Printing: Case Studies

Case Studies

Shawn Hopkins – Print Estimator – Aged 22

I left Swinton Comprehensive School in 2002 after doing a year in the Sixth Form & underachieving both in my GCSE’s & AS Levels. After leaving school I didn’t really have an idea what sort of industry to go into & I ended up having a successful job interview with Intoprint a month after leaving school.

I started work with Intoprint in September 2002 as a trainee print finisher with a view to taking up an administrative role providing that things worked out well. During my time working in the finishing department I learnt how to use many machines & the procedures involved in producing various types of printing jobs. This gave me valuable knowledge for my future roles within the company.

After a year in finishing I then moved into an administration position within the customer service department. Tasks within this position involved dealing with customers and carrying out general office duties. I held this position until August 2007 when I had a successful interview for the position of Print Estimator.

As a Print Estimator I am exactly what the job title says, estimating the cost of producing a printed job on both litho and digital presses but whilst still being a part of the customer service team. Estimates can vary from a Business Card job worth just £100 to a full colour Brochure job worth £5000. The knowledge gained in my previous roles help me enormously within my role.

In my working week I will have contact with all 22 employees at Intoprint; this
makes it a real team effort in my opinion - all of us have respect for each other and the jobs which we do. The 22 employees include 5 Company Directors which adds further value to the previous comment.

I have now been at Intoprint for 5 ½ years and in that time the company has moved forward in a big way and over the next few years will continue to do so. I am proud to have been a part of the development of Intoprint and hope to play a pivotal role as we grow further in the future.

Luke: Print Finishing Apprentice (aged 20)

After finishing my school education at Silcoates School, Wrenthorpe near Wakefield I started work for Polestar as a finishing apprentice. At school, I achieved 7 GCSEs, including English (grade C), maths (grade B) and Design Technology (grade B). Within my Design Technology study I was able to build up a good portfolio of work, which I intend to build on throughout my career. I feel this helped me when I applied for my job at Polestar, as it gave me confidence and my interviewer could see that I was enthusiastic about working in the print sector. The communication skills I developed in English have also helped me, both at interview and since starting work as I work in a team, so have to talk to other members staff every day.

I am now working through an Apprenticeship, working a 36 hour week, made up from 12 hour shifts on days or nights. I am currently paid £4.80 per hour, as an Apprentice and I get 24 days holiday per year, although I also get lots of time off because of the shift patterns we work here. At present my job is to help run and maintain Binder One and my skills are developing fast with the help of the friendly team of staff and excellent Polestars mentors.

Susan: Assistant Accountant (aged 30)

In my current job I compile monthly management accounts with balance sheets that look at business growth and customer prepayments - for future orders. To do this I collect data from both financial and none financial staff that is then placed on profit and loss sheets and balance sheets. These sheets build an accurate record in a standard format that can then be fed into our Hyperion reporting system. This system is used to create outputs that form part of our MIS (Management Information System). The managers use that data to prepare forecasts and set annual budgets for Polestar. I also work with our other accounting staff completing payroll tasks and ensuring Polestar meet all employer/ employee conditions set by the Government's Inland Revenue department (taxation laws) etc.

Many accountant jobs request membership of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) or some form of relevant qualification and my job as an assistant accountant asked for a CIMA qualification (CIMA = Chartered Institute of Management Accountants). I completed the Foundation, Intermediate and Finalist stages of AAT via evening school, after leaving school with 9 GCSEs (5 of which were grade C or above). I have now also completed a large part of CIMA and I intend to complete this as this qualification is highly valued by employers and will greatly improve my chances of future career progression.

Most of my work is completed in our accounts office, which is a clean, modern and friendly environment. Before starting work for Polestar I worked as a data entry clerk, a timesheet processor and a sales ledger clerk before gaining promotion to assistant accountant. I worked as an assistant accountant for three previous employers before gaining my current job at Polestar in 2003. My pay band at Polestar is £27,000 - £35,000 and I work from 9am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday. What I like best about working at Polestar is the responsibility and freedom I have to develop procedures and manage my own time. Polestar is a large employer with a number of different sites spread across the UK and I often have to communicate directly with employees at those other sites. This provides me with new challenges and variety, so I never get bored.

Michael: Process Team Leader (aged 29)

My career in print began after I had completed a BTEC National Diploma in Electronic Engineering at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology (RCAT). I went to RCAT straight after leaving Wickersley Comprehensive School, where I had gained GCSEs in maths, BIS, Science, CDT (all A to C grades). It was while I was on the course at RCAT that I decided I was interested in the printing sector, as I felt my skills, abilities and qualifications would match the needs of print employers.

My first employer was Sheffield Newspapers Ltd and my job with them was as a trainee printer. During my time there I completed a Level 3 NVQ in Machine Printing and a print related City and Guilds qualification. After a number of years working at Sheffield Newspapers Ltd I decided I wanted to improve my skills and knowledge and felt I needed a new challenge so I searched for a new job. I wanted to stay in printing and was soon successful in gaining a job at RR Donnelley's, developing telephone directories. After that job I started work for Johnston Press in 2006 as a process team leader, which is a job that requires print sector experience. In my job at Johnston Press I have to organise a team of print staff and assist in the printing of daily newspapers. This involves working in a factory environment with large automated press machinery.

My job currently provides me with a basic annual salary around £31,000, for working Monday to Friday (8:00am to 5:30pm). However the Dinnington press where I work will soon be starting a continental shift pattern where we will have to attend on a 12 hours shift rotation system. This system is designed to enable the printing presses to run continuously 24 hours a day, seven days a week. My contract also provides me with 6 weeks holiday a year but we have to work through bank holidays as newspaper presses never stop. Although I have not worked here long, so far I have found the staff here to be very friendly and team spirited. Although some jobs within printing still involve direct contact with ink, which can be messy, our industry is driven by technology and a lot of the manual jobs have been replaced by modern technology such as CTP (Computer to Plate). I am enjoying my new job with its joint responsibility for organising the team and ensuring the presses continue to roll. I also like the job satisfaction you get when papers are printed on time and are ready for dispatch.

Lynsey: Finance Manager (aged 30)

I started my current job at Johnston Press in the year 2000 working daily with company statistics and accounts. I have to use this type of data to produce accurate, user friendly reports for our management team. The reports I develop have to be well-timed so our managers can act swiftly to ensure our business hits all its profit targets. The reports monitor costs and incomes and match the figures to previously set budgets for set accounting periods. I also manage all the purchasing and ordering procedures for our site. Working as an accountant in the media and newspaper print industry I am involved in every aspect of our businesses operations. This includes assisting in the decision making process for business planning at every level. With this wide ranging involvement comes knowledge, a broader understanding of the business as a whole and how finances and accounts sit within it.

Looking at my qualifications before I started work I achieved nine GCSEs graded A to C and three A’ Levels before attending West Notts College where I completed my AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) certification. I then finished my CIMA qualification (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) using block revision techniques and distance learning.

To become a finance manager you need an accounting qualification and strong maths skills. You also need to be comfortable using computer software programs such as Microsoft Excel and finance packages such as Sage. An inquisitive nature is also something that I find very useful. Because business finance is so important stress and pressure are factors that you have to be able to cope with. I have to hit a number of very important deadlines within my work and at month/year ends the pressure can be very intense. It can also mean I occasionally have to work longer hours to ensure everything required is readily available but generally I work 37.5 hour week for which I receive an income of £30,000.

Jo: Graphic Designer (aged 24)

After achieving 10 GCSEs at grade C and above at Dearne Valley High School, I attended Rotherham College of Arts and Technology where I completed a GNVQ in Art and Design (attaining a Distinction). I then completed a BTEC National Diploma in Graphic Design before attending Huddersfield University where I finished a B.A. Honours Degree in Creative Imaging and Marketing. During my studies I worked as a shop assistant in Meadowhall, completing work based training on:

Customer service skills

To succeed as a graphic designer you need creative flair and the ability to understand customer requirements and turn them into quality end products. Much of the time you are working to deadlines, so you have to be able to work effectively under pressure. This takes excellent organisational and time management skills. Spelling and grammar are also very important for product development and proof reading, so a good standard of English is another essential skill.

Our Prontaprint centre is located within a busy retail unit. As a graphic designer, I have to communicate effectively with our customers by phone, email and in person when they call in.

I also have to communicate with other team members and suppliers as well as selling print products and print and design solutions to any customer that comes in.

Within my job I use specialist computer software programs such as QuarkXpress, Freehand, Corel Draw and Photoshop but I also have to use the other computer programs to access the Internet and send and receive email. My main duty is to continuously improve customer satisfaction while maximising business profit. At times I have to work with a freelance graphic designer who provides support as we require. We use Apple Macs, PCs and high quality photocopiers to produce our end products. I also go on photo-shoots so I have to understand how to use a camera to best effect.

My contract provides me with four weeks holiday per year, a working week that runs from 8.45a.m. to 5.15p.m. Monday to Friday. Wages range between £14,000 and £20,000 (increasing yearly with experience).

Although the deadlines we work to can be stressful at times I find the friendly environment, variety of work and new challenges to be plus points that compensate any downsides to working as a graphic designer.

Matthew: Apprentice Printer (aged 20)

I started work at Polestar in 2004, after leaving high school with 6 GCSEs and spending a short time on a college course in Scotland. I found the college course didn’t suit me, so as soon as I saw the opportunity to start an Apprenticeship at Polestar I applied for the job. I have now completed my Printing Apprenticeship, based at Polestars’ Chantry print works near Wakefield and I enjoyed every minute of it. My job involves manufacturing ‘time sensitive’ products and titles and this means I have to be able to work to strict timescales. This is something I thrive on, as I enjoy the constant challenge of working to targets. Within our printing area we have an excellent group of employees, who all pull together forming a strong team that continually support each other. This means there is always someone with more experience around to help if I have a problem.

My job within that team is as a ‘Number 2 Printer’ and that means I work on a G141 Cover Press. My duties include setting up the colour for a ‘pass’ (pass is a term used for a print run), this is achieved by setting the correct ink to water balance. I also work on the alignment and registration of individual images or plates within a page (this is known as "altering the fit").

I have now completed my Advanced Modern Apprenticeship in Machine Printing. This qualification includes an NVQ at level 3 in Machine Printing and Level 3 Key Skills with a Technical Certificate. The Key Skills and Technical Certificate were delivered at Leeds College, with Polestar providing block, paid release from work. The NVQ part was done at work, with a qualified trainer watching me complete my job.

I have won two awards for my work on my Apprenticeship – the first was for Trainee of the Year at the People in Print Awards 2006, and the second was for Student of the Year at the PrintWeek Awards 2006, which included a £5000 bursary for my training and a trip to the factory where they manufacture the printing presses as part of the prize.

Now that I have completed my Advanced Apprenticeship my next career move will be either up to a "Number 1 Printer", which means I will be running the press or I may decide to complete some management training.

At Chantry our printing department works on a shift rotation system. And in this system I work 12 hour shifts. I complete a ‘block’ of three or four shifts on nights or days and I then have a break which can be anything from one day to two weeks.

This means I work between ten and fourteen shifts every month (includes weekends). My present job also provides me with 26 days holiday a year and an hourly rate of £15.86. When I have to work weekends it does mean I miss going out with my friends but I don't really mind as I save money instead of spending it.

Carine: Business Development Manager (aged 32)

After completing 10 GCSEs and three A-levels I went to University and completed a Degree in European Business Administration before starting work in a sales role. I then moved into product management (marketing), for a leading retailer and later progressed to project manager and then on to category manager. I joined Polestar as marketing manager in 2003 and moved up to my current job as business development manager in January 2006. My current job is mainly office based but occasionally I have to leave the office to visit one of our many customers.

Jobs at my level have a great deal of responsibility and require business marketing skills and a strong general understanding of business and commerce. As Polestar is a print manufacturer I also need specific knowledge about print management and the needs of our print customers. Completing education at degree level has helped me develop my ability to present data to both individuals and groups at all levels, using a wide range of different materials. It has also helped me develop my organisational skills, so I can prioritise tasks, work to timescales and achieve targets.

My main duties include generating new sales leads, providing support to our marketing department, completing print estimates and providing presentations for our customers. Since starting work I have completed a Postgraduate Marketing Diploma created by CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketing). At Polestar I work in a clean office environment with lots of natural light and a good team of people. My income is above £40,000 per year and my contract provides me with an annual holiday entitlement of 26 days. Every day presents me with new challenges, which provides variety and requires flexibility. Consequently although my hours are 9:00am to 5:30pm there are times when I work outside of this to meet our customers’ needs. In my job I have to spend a lot of time in front of a computer and this can occasionally be considered a downside but I am happy working for Polestar, who I find value their staff very highly.

Tony: Procurement Manager (aged 40)

In my job I have to communicate with all Polestars Printing suppliers, ensuring we continually pay the right price for goods in and receive an excellent quality service. Within that role I am continually on the look out for new suppliers and I regularly have to look at tenders from businesses that want to be future Polestar suppliers. I also have to provide technical advice and speak directly to our clients, helping to raise awareness about any special offers or ways our clients can reduce their printing costs. My job provides me with 26 days holiday per year (plus bank holidays) and my standard hours are 9am – 5:30pm.

To perform my job well you need to gain a very wide understanding of the print sector and this has to include technical knowledge of the products and the printing plants capabilities. This can only be developed through lots of print sector work experience. Since leaving school I have worked as a print estimator, a production planner, a customer account handler, a commercial manager, and a commercial director in the print sector. I then spent two years working self employed in the print sector before starting work at Polestar.

I left school with six O Levels and since starting work I have completed training courses at work, related to sales and business. I would like to complete further training in areas where my technical knowledge needs improving. Working in management also requires strong communication skills and at times I have to be very persuasive; using my commercial awareness to secure the right deal and get the job done. As well as communicating with our external customers and our suppliers Polestar has a large team of internal clients (within Polestar every member of staff is considered an internal client). Good internal communication systems are essential when you are working in a target driven environment, where customer satisfaction is all important - like ours.

At Polestar I work in a well equipped, spacious, open plan office with seven colleagues. Our office forms part of a larger administration office and the open plan layout enables fast communications between all office staff. This provides us with the ability to react quickly to customer demands and any problems that occur. At Polestar, as well as my procurement duties, I get involved in a wide range of other activities.

Some of these can be connected to solving technical problems while others may relate to quality issues. Consequently, although I have to work long hours my job provides me with a great deal of variety and that’s what I like best about it.

Proskills: Making Skills Work