, or often in a library or museum. If self-employed they usually work from home, but may need to travel to meet customers.
Skills and Interests
To be a print finisher or machine bookbinder you should:
- be practical and good at working with your hands
- have an aptitude for work with machinery
- be quick to learn new skills
- be able to measure and count accurately
- be reasonably fit
- be able to work alone and as part of a team.
- be able to communicate well with customers
- be content to work alone for much of the time
- have artistic skills.
Entry
Print finisher/machine bookbinder.
You may not always need formal qualifications but most employers will prefer you to have four GCSEs(A-C)/S grades (1-3) or equivalent qualifications, including English, and maths. Science and computer studies are also useful subjects for this job.
You might be able to study City and Guilds Certificates in Printing and Graphic Communication at levels 2 and 3 at some colleges. These qualifications are part of apprenticeships, but are sometimes available as technical certificates suitable for people wanting to get into the industry. Please contact City and Guilds or look on their website for details of colleges offering these - see the Further Information section of this profile for contact details.
Craft bookbinder.
You will need to gain skills before starting work. Please see the Training section for more information.
Craft bookbinding is often a second career for people who have a keen interest in books or who have previously worked in machine binding.
Training
Print finisher/machine bookbinder
Your training will be mainly on the job.
You might be able to work towards NVQ levels 2 and 3 in Printing. These are awarded by City and Guilds and cover:
- Mechanised Print Finishing and Binding at both levels
- Carton Manufacture, Print Administration and Hand Binding at level 3.
Craft bookbinder
You can do part-time courses, short courses and evening classes in bookbinding at many colleges. You can find a list on the Society of Bookbinders website (see under Further Information).
You can also attend higher education courses, including Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) and degrees in craft bookbinding at specialist colleges.
Apprenticeships may be available for those under the age of 24. In England these are currently Apprenticeships (level 2) and Advanced Apprenticeships (level 3). To find out more about these, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Apprenticeships may be different in other areas. For further information see Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland
Opportunities
Most companies are in London and the South East, and around Bristol and Leeds. Around 20,000 people work as finishers or bookbinders.
Work is available in:
- companies which specialise in finishing and binding
- finishing departments of printing firms,
- print units of large organisations such as local councils, universities or colleges.
A few big companies employ more than 500 people but most local firms employ fewer than 25. The franchised chains of “quickprinters” found on most high streets offer a wide range of printing services and employ staff for print finishing work.
Skilled print finisher or bookbinder could progress to supervisor in their own department or move to the finishing department of a bigger company or to a specialist print finishing company. Some move into other jobs within the company, such as printing or sales.
There may be opportunities to work overseas within large companies.
Annual Income
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
Starting salaries for trainees are up to around £10,000 per year.
An experienced finisher can expect to earn between £12,500 and £19,000.
The head of a finishing department or bindery can earn more than £21,000.
Further information
29/35 Farringdon Road
London
EC1M 3JF
Tel: 0870 240 4085
29/35 Farringdon Road
London
EC1M 3JF
Tel: 0870 240 4085
Back To Arts Crafts and Design Careers
Further Help and Advice
WoWMyCV(UK) can offer further help and advice on any Career path held in our Career Profiles Database, our help and advice centres on Preparing a CV, Interview Techniques and Suitability for a specific Career if you need any further help please feel free to call us on 01603 490-102 or drop us an email to office@wowmycv.co.uk where a member of our expert team will be on hand to help.
WoWMyCV(UK) have written a brand new series of documents specially designed to help you succeed in gaining that new job, to find out more about our professionaly written series of guides visit our Career Advice Pack page by clicking HERE.
Don't forget about our FREE CV Review Service, any visitor to the WoWMyCV(UK) website can claim their 100% FREE CV Review in two easy steps, Click Here for further information
Site Disclaimer
The information contained in our Career Profiles Database was correct at time of publishing, but since publication certain details may have changed so please use this section as a research tool and in some cases further research may be required.
Careers Database Information By Learn Direct Advice